Chapter 42

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As the man loomed over me, pinning me down, my breath came in ragged gasps

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As the man loomed over me, pinning me down, my breath came in ragged gasps. His face was inches from mine, and I could barely think straight through the terror that gripped me. The memories of that awful night came rushing back, the same night I had fought so hard to forget. I couldn't let him hurt me again.

"Look, I'm not gonna hurt you, okay?" he said, his voice softer now, as if trying to soothe me. He released my arms, letting me go, but the weight of his touch still lingered, making my skin crawl.

I scrambled to my feet, backing away from him, my heart pounding in my chest. "You expect me to believe that?" I spat, my voice trembling with anger and fear. "I need to get to my husband."

His expression hardened as he stood, moving closer to me. "No, I can't let you do that," he said, his voice low, almost pleading.

"Stay the fuck away from me!" I screamed, raising my hands defensively, and he immediately stopped, his hands hovering in the air as if to show he meant no harm.

"I'm sorry... but I can't let you do that," he repeated, his hand pressing against his chest, like he was trying to convince himself as much as me.

Panic surged through me. "I'm going back in that casino, and I'm getting my husband. He could be dying!" I cried, trying to move around him, but he stepped into my path, blocking me.

"He's not dead," the man said firmly, his eyes locking onto mine.

"How do you know that? I heard gunshots!" I demanded, my voice breaking as I tried to push past him.

"My brother doesn't have the greenlight to kill a man like Elias," he said, his words stopping me cold.

"Your brother?" I echoed, confusion mixing with the fear as I stared at him, trying to make sense of what he was saying.

"Yes," he admitted, his voice heavy with shame. "He's the one who hurt you that night."

I shook my head, backing away again, disbelief flooding my mind. "That was you... I remember the tattoo," I insisted, my voice rising in pitch as I tried to convince myself of the truth I had believed for so long.

"We're twins," he explained, the words coming out reluctantly, like he was disgusted to even speak them. "We have the same tattoo. Mine is on my right hand; his is on his left."

His words hung in the air between us, and for a moment, all I could do was stare at him, the horror of the revelation slowly sinking in. He wasn't the man who had assaulted me, but he was connected to him.

"I know you want answers" he added, taking a cautious step toward me. "But they won't be answered here."

"If you take another step towards her, I'll blow your fucking head off," Lelani's voice cut through the tension like a knife. I turned to see her standing behind me, her hands steady as she pointed a gun directly at him.

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