All the Truths (Lies & Truths 2)

It’s filled with the hunger for power, the need to rise, to crush everyone. It’s almost laughable how obvious he is. I don’t laugh, of course, because I still need my life.

“My nice phase is coming to an end, Reina.” He slams a hand against my face, only allowing me to look at him through his fat, meaty fingers. “Where. Is. She?”

“I d-don’t know.” I choke on the words.

His next punch makes me see stars. My teeth chatter and my fingers tighten against each other behind my back. I cough up the blood that gathers in my mouth.

“Last chance.” He closes in on me, his face mere inches from mine. “Where the fuck is she?”

People say you can never see your end coming. It happens too suddenly, and once you realize it, it’s too late.

I see it, though—my end. I see it in his unfeeling blue eyes and the desperation they reek of. He’ll kill me no matter what I do or say. He’s been planning that since the moment he got his men to kidnap me.

I might not be able to finish him, but I have belief Reina would. I hope she makes him regret the day he was born. I know she’ll get justice for Mom, Dad, and me.

“I don’t know.” My voice is broken due to how I speak over the blood. “Even if I did, I would never tell you.” Then I do the only thing I can under the circumstances. I spit blood on his clean-shaven face, the droplets splattering on his skin. “You’ll die like a fucking pig.”

For a second, he watches me with wide eyes, as if he never expected me to do that. I smile with triumph, but it doesn’t last as he punches me again.

This time, the chair topples and I fall backward. My limbs don’t catch me since they’re tied, and my head hits the ground. Pain explodes in my body as a boot connects with my ribs, knocking the air out of my lungs.

I gasp for air and find nothing.

A pop sounds in my body as he kicks me again and again.

“I’ll make your death the most painful possible.” He calls a name and the door opens. I barely hear the words or make out my surroundings.

It’s blurry and dark, shadows dancing in my vision as if they’re real.

“Bring me my tools,” Ivan says with a smirk. “We have a long night ahead.”

It’s supposed to scare me, but I’m too numb for that, too…out of this world.

One face keeps flickering in my mind as my vision slowly withers away.

Asher…our last encounter and the way I ran away from him…

I wish I hadn’t. I wish I’d kissed him harder and told him I love him.

I wish I’d let go of my shackles and confessed my feelings earlier. Maybe everything would be different.

Maybe I wouldn’t be lying here, choking on my own blood and leaving the world with so many regrets.

But it’s too late.

It’s true, you know. The end comes once you realize it’s too late.

Ivan’s shoe slams into my ribs and darkness sucks me into its clutches.

Alexander didn’t want me to come here, but fuck him and anyone who thinks I’d stay still when Reina’s fate is unknown.

After I received that phone call, we shot into action.

The only one who matters right now is Reina.

I haven’t been able to breathe since she went out of my sight this morning. It’s as if I’m living on borrowed time and borrowed air until I find her.

And I’ll find her even if it’s the last thing I do.