She motioned for me to follow her. I hesitated, but curiosity overpowered my fear. The air was thick with dust and the scent of damp earth. The deeper we went, the colder it got. Finally, Lesley stopped in front of a metal door. She pushed it open, revealing a small, windowless room lit by a single, flickering bulb.
“This is where I planned my escape,” she said quietly, running her fingers along the old wooden table in the center.
I frowned. “Escape from what?”
She let out a bitter laugh. “From the life James forced me into.”
I stayed silent, waiting for her to continue.
Lesley leaned against the table, arms crossed. “I used to be a hitwoman, Zoey. I was damn good at it. Until James found out who I really was. He dug into my past, uncovered my weaknesses, and the moment he found my mother…” Her voice cracked for a second before she composed herself. “He had her killed.”
I sucked in a breath.
She exhaled slowly. “That’s when I knew—I couldn’t keep doing this. I left that world behind, changed my name, and disappeared. Damon saved me, but I never stopped wanting revenge.”
Her eyes locked onto mine. “Now, we have the same enemy. So, tell me—are you ready to fight back?”