Page 70 of Savage Throne
This was someone else entirely—a ghost version of her speaking from somewhere far away, somewhere dark.
“I’m here, Moni.” I kept my voice steady. “I love you so much. Stay on the phone as much as you can.”
There was silence for a moment, the kind that crawled under your skin and stayed there. I could hear the sound of her breath hitching and my grip on the phone tightened.
She was holding back, I knew it.
I could feel it in every hesitation, every tremor in her voice.
What did you do to her, Father? I’m going to fucking kill you.
“Moni, talk to me,” I urged, a little sharper than I intended. “Tell me what’s going on.”
She sniffed softly and I knew—dammit, I just knew—that she was close to breaking, but wouldn’t let herself do it.
“I. . .I can’t.” Her voice cracked like fragile glass. “H-how is everyone?”
My jaw clenched so tight it hurt.
I wanted to reach through the phone, hold her, tell her everything would be okay. But all I had were words and they felt useless against whatever nightmare she was living through.
“I did everything you wanted me to, Moni. Your sisters are in the Palace along with Banks, Marcelo, Gunner, and Einstein. They’re all safe and comfortable.”
“Seriously?” A little joy hit her voice. “You letallof Rowe Street Mob stay.”
“I did.”
“Oh my God.”
“I knew you would want that. Banks is in the room right next to your sisters’ room. They all decided to stay in one room by the way.”
“Chloe and Jo are super protective of TT.”
“They are.”
“Thank you, Lei.”
“Any fucking thing you want I will do. Now tell me where you are, Moni. If he is close by, then just give me hints.”
Then I heard it—that deep voice, low and commanding, laced with the sort of threatening control that made my skin crawl my entire childhood.
“No, son,” My father said. “We are on speaker. There will be no hints or clues.”
That fucking bastard!
Every muscle in my body tensed.
Fury rose hot and fast in my chest.
I knew better than to explode—not yet—but the rage simmered just beneath the surface, threatening to boil over.
Of course, my father was there looming over her like the damn wraith that he was, keeping her under his psychopathic thumb.
I inhaled sharply through my nose, forcing my voice into something calm even though it was anything but. “Moni, listen to me.”
I steadied myself as much as I could. “Your sisters are safe and they will remain that way. In fact, I’m here with them now.”
There was a beat of silence.
