Page 46 of The Mercenary's Hidden Heir

Her jaw tightens, eyes flashing.

"You’re the only one strong enough to get them out."

I turn away, dragging a hand through my filthy hair, staring at the horizon burning red under the planet’s dying sun.

The easy thing—the smart thing—is to walk away.

Cut ties.

Let the past rot where it belongs.

But as I stand there, fists shaking, blood leaking from my side, I know the truth.

There’s no walking away.

Not from this.

Not from them.

Not anymore.

I spin back to her, jaw set.

"Where are they?" I rasp.

Silpha exhales, shoulders sagging for just a second, like she’d been holding her breath all this time.

"In the scavenger quarter," she says. "Sector Six. Old freight tunnels under the scrap fields."

"And Kelli?" I snap.

She meets my eyes.

"Fighting every damn day to keep those kids fed and hidden. Same as she’s always done."

Pride. Sadness. Something sharp flickers across Silpha’s face.

"They’re hers, through and through," she says, voice hitching. "But they’re yours too."

The words land like hammer blows.

Mine.

A future I never believed I deserved.

A future I sure as hell don’t deserve now.

But fate doesn’t care about what you think you’ve earned.

It just keeps coming.

I tighten my grip on the gun.

"Take me to them," I say.

"Now."

Silpha nods once, fast.

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