Page 107 of Sing For Us

A sharp, furious curse echoes ahead. The blade doesn't bury itself in Dario’s spine—he’d sensed the movement and dodged just enough—but it found its mark. The edge grazes his neck and shoulder, tearing a ragged line through his charcoal jacket and slicing deep into the skin beneath.

The cleaver hits the hardwood floor, skittering across the tile.

I want to follow after him, but I underestimated the power of Dario’s bombs. I tumble down onto the floor and land on my hands and knees.

Then the devil is standing right in front of me.

He doesn’t use a gun. He uses his voice—the same booming, cruel voice that had ruled my childhood nightmares.

"Your mother would be ashamed of you for trying to kill your father," he hisses, his words cutting clearly through the ringing in my ears.

It isn't true. It was a lie from a man who had built an empire on deception. But it rang so close to the bone it paralyzes me. He knows exactly how to kill me without lifting a finger.

Then he’s gone.

The adrenaline evaporates, replaced by a cold, suffocating weight. I can’t move. I can’t breathe.

I gather some strength and pick up the cleaver with a trembling hand. The heavy steel blade was smeared with a thick, glistening streak of red—his blood.

His DNA.

Behind me, footsteps echo fast on the hardwood. A pair of boots stop right at my side.

"Noa!" Lana’s voice breaks through the fog. The woman who knows every single scar on my soul drops to her knees beside me. She doesn’t look toward the exit where my father's escaping.

She came looking for me.

She looks straight at me, her hands gripping my shoulders to force me to look at her. "Noa, look at me. Breathe.”

I take a couple of breaths in and out.

Good.

Fuck. Josh!

“I know. I know. Oliver, Adam, and Sara already left for the hospital. You go with them, I’ll go back to your estate so Hana isn’t alone.”

How fucking stupid am I? My head is so warped in revenge that I’ve become selfish.

“Don’t fucking think. Let’s go! I’ll drop you off and head back to Hana.”

I get up and grab her by her hand, not caring if she doesn’t want to, and we bolt the fuck out of this goddamn restaurant. Before we get into the car, I talk to Hana through my earpiece.

“Hana, did you see where Dario went?”

“No. He fucking vanished. I’ll come to the hospital!”

“No! Lana is coming to protect you. Stay there.”

“Over.”

We get into the car, and when we arrive at the hospital, I get out but turn back for a couple of seconds.

I hand her the cleaver, and she grabs it between her fingers. Immediately putting it in a bag that’s in my glove compartment.

“Tell Hana to box it tightly. And…thank you,” I tell her. I’m sincere, and I hope that she notices that.

“Of course. Go!”