442 The Oakbar brothers didn’t waste any time. Darwin felt the sharp pain of rope digging into his wrists as they bound him tightly to an old, splintered chair in the middle of the dark, musty room. The air was thick with the stench of damp wood and mildew, and his heart pounded so loudly he could
443 The third brother, the firstborn and most brutal of the Oakbars, stepped forward, his eyes gleaming with a cruel fire. He cracked his knuckles, a sick grin spreading across his face as he loomed over Darwin. “Ready for a little chat?” he sneered, his voice dripping with menace. Darwin winced,
444 The youngest brother, silent until now, stepped forward with a smirk, tracing a finger along Darwin’s bruised jaw. “Not so tough now, are you, Darwin ?” he mocked. Zayne laughed darkly. “You’re right, he’s not.” He turned back to Darwin, who struggled to breathe through the pain. “Call her. No
445 “Darwin, please,” Zoe’s voice came again, strained and edged with desperation. Her fingers twisted nervously, nails digging crescents into her palms as she struggled to keep her composure. “You don’t understand what they’ll do.” Darwin managed a weary smile, one that spoke of memories and mome
446 Zayne’s fists clenched and unclenched at his sides, the battle waging inside him visible in the tightening of his jaw and the pulse hammering at his temple. “You think you know what justice is?” His voice, quieter now, quivered with restrained fury. “He dragged you into this life. You’re defend
447 Darwin’s voice trembled, barely rising above a whisper. “Mom... it’s me... I need your help.” There was a pause, a silence that seemed to stretch into an eternity, filled only by the quickening beats of Darwin’s heart. He knew the power of those words, what they would set into motion. He glanc
448 Darwin’s chest heaved as he struggled for breath, his eyes wide with horror at the scene unfolding before him. Zoe stirred, her gaze finally meeting Darwin’s, and he saw it: the fracture lines of doubt and pain. “You didn’t have to do that,” she said, her voice hollow but tinged with defiance.
449 The phone on the floor buzzed, slicing through the tension in the room like a knife. All eyes darted to it. Zayne snatched it up, his fingers trembling despite the cold mask he wore. His voice was rough as he answered, “What is it?” A beat of silence, then James’s voice came through, cracked a