Page 72 of Savage Throne
TT swallowed. “We’ll be fine, Moni. Don’t think about us tonight. Only think about yourself. Then. . .you’ll win.”
Moni laughed—a soft, tired sound that made my heart ache. “I promise, TT. Good strategy. I’m going to be okay.”
Goddamn it.
I could feel it—the strength in her, the sheer force of will it took to say those words and make them sound real.
She was doing everything she could to keep us all afloat, even when she was drowning in misery.
And God help me, I was so fucking impressed with her.
How is she able to do that?
It was hard not to be proud that she was holding her ground, even under my father’s evil, oppressive shadow.
Proud that she hadn’t let his darkness consume her.
But with that pride came stress—a gnawing worry that coiled in my gut like a viper.
She passed one of his little tests. That’s what happened.
I had to be right because if she were still standing and was even able to do something huge like make a call to me. . .then that meant she was pleasing my father in ways I couldn’t stomach.
It meant she was playinghisgame, doing whatever it took to survive.
And passing with high scores.
The thought of her having to do that, to navigate those murky waters alone, made my blood boil.
Before I could say anything, my father’s voice cut through the moment like a blade.
“That’s enough,” he said smoothly. “The call must end.”
“Wait!” Jo suddenly shouted. “You better not hurt her, old man!”
There was a beat of silence on the other end.
Then his voice came out calm. “I would never harm family. Never.”
What about Yan?
The call ended with a soft click and the silence that followed was heavy and suffocating.
You are harming her. Not physically, yet you are in her head. I can hear it in her voice.
For a moment, none of us moved.
Her sisters stared at me.
Their emotions flickered across their faces—hope, fear, love, and a fierce need to protect Moni.
I stood rooted to the spot.
Numbness crept over me.
I didn’t know what Moni had done to get that phone call but I would give her the world when we reunited.
Because her voice had saved me tonight.
