Chapter 126. Shadowed Commands

Kane's POV

The kitchen had never felt smaller. Tension bled from every surface, thickening the air, coiling like smoke. I leaned against the edge of the island, one eye on Charlotte—who sat pale but stubborn beside the stove—and the other on the ticking clock. The steady hum of the refrigerator was the only sound, but even that felt too loud.

She looked like she might snap in two. Her hands trembled slightly around the mug, and every few seconds, her eyes flicked toward the hallway. Her chest rose and fell too fast, her lips pressed into a thin line like she was trying not to cry or scream.

 I hated seeing her like this. Charlotte could never handle betrayal—books, TV shows, hell, even bad jokes got under her skin if someone was lying. And now she had to sit here and live it.

"You okay?" I sent through the link, watching her f