And Siguard is encouraging him to channel all that hurt and anger. He’s weaponizing my own son against me.
“You may have saved Mom, put her out of her misery,” says Igor, “but that doesn’t change anything. You’re still here, taking everything away. Getting her pregnant. You wouldn’t have met Joy if it wasn’t for me.”
I pull Igor to one side. “Stop focusing on me and ask yourself why Siguard is telling you this information.” I glare at him. “He wants to win. It doesn’t matter whose side you’re on. This manwillleave you for dead as soon as he gets what he wants out of you.”
Feeling Siguard watching us, I turn and flash him evils. How much more of my life does he want to ruin? He took my father. Now he’s taking my son. He even took the words out of Joy’s mouth before she was ready to speak them. There’s a price for his actions and I’ll make sure he’ll pay every fucking last cent.
The wind blows between us, and somehow, despite his frame, Siguard remains standing. Not even the force of nature can knock him.
He’s like a shadow I can’t shake off, always around finding new ways to ruin me. I’m putting an end to this, even if I turn into the same monster he is as a result.
25
JOY
Valerian’s gonna die.I’m sure of it.
I stumble backwards into an air conditioning unit.
Seven more masked figures barrel forward. I scream, feeling something cold wrap around my wrist. Not something.Someone.
I look up. One of Siguard’s friends has my wrists locked. They’re all wearing the same masks, cut off at their noses. I wish they were full length so I couldn’t see their cruel smiles.
“Please, stop,” I beg as the man drags me back to the edge of the roof for the hundredth time. I’ve lost count of how many times life has flashed before my eyes this evening. Being pushed flat on my face was the first time, and honestly, I’d relive that experience over and over again just to get out of what they’re doing to me now.
My heart batters in my chest, shaking my entire body. “Please!” I start screaming again.
The wind howls down my ear canals, whipping my hair.
Terror digs its sharp claws into my heart, making everything hurt. It’s exhausting, being scared, not knowing what’s around the corner. There’s a line, and when you’re on the right side of it, the adrenaline can feel exciting. But I’m way over the line right now.
If I don’t lose my life tonight, Valerian will.
I peer over my shoulder, screaming his name. But he’s too busy thrusting his knife into one of the attackers. The man releases a blood curdled scream, his dead body thumping to the floor a few seconds later.
I’m pregnant,I remind myself as the man brings me to the edge of the building. He grabs my head, forcing me to look down at the drop. This is the worst way to die. Being strangled is nothing compared to free falling a hundred stories.
You wouldn’t thump to the ground like these dead bodies.
You’d gosplat.
My pulse is racing. At this point, it’s humming like the air conditioning units.
“You heard what he just said,” I say to the man as he holds me in place over the edge. “I’m pregnant. This is no way to treat a pregnant woman.”
“You’re carrying your husband’s child and he’s still choosing to fight,” says the man. “Valerian had options. If he cared about you so much, he’d put the knife down and hand over his business.”
“You’re wrong,” I sob.
“See for yourself,” says the man, spinning me around. “Your husband made his choice.”
Tears conceal my vision, everything going blurry. I watch the blood spray across Valerian’s angry face.
Angry is an understatement. Fine lines cut twice as deep into his face as he moves through the masked men, killing them with Niko.
Doesn’t he want another child? Doesn’t he want me?
I turn my head back around, looking down. I can see all the different boulevards and avenues up here. Cars thread between the buildings, stopping when the lights tell them to. Control is everywhere, even in everyday life.