Chapter 5

"Move," I said again.

Damian stepped away from the door.

The simple act made my knees feel briefly unreliable. I locked them and stayed where I was.

"What does disappear mean?"

"A new identity. A place Hale couldn't reach."

"Who is Hale?"

"Victor Hale. Your father's former associate."

"And if I refused?"

He didn't answer quickly enough.

Nadia's voice came from the phone.

"Isabella, leave the room."

"If you refused," Damian said.

"the order allowed them to take you."

There it was. No comforting mistranslation. No proof that I had overreacted.

"You signed it."

"Yes."

"For five years."

"Yes."

I…