Dario’s POV

    :

    40

    55 vouchers

    I couldn’t shake the tremor of excitement that crawled up my spine as ra stood there, eyes wide, fingers trembling as she waved my hand like a g. Her voice cracked, but I caught the words.

    “You see it, right, Dario?” she gasped. “That’s Amara! She said she was at her parents‘ ce, but no–she called the patrol center, sent you off in the wrong direction, and then ambushed the owner. She swapped thebels! All of it–it’s all connected!”

    Her words hit me like a p, but there was a catch. A tiny, sharp catch that kept me on edge.

    “How did she know the owner was going to poison his wife tonight?” I muttered, unsure whether I even believed it yet.

    ra’s face tightened. “I’m guessing,” she paused, looking at me with an intensity that made my heart race, “she’s the one who gave him the poison.”

    The thought churned my stomach. If it was true, it meant Amara was imagined.

    I clenched my fists. “So, how do we prove it?”

    deeper in this than I could have ever

    “We talk to the owner,” ra answered quickly, her eyes never leaving mine. “Get him to spill the source.”

    “Prison,” I croaked, feeling the weight of what we needed to do. “Can you get the paperwork?”

    ra shook me, her grip tightening, but I could feel the tension seep through her fingers.

    “Can you get it done?” She repeated, her voice low.

    But I barely heard her. My mind raced faster than I could keep up with. Then, everything froze. I looked at her again, but this time, I couldn’t ignore what I saw.

    I was losing it.

    I didn’t need her to say anything–her hand on mine, ice cold, felt like the reality of it all crashing down.

    Dario…

    “Dario!” ra’s voice brought me back, sharp like a whip.

    But I didn’t care. Not anymore.

    I jumped to my feet, fury taking hold. I shoved everything off the table, papers scattering, chairs scraping the

    floor.

    “FUCK!” My voice thundered, shaking the walls. It wasn’t enough. I was furious–furious with Amara, with myself. How the hell did I let this happen?

    b9:19 /bbThu/bb, /bbSep /bb11 /b

    The chair hit the wall with a sickening thud.

    “General Dario!” The soldiers burst into the room, startled and wide–eyed. “What’s going on?”

    “OUT!” I bellowed, my voice raw, shaking with rage. I wasn’t thinking anymore.

    b40 /b

    55 vouchers

    ra stood behind me, calm in contrast to the storm that was ripping through me. She gave the soldiers a curt nod, and they backed away without a word.

    “Stay with me, Dario,” she murmured, stepping up beside me.

    I couldn’t breathe. I felt like I was suffocating in my own fury.

    “Let it all out,” ra said quietly, her hand resting on my arm. I could feel my muscles tensing under her touch, like I was ready to snap.

    But it wasn’t her touch that did it. It was the truth, the weight of everything crashing in.

    “She killed my brother,” I choked out. “She lied to me for years, and I didn’t see it. I didn’t see it!”

    Tears I hadn’t expected surged up, hot and relentless. I wiped them away with the back of my hand, but they just kepting.

    “She used me,” I said, the words breaking through like shattered ss. “She yed me like a damn puppet. And she watched me suffer while I thought I was to me.”

    ra’s face softened, but she said nothing. She didn’t need to. She understood the pain, the betrayal.

    “You’re not stupid,” she whispered. “You know the truth now. And you can take

    “I’m going to kill her,” I growled, the words tasting like venom on my tongue.

    control back.”

    I felt my body tensing again, every inch of me coiled with the desire for revenge.

    “No,” ra’s voice was sharp, stopping me. “Not yet. We need to expose her. Let the world see what she’s done first. You want her ruined before she’s dead, don’t you?”

    I paused. She was right.

    Amara had spent her life controlling everyone around her, pretending to be innocent while manipting us all. But now… now she was going to face the truth. And that truth would destroy her reputation.

    “Dorian’s hosting a party for her tonight,” ra continued, eyes cold with determination. “There’s no better time to bring her down.”

    I blinked, my rage momentarily dampened by the idea.

    “Then let’s get the evidence,” I said quickly. “We’ll destroy her tonight.”

    “No.” ra stopped me again, her eyes narrowing. “Not yet. We need proof she gave the owner the poison. Once we have that, we can end this.”

    b9:20 /bThu, Sep 11

    b40 /b

    55 vouchers

    “Shit,” I cursed. “The office is closed for the night. There’s no way we’re getting the papers for a visit.”

    ra raised an eyebrow. “You’re General Dario. You don’t need papers. Just wave your badge and tell whoever tries to stop you to fuck off.”

    I looked at her, incredulous. “Where the hell did youe from?”

    “You got a better idea?” she retorted with a grin.

    “Alright, fuck it. I’ll break every damn rule today if it means getting answers.”

    We rushed out of the center, making our way to the prison. The soldiers at the gates didn’t even flinch when they saw usb. /b

    “General Dario, Queen ra,” the security leader greeted us, bowing slightly. “What brings you here?”

    “We need to see a prisoner,” I said, barely holding back my frustration.

    He looked at us, confused. “May I see the paperwork?”

    I shifted ufortably. “We don’t have it,” I admitted, an awkward chuckle escaping.

    “WHAT?” The leader blinked, clearly stunned. “But General Dario—”

    I stepped forward, my voice cold. “Look, there’s a bomb about to go off. The prisoner knows where it is. Do you really want to waste time on paperwork when lives are at stake?”

    The soldiers froze, their faces pale. The leader’s eyes widened. “A bomb? Where-?”

    “I’m not here to answer your questions.” ra cut in, her voice sharp as ice. “Move aside, now.”

    The leader was still, clearly rattled. “But-”

    “You want blood on your hands?” she snapped. “Move!”

    The soldiers parted quickly, and we rushed past them, down into the dungeon.

    We got to the third level, breathless. The prison guard passed us on his way up, his face a mask of indifference, but there was something off.

    Something smelled wrong..

    I halted, scanning the hallway. “Wait. Blood.”

    ra’s face hardened as we moved toward thest cell.

    And then we saw it.

    “FUCK!” I shouted, storming inside. The ownery on the floor, blood pooling beneath him.

    ra knelt beside himb, /bchecking his pulse.

    9:20 Thu, Sep 11

    “He’s dead,” she said grimly. “Who the hell did this?”

    :

    I looked around, and something caught my eye. His pocket was turned inside out.

    The guard. The one who passed us.

    b40 /b

    55 vouchers

    “Shit,” I cursed under my breath. “The guard. He took the phone. We have to stop him. He’s the one with the evidence.”

    “Let’s go,” ra said, already pulling me toward the door.

    240