Despite the deafening roar of the helicopter cabin.


    The moment Hans spoke those words, the air between them seemed to fall entirely silent.


    Deep down, Thaddeus was already slowly piecing back his feelings for Evadne. His previously ice-locked mind rippled with genuine emotion every time he saw her. Watching her stand next to Chad caused an uncontroble tremor in his chest, apanied by a dull, throbbing pain in his neural pathways.


    If he didn''t fiercelypartmentalize his feelings, the resulting agony felt as though his skull was being split open, a bone-deep torment that made him wish for death. It could trigger severe muscle spasms and leave him struggling just to draw breath.


    How could he fight Chad like that?


    How could he protect her?


    "Some things can''t simply be summarized by words like ''letting her down'' or ''not letting her down.""


    Thaddeus''s eyes grew heavy and dark. With swift, practiced precision, he used forceps to extract the bullet buried deep in Hans''s left shoulder. Hans merely grimaced, not uttering a single sound. "Right now, I have no idea how long I''ll even survive.


    "Furthermore, Chad is highly fixated on Evadne at the moment. If I get too close to her right now, it will undoubtedly bring a massive amount of danger straight to her door.


    "If Chad discovers that she and I are still intimately connected, there is no telling what that lunatic will do. You''ve worked under him for years. You must know exactly what he''s capable of."


    Hans lowered his gaze, descending into a heavy, oppressive silence.


    No one understood Chad''s methods better than he did.


    The man was a textbook psychopath a twisted, deranged monster.


    Thaddeus finished bandaging the wound and abruptly asked his voice low a few things I need you to rify for me."


    yoo here are


    Hans offered a faint, pale smile. "Even if you didn''t ask, I was nning to tell you."


    He had toy out everything he knew about Chad Abernathy and Alexia.


    Otherwise, he didn''t know which woulde first: tomorrow, or a sudden, violent death.


    Thaddeus steadied his breathing, his gaze as sharp as a hawk''s. "Alexia. Is she Acacia Stirling?"


    Hans nodded. "Yes. She was starving and living on the streets in Country when Chad found her. He took her in,pletely rebranded her, taught her medical science, and gave her a fake identity. He put her through extensive reconstructive surgeries-ever altering her vocal cords-so she could severall ties with her past. She was reborn as apletely different person, kept on a tight leash by his side."


    "Is she his lover?"


    "As psychotic and monstrous as Chad is, Alexia doesn''t evene close to qualifying as his lover."


    Hans let out a dark chuckle. "Just like me, she''s nothing more than a trained pawn. Once he squeezes thest drop of usefulness out of her, hell discard her like trash or destroy her"


    Thaddeus nodded thoughtfully. In truth, he was merely confirming the theory he and Evadne had already deduced.


    Evadne was sharp and brilliant. She had guessed early on that Alexia was actually Acacia, warning him to be on guard.


    Little did she know, apart from her, he was utterly incapable of harboring even a shred of interest in any other woman.


    Thaddeus stared deeply into Hans''s cold, calcting eyes. "What about you? How did you end up following Chad?"


    Hans''s dark pupils were void of light, resembling an endless abyss.