Igor, still watching me, takes a step forward, sticking his face right in mine. “You can’t help but take everything away from me, can you?” His eyes are full of poison. “Mom. Joy. You take the two most important people from me and continue walking through life with your head held high. You have no shame.”
I turn around, noting Joy on the edge of the building, pinned down by two of his men. “Don’t start with the crocodile tears,” I say. “You’re better than that. You don’t care about Joy. If you did, she wouldn’t be here.”
“Not the point I’m trying to make.” He tenses his jaw. “All you’ve ever cared about is yourself, which works out highly in your favor. Until now.” My own son is looking at me like a hawk. Like he’s the bird and I’m the prey.
If he knew the truth, he wouldn’t be looking at me like he wants me chopped up.
But this isn’t a joke anymore. Joy’s life is on the line because I’m protecting him.
“You finally found someone you care about,” he spits. He looks at me maliciously. “And it’s not even your own fucking son.”
Again, not entirely true.
He can believe that.
But if he’s messing with Joy’s life at the same time, we have a problem.
I fold my arms over my chest. Niko loiters behind me, hand on his belt where the butcher knife and gun are being kept.
“Siguard framed your grandfather.” I stare at Igor, waiting for his face to drop. “It was back in Russia. He murdered a boy and blamed it on him. Siguard sent yourgrandfatherto prison. And he died in that prison.” I step closer. “Wake up, Igor. You really think this man wants to help you? Think again. He wants to destroy our family. And you’ll be next once I’m out of the way.”
Not like I’m going to let that happen.
“Well,” Siguard scoffs, “that’s not entirely true.” Wind blows between us, flapping the lapels of his jacket.
He doesn’t have any hair for it to blow. He’s almost bald. I can see straight into his eyes, and they’re even grayer than his skin.
I was wrong about the bastard being a few years away from his grave. He should be in it. He’s nothing but skin and bones. The wind should have knocked him off this roof by now.
Maybe mother nature is waiting for me to take care of that.
“Less of the dramatics,” I sigh. “I’ve heard enough from you already over the phone.” I unsheathe my knife. “Release Joy.”
Siguard flashes me a look, then looks past me, whistling at the two masked men taking care of her.
The same thing happens. They lift her into the air. Her scream cuts through the wind, straight into my chest like a dagger.
“Fine.” I slip the knife back under my belt for thesecondtime this evening.
Igor, standing beside him, shakes his head, scoffing. “Fucking unbelievable. You actually care.”
I pin my son a glare. Now isn’t the time for him to pipe up.
Siguard flashes me a smug smile. I’ve seen plenty of those. He keeps watching me, the wind battering his suit jacket. It’s wearing him more than he’s wearing it. “You think I’m here because I want to destroy your family?” The twisted smile grows on his face. “Oh, Valerian. You’re still the naïve little boy from Russia I met all those years ago, thinking you know the way the world works.”
“Politicians always have been sanctimonious fucks, thinking they know everything. Using words instead of real violence.”
“Very well.” Siguard raises his brow. “How’s this for some words—Jamie Dunston. You remember him? The father of your late wife, Rachel.”
Igor shifts beside him.
Fuck.
I clench my jaw, my heart thrashing.
Do I lose my son and Joy, all in one day?
The sun sinks closer to the horizon. The sky is red and orange. The last few leaks of daylight land directly on Siguard’s face, enhancing that cruel look in his eye, the one I remember as a boy when the car drove past him across the street.