?Chapter 947:


    Amon chuckled, as if they were just catching up about the weather. “Oh, and by the way, the Carter family’s basement? Not exactly my style. A bit too gloomy. I’ve made myselffortable elsewhere. It was more interesting when you were around, though.”


    Just like that, Ste realized he was no longer in custody.


    He’d either escaped on his own, or someone from his side had broken him out. Or worse—the Carters had just let him go and kept it from her. Did they even know he was gone?


    Her breathing grew heavier. When she first met Amon, he seemed like your typical smooth-talking yboy. She never expected he’d be such a damn headache.


    Amon, clearly enjoying her silence, let out another lowugh. “You must be in a real bind. Honestly, I don’t think you’re equipped to deal with this on your own. But if you work with…”


    …me, I could fix this. I’ll keep you and the research institute safe. I might even tell you a few things about your mother.” That old trick again.


    He’d dangled that carrot before, and back then, she’d taken the bait. But now? She wasn’t so easy to y.


    Amon’s voice dropped, smooth and calcted. “We’ve known each other a while now, haven’t we? I like you, Ste. Think about it.”


    Her fingers went ice-cold around the phone. When Amon said he liked her, it didn’t make her heart flutter—it made her stomach turn. Someone like him didn’t know the first thing about real feelings.


    “Amon,” she said, voice hard and steady, “making a deal with the devil is basically asking to die. You really think I’m dumb enough to trust you? Even if my name gets dragged through the mud, I’ll never work with you.”


    Her tone was resolute, clearly not willing topromise.


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    He let out a low snort. “Still as stubborn as ever.” He didn’t sound surprised. If anything, he sounded amused. “That’s fine. I’ve got time. Sooner orter, when they kick you out of the institute and everyone turns their backs on you, you’lle running. Oh, and do say hi to dear William for me. Let him know the real game’s just getting started.”


    Game? What damn game?


    Before she could say a word, he hung up. Ste stared at the screen as the busy tone beeped in her ear.


    Rage simmered in her chest, but she had no outlet.


    With a heavy sigh, she set the phone down and leaned back into the couch, the exhaustion washing over her all at once.


    Amon was free. His people had gotten to him. Clearly, his organization had its fingers in way more ces than she’d thought.


    On top of that, the research institute was taking massive hits from the data breach. The weight of it all was suffocating.


    Even if William did want her back, would she even have the guts to return?


    William hadn’t said much, but she knew—he’d done everything he could to shield her from the fallout. He’d pulled strings to silence the media, and Luca was digging hard to find out who was behind the hack. But the consequences were still unraveling.


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