Chapter 22

Barry POV

“Shut up, George,” I snapped, my voice coming out hoarse, guttural, like it had been dragged across gravel. “Not another damn word about Alina. Just… tell me where they took Elizabeth.”

For once, George’s mocking smirk slipped. He studied me, lips parting as if ready with another jab, but instead he drew in a sharp breath and exhaled it slowly. His head tilted against the window, eyes closing briefly.

“Fine,” he muttered. “But after this, I won’t talk about Alina with you again. Not her name, not her past, not her smile. You’ve wrung that woman through enough hell without dragging me into it.”

His words...