Chapter One Hundred& Fifty Four

Emma's eyes flew open, taking in her surroundings in a panic. She was in a dimly lit room, the walls bare and unwelcoming. The voices were coming from a partially open door to her left. She strained to hear more, her heart racing.

"After that, where are we going to dispose off her body?" The voice cut through again. Emma slowly sat up, her breath catching in her throat. She strained to listen, her heart pounding as if it wanted to leap out of her chest. It was now clear they were talking about her, and she shuddered in fear.

"We have to hold on," the first voice continued, calm but firm. "We don't know if any of the witnesses at the restaurant might say something to the police. We need to let this die down first."

A second voice, sharper and more insistent, replied, "Mr. Mario said immediately."

The voices faded, their footsteps echoing down the corridor. Emma's muscles tensed, and she felt a wave of cold sweat break out on her forehead. She tried to lift her hand to wipe it away, but