Bella's hands trembled as she gripped the burner phone Damien had tossed her.
"You have one chance," he said, his voice cold. "Call her. Find out the truth."
Her stomach twisted. She didn't want to believe it. Could Ava really betray her?
With a deep breath, she dialed.
The phone rang twice before her sister picked up.
"Bella?" Ava's voice was shaky, urgent.
Bella swallowed hard. "Ava… I need you to be honest with me. Did you tell anyone where I was?"
Silence.
Then Ava whispered, "I didn't have a choice."
Bella's breath hitched. "Oh my God…"
"They came to me, Bella. Morelli's men. They said if I didn't help, they'd kill me. I—I was terrified. I thought if I just gave them the location, they'd take Damien and leave you alone!"
Bella's knees nearly buckled.
"You don't understand," Ava continued. "Morelli doesn't just want Damien dead. He wants to own you. He said he'd spare your life… if you agreed to be his."
A chill shot down Bella's spine.
Damien stepped closer, his expression murderous. "Put it on speaker."
Bella did as he asked. "Ava," she said, her voice barely a whisper, "tell me you didn't agree to his deal."
Ava sobbed. "I tried to protect you, I swear! But Morelli—he's on his way, Bella. He's coming for you."
A deadly silence filled the room.
Damien grabbed the phone. "If you've put her in danger, Ava, there's no place on this earth you can hide." His voice was pure, lethal promise.
Ava choked out a breath. "You think you're the only one willing to kill for her?"
The line went dead.
Bella stared at the phone, heart hammering. "She's in danger."
Damien's jaw tightened. "No. We are."
Leo burst into the room, gun in hand. "We need to go. Now."
Ava's betrayal had just set off a war.
And Bella wasn't sure who would survive it