Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 1163

Whitney flinched at his shout, startled and on edge. "What's in there?" she asked, her voice shaky.

Parker whipped around, eyes wide when he saw Whitney unzipping the duffel bag. He froze for a split second, glancing at Ludwik's icy, murderous face, then lunged forward, yanking Whitney away. "Don't open it!" he barked.

Whitney stumbled back, catching a glimpse inside the bag-bloody, mangled flesh, impossible to make out but terrifying enough. Bile rose in her throat and her heart pounded like a jackhammer. Some awful suspicion took hold, but she forced herself to stay steady. "What's in there, Ludwik?" she pressed, voice trembling. "Is that... is that Bryce's body?"

Ludwik's lips pressed into a thin, grim line. He said nothing, his skin pale and cold as marble.

Parker kicked the bag away, disgust twisting his features. "It's Bryce's leg," he spat. "Ludwik cut it clean off, but those bastards still dragged Bryce onto the chopper. You should've seen Ludwik-never seen him like that before, totally lost it. Wouldn't leave without bringing the limb back."

Whitney's heart nearly stopped.

She'd rarely seen this side of Ludwik before the blood, the violence, the fury.

really, truly hate

Maybe he survives, but he'll never be whole again. Not worth risking everything over a scumbag like him. That's

in numb silence as the nurses pushed Ludwik into the operating room, her heart sinking. "You did the right thing,

quickly to the surgery doors, arms

He knew she'd been through enough—bad news piling up, loved

Ludwik's tough as nails. He'll pull through." She wiped away her tears, hugging

grimace. "You stay here and

didn't even catch Bryce. Those people are dangerous,

know by now.

was tight, his

medicine, maybe they could reattach a freshly severed limb. Maybe Parker

stop him. She just nodded. "Just be careful, Parker. If anything happens to you, what about Tiana

a crooked smile. "I'm not as reckless as Ludwik,