Page 34 of Inside the Sun

It’s official. This guy is insane.

His words are like ice picks sliding down my throat. Swallowing hurts. Even my saliva feels frozen.

Anzo’s eyes stay impassive.

"I’m waiting," he says.

Waves of cold take over my body. I start trembling.

"Please don’t do this," I whisper. "Please…"

Tears well up in my eyes. A moment later, I’m full-on sobbing, like the scared teen I am.

Yes. Five minutes with Anzo in the same room, and I’m falling apart.

I clasp my hands in front of me like a begging cat.

"Please, just leave him alone! My dad’s been through hell; he used to be a slave. I’m begging you, let him be happy! If you kill him, you’ll destroy my father too, they’re True Mates!"

The words tumble out of me before I can stop them, and I realize how pathetic I sound. Like I’m stupid enough to think pleading could touch the heart of a mafia boss. All I’m really doing is showing him what matters to me, handing him my weaknesses on a silver platter, the worst possible move with someone like him.

And that’s when I see it. A faint smile flickers across Anzo’s face. Like he’s cracked me.

I thought I was some badass, top of my game, but of course not. I’m just a kid. I don’t think five moves ahead like Anzo does.

"That’s why I asked for someone you care about the least, pet. Pick that person."

"Are they going to die?"

"Not necessarily. Depends entirely on you."

I squeeze my eyes shut and take a slow, deep breath. Then I open them again.

I hesitate. My gaze drifts, catching something behind Anzo.

A wall at the back of the room, cluttered with educational posters, probably part of last year’s Beta Empowerment campaign led by Dante Moll.

"BETA LIVES MATTER"

"WE’RE SECOND IN NAME, NOT IN WORTH"

"BETAS HOLD CIVILIZATION TOGETHER"

"BETAS: THE REAL STRENGTH"

And a dozen other slogans, all loud and desperate in their own way.

I pause. What I’m about to do is awful, but I decide to play his game.

"Winter," I say. "He’s the one I’m least close to."

Anzo’s brow twitches. He takes a step back toward his desk and glances at the laptop there. Reads something, looks back at me.

"Winter… He’s the only beta among your siblings, right?"

"That’s right."

I watch him carefully, but he remains visibly unfazed.

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