บททั้งหมดของ The Reaper's Hidden Heir: บทที่ 31 - บทที่ 40

I stood frozen between them, heart slamming against my ribs so hard I could barely breathe.Sophia’s smile was sharp as a blade. “Choose, little sister. Him or me. Your blood sister or the man who kidnapped you and fucked you into submission.”Damien’s gun stayed pointed at her, his body coiled like a predator ready to strike. “Don’t you fucking dare listen to her, Isabella.”Red laser dots covered his chest, his forehead, his men. One wrong word and they would all die.I stepped forward slowly, hands raised. “Everybody calm down.”Sophia laughed. “Calm? This is your moment, Isabella. Walk away from him right now and I’ll let him live. Choose him… and I paint this church with Voss blood.”My eyes locked with Damien’s. He looked furious, but underneath it I saw fear. Real fear. For me.“I’m not choosing either of you,” I said, voice shaking but loud. “I’m done being a pawn. I'm done being threatened. I'm done being told who I am.”Sophia’s smile faded. “Wrong answer.”She raised

I stayed curled against Damien’s good side for what felt like hours, listening to the steady beep of the machines. His fingers traced slow circles on my back even though every movement clearly hurt him.“You should rest,” I whispered.“I can’t,” he muttered. “Not while Sophia’s still breathing.”A soft knock came at the door. Rico stepped in, looking between us. “The doctor says you need to sleep, boss. We’ve got eyes on Sophia’s last known location. She’s gone underground for now.”Damien tried to sit up again and hissed in pain. I gently pushed him back down.“Listen to the doctor,” I said. “You got shot protecting me. The least you can do is heal so you can keep doing stupid things later.”He gave me a tired smirk. “Bossy as always.”Rico cleared his throat. “The other families are getting restless. Some of them are asking if the Reaper is really finished. Sophia’s spreading the rumor that you’re weak… and that Isabella is the reason.”I sat up straighter. “Then we prove them

The phone slipped from my fingers and clattered onto the bed.Damien’s eyes narrowed. “What is it?”I couldn’t speak at first. I just picked the phone back up and turned the screen toward him. The photo of the dead doctor stared back at us, blood everywhere, eyes open and empty.Damien went completely still. Then his jaw clenched so hard I heard it crack.“She got to him,” I whispered. “While he was treating you. She’s been inside our circle this whole time.”Damien took the phone from me, staring at the message. “Who’s next?” he read out loud. His voice was deadly quiet. “She’s declaring war on everyone around us.”I climbed off his lap and started pacing. “This is my fault. I went to meet her. I dragged you into church. Now she’s killing people who helped us.”“Stop.” Damien reached for me but winced when he moved too fast. “This isn’t on you. Sophia is poison, she always has been.”I stopped pacing and looked at him. He looked pale, angry, and in pain, but his eyes burned with

Damien’s body went rigid against mine. “She’s dead.”I stayed pressed against his chest, listening to his heartbeat, strong, steady, but faster than normal. My grazed arm burned, but the pain felt distant compared to the storm building inside me.Rico shifted uncomfortably near the door. “She sounded serious, boss. She’s not bluffing anymore.”“I know,” Damien said, voice low and dangerous. He tilted my chin up so I had to look at him. “You’re not going to her. Not tomorrow. Not ever.”I didn’t answer right away. Instead, I traced a finger along the edge of his bandage. “She’ll kill Sarah if I don’t. Then Lena. Then she’ll come for you while I watch.”His eyes darkened. “Let her try.”I pulled away gently and stood up, needing space to think. “This has to end, Damien. I can’t keep watching people bleed because of me.”He tried to sit up straighter and winced. “Then we hit her first. Hard. I’ll call in every favor I have left.”“You’re not calling anyone,” I said firmly. “You’re stayin

“Drive faster!” I snapped, gripping the gun so tight my knuckles turned white.Rico was pushing the SUV to its limit, tires screaming around corners. My heart felt like it was going to explode out of my chest. The photo of Damien on his knees with a gun to his head kept flashing in my mind.“He’s alive,” Rico said, trying to calm me. “Sophia wants you there. She won’t kill him before you arrive.”“You don’t know her,” I whispered. “She’s insane.”The old Moretti warehouse on Pier 17 loomed ahead like a rotting giant. Rico stopped a block away.“I’m coming with you,” he said.“No.” I checked my gun one last time. “She said alone. If you follow, she’ll kill him. Stay close but out of sight. If things go bad… get Sarah out.”Rico looked like he wanted to argue, but he finally nodded. “Don’t die, Isabella. He’ll kill me if you do.”I stepped out into the cold night air and walked straight toward the warehouse. My legs felt heavy, but I kept moving. The side door was open. I stepped inside