My heart rattles in my chest. No, I’m not dying. This isn’t happening.
I look down, seeing the knife under Igor’s belt dripping fresh blood.
I shake my head, struggling against the cloth.
“Please!”
Reality crashes over me. I always thought I had more time. I never got the chance to leave the magazine. To see what would have happened if I designed my own label.
I twist and turn, but it’s pointless. The man just grips tighter. And he’s starting to squish my diaphragm.
“When we take this cloth away from you, Joy, you’re going to stay quiet. Do you understand?”
I frown. They covered the guards’ mouths when they killed them.
Does that mean I’m off the hook?
“Do you understand, Joy?”
I nod. As soon as they give me my mouth back, I’ll be screaming. That’s for damn sure. I need Valerian out here. He can snap his own son’s neck for all I fucking care.
Igor shuffles closer. His eyes are familiar. But as for the rest of his face, I don’t recognize him. Especially since his entire face is speckled red with blood.
I look into his eyes and feel sick. Everything we had was fake. He was lying to me right from the very beginning. Even his dating profile was a load of bullshit.
I was rushing downstairs a few days ago, hoping Valerian hadn’t killed his own son.
Honestly, Valerian can do his worst. I don’t care. Igor wasted my time. He made me believe we had something. He used to come home and surprise me with flowers. He told me that I was special. That I was worth fighting for.
“If you scream, Joy, Valerian dies.”
“W-what?”
Igor smiles. But it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “I knew it.”
“Knew what exactly?”
Igor laughs instead of answering my question. “You really are full of surprises, Joy.” Igor steps forward. “If I kill Valerian, you would be set free. Which is what you want, right?” Igor answers for me. “Wrong. You want my father.” He snorts. “A lot of people want him. Even when it comes at a cost to their freedom.”
Igor signals to the man behind me, and hefinallyreleases me.
I can breathe through my mouth again. I spit the cloth onto the ground and struggle against the man. It would be nice if he’d let go.
“Where’s Valerian?”
“He took a trip down to Rodeo Drive,” says Igor. “He puts a lot of trust in his drivers.”
My breath hitches. “What have you done?”
“Oh,” laughs Igor. “Nothing yet. But I can do something if you scream. Joy.” He narrows his eyes. “Do youwantme to do something?”
“Why?” I challenge him. “So I can move back to Malibu with you? I’m good. Thanks.”
“Hm.” Igor clicks his tongue. “My father threw a spanner in the works with that one, as he often does. Not to worry.” Igor looks back at me. “We’ll make him pay.”
“We?”
I’m now being grabbed by Igor. He guides me over to the loungers and gestures for me to sit.