Asa's POV

Sophia’s voice was breathless, her chest heaving from the run and her eyes wild with both exhaustion and hope.

For a moment, I just stood there, staring at her as her words echoed in my head like a distant thunder I couldn’t quite believe I’d heard.

Then I turned my gaze slowly to Dario.

He was still on his knees, trembling, sweat and tears streaming down his blood-smeared face. His breathing came in ragged gasps— the sound of a broken man trying to stay alive.

My voice ...