Chapter 104

SEBASTIAN

The clock ticked somewhere behind me, its rhythm grating against the tension that had been building in my chest since Diego’s call came through.

“Sebastian, I’m sending it now,” Diego said, his voice tight with something that sounded dangerously close to dread. “You might want to sit down for this.”

I already was.

My laptop pinged. The email came through. Attached: DNA Result – Confidential.

I opened it, my pulse slowing and quickening all at once. The moment my eyes found the words, I froze.

Result: 99.9% match.

For a long moment, I just stared at the screen.

Then the words started to sink in — sharp, deliberate, cruel.

Ninety-nine point nine.

No.

No.

No.

I shoved back my chair, running a hand over my jaw, trying to breathe through the suffocating noise in my head.

“Diego,” I said, my voice low, dangerous. “Tell me this is a mistake.”

He was silent for too long. “I triple-checked th