The Day Silence Spoke novel Chapter 286

Latisha pressed her lips together and glanced at the ankle monitor. He must have used it to find her.

Though he had a violent streak and had tormented her before, she never expected him to be the one to rescue her. She raised her hands and signed two words: *Thank you.*

"Your thanks isn't worth much," Santino said, trying to stand. But the movement split his wound open, and he collapsed back onto the sofa with a grunt.

Latisha looked down and saw blood seeping through his black pants, staining them a deeper shade of crimson.

*You're bleeding,* she signed.

Santino seemed unfazed by the pain, still smiling. "What? Are you worried about me?"

She lowered her gaze and stood up to leave. She couldn't afford to get entangled with him again.

"You ungrateful girl. I save you, and now you're just going to leave me here?"

Latisha paused and looked back at him. In the dim light, his face was pale from blood loss, and his smile seemed weaker.

After a moment's silence, she signed, *I'll treat your wound. Can you promise to leave me alone after this?*

Santino watched her hands move, a playful glint in his eyes. Her earnest expression was so full of naive sincerity.

"Help me first, and then I'll consider it."

Latisha kept her distance, hesitant to approach him.

"That tracker on your ankle," Santino added. "Don't you want it off?"

She paused, eyeing him with suspicion. She didn't trust him.

"I'll give you a chance. Call me 'brother,' and I'll let you go. How about it?"

The word 'brother' made her stiffen. She couldn't tell if he was joking or if he had actually overheard something last night. But Clifford had said there was no signal.

"Are you going to say it or not?" Santino tightened his grip on her chin.

She looked away, her lips pressed into a stubborn line.

He laughed at her defiant expression. "Getting you to say a single word is quite the challenge, isn't it?" He released her. "Help me out of here."

Latisha breathed a silent sigh of relief. She put her arm around him and helped him to his feet.

But they had only taken two steps when the door swung open, and a chilling figure appeared in the doorway.