"Name."
The single word echoed through the dark room.
It wasn't loud. It wasn't threatening. Yet it carried a weight so overwhelming that the temperature in the room seemed to plummet.
Florine's entire body shook beneath Xander's bloodshot eyes. There was no room for bargaining. No room for excuses.
He wanted one thing—the truth.
Sweat rolled down her temples as her heart pounded violently against her ribs.
She tried to hold on, but under his unwavering stare, every ounce of courage she had left crumbled.
Her lips parted.
"...Gavin Emerson."
Silence.
For a brief second, nothing happened.
Then—
Thud.
The chair scraped sharply against the concrete floor as Xander rose to his feet.
Florine flinched so violently that the chair beneath her nearly tipped over. She had expected relief. She had expected him to finally believe she was cooperating.
Instead... he slowly walked toward her.
