Page 139 of Inside the Sun

He swallows. I know the sight of my bruises and how pale I am has hit him hard.

He’s trying not to show it, but it’s all over his face. Ragnar’s eyes are filled with both sadness and happiness, if that’s even possible.

"How are you, Sun?" His voice is soft, almost tender. That warmth radiating off him squeezes something tight in my chest.

"Not great, if I’m being honest," I whisper. My voice shakes.

He makes a small movement, his hand twitches like he wants to reach out to me, but he stops himself.

Another pause. His eyes trace my face, then drop to my neck and shoulders, taking in the bruises there too.

"What did he do to you, Sun?" he asks, his voice low.

His sharp, masculine face isn’t particularly expressive, but I still can read him like a book. I can see the emotions swirling inside: pity, concern… and rage. So much rage at Anzo.

"All kinds of things," I mutter vaguely. "None of them fun." I don’t want to talk about it, to create more horror than what already lives in me. I’ve had enough of that. I glance out the window at the thick greenery in the garden.

"Are you in pain?"

I snort. "I basically am pain."

Bitterness floods my voice, and I hate it. I hate sounding like a victim. But I don’t know how to escape this feeling, this defeat.

"Why did he lock you up in there, Sun?"

"Because I wouldn’t let Rocco rape me."

Ragnar goes pale and presses his lips together.

"That sounds like something Anzo would actually be happy about."

"Yeah, I thought so too. But lately… I’ve realized Anzo is a weak capo. He holds power over them only thanks to his… electroshocks, and that might not be enough when he has to stand in front of Rocco and all that intimidating, animal sexuality alphas have."

"I’ve had the same thought, unfortunately."

"I think he was relieved that Luca took care of the Vito situation, made it clear to the soldiers that Anzo’s boys are off-limits. But Rocco… is a different case. He’s underboss. He dares to challenge Anzo more boldly."

"Yes. Again, I think the same."

"But… that’s not even the main thing. It’s not what I want to tell you. It’s the reason why Anzo let me out."

Ragnar lifts a brow.

I hesitate, then finally say it.

"He told me… if I give him Summer’s secret, he’ll let me go."

I feel Ragnar’s body tense like a wire about to snap. He turns away sharply, as if he doesn’t want me to see his face, and walks over to the gazebo window, staring outside.

After a pause, he asks slowly, "Does Summer have a secret?"

"Not that I know of," I lie, but I know he knows I’m lying.

He turns back toward me and our eyes lock. He studies me for a long moment, like he’s trying to see straight into my soul, and maybe he actually does.

"You’re not gonna tell Anzo, are you?"

What a strange way of asking. Almost as if he didn’t even hear my lie.

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