Page 160 of The Dark Stranger
"I protected it," he corrects, his tone even. "You were gone. People would have asked questions. This way, no one's looking for you."
"No one's looking for me," I repeat, the words tasting bitter. "Because you made sure of it."
His jaw tightens slightly. "Would you rather I didn't?"
I don't answer.
Because he's right.
And I hate that he's right.
I shift again, wincing as my ribs protest. The pain grounds me, pulls me back into my body, into this moment.
"I need to know more about Lionetti," I say, my voice steadier now. "Who he is. What he does. Everything."
Silas watches me for a long moment, his eyes searching mine.
"Why?"
"Because I want to know who the fuck tried to sell me," I snap. "I want to know who these people are. What they want. How deep this goes."
He doesn't flinch. Doesn't look away.
"Manetto Lionetti," he says finally. "Runs one of the largest human trafficking operations on the East Coast. Disguises it as private auctions for high-value buyers.Judges, politicians, businessmen—people with money and power who like to own things they shouldn't."
My stomach turns.
"And Jenna?"
"His daughter," Silas says. "Only child. Spoiled. Dangerous. She's the one who wanted you there."
I already knew that.
But hearing it out loud makes it real in a way it wasn't before.
"She did this because of Izzy," I say, my voice shaking with rage now. "Because she's fucking obsessed with him and I was in the way."
Silas nods once. "Yes."
"And Izzy—" My hands curl into fists, nails digging into my palms. "That piece of shit wasthere. At the auction. He helped them take me."
"I know."
"You know?" I repeat, my voice rising. "Youknowand you're just sitting here like it's nothing?"
"It's not nothing," Silas says quietly, his tone dropping lower. "But you're not in any condition to do anything about it right now."
"Fuck that," I spit. "I want to get my hands on Jenna. I want to make her pay for whatshe did. I want to—"
"You will," he interrupts, his voice calm but firm. "But not yet."
I glare at him, my chest heaving, my breath coming too fast.
"You don't get to tell me when I'm ready."
"I'm not telling you when you're ready," he says evenly. "I'm telling you that if you go after her now, you'll get yourself killed. And I'm not letting that happen."
The certainty in his voice stops me cold.
