Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 118042 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 590(@200wpm)___ 472(@250wpm)___ 393(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 118042 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 590(@200wpm)___ 472(@250wpm)___ 393(@300wpm)
I swallowed hard, cursing Peter and worshipping him all over again. “Did he…did he go quickly?”
She fought back tears. “Caishen said by the time he got to him and Ily, Peter was passed out on top of her. The bullet went into his back. Caishen tried to stem the bleeding, but…”
I nodded and cupped her cheek. “He deserved better.”
“He did.” She nodded and placed her hand over mine. “I can’t believe he’s gone. Mollie didn’t make it, either. They found her dead in the garden.”
I tripped backward. “Fucking hell.”
“We’d planned on moving in together,” Rachel murmured. “Getting work in the same science field. Sharing baby duties. Recovering with someone who’s been there, you know? It was the one thing that kept us going. Knowing we’d have each other…”
“I’m so sorry, Rachel.”
A tear rolled off her nose. She touched her baby bump. “Now, it’s just me and him.” Her face twisted. “I can’t say this to anyone else, but…I can’t decide if I love this baby or absolutely despise him.”
“Because of who his father was?”
She looked me in the eye. “What if he turns out to be like Victor? What if I’m condemning a bunch of other people to horror just by keeping him alive?”
Returning to Ily’s side, I sat and took her hand again. “You can’t know who he’ll become, but you can look at me.” I winced. “I know I did bad things. I hurt people. But…I changed.” I sighed and looked at the open door, keeping my voice down. “Q has a son. He says he isn’t like us, either. That he doesn’t crave pain. So it’s not necessarily genetic. Your son won’t either, Rach. He’s yours, not Victor’s. He’ll grow up to be like you, not him.”
She chewed the inside of her cheek, unwilling to share the rest of her thoughts. “Do you mind if I stay a while?”
“Not at all. The more Ily hears us, the better.”
“Or she’ll think it’s yet another evening at The Jewelry Box.” Rachel made herself comfortable on the chair the doctor had vacated. Her hands rubbed her belly, face twisting with memories. “No one will ever understand what we shared. The things we did.”
I looked away.
Despite what’d happened between us, I felt inexplicably comfortable in Rachel’s company. We’d played unspeakable games. I’d seen Victor do despicable things to her. She’d watched me do perverse things to Ily. And yet…no judgement, no scorn. We were merely two people who’d survived.
“Victor’s dead, Ily,” Rachel spoke louder. “If you can hear us, it’s just me and Henri. He’s here. He’s okay. I didn’t know if he’d survive. That’s why I didn’t tell you he was here before. But he’s holding your hand right now. He wants to take you home and have a fresh start.” A sinful smile quirked her lips. “He also really, really wants to kiss you. I know that look in his eyes. And I’m sure you can guess where that kiss would lead.”
I held my breath, willing, willing Ily to respond.
I deflated when she didn’t.
Casting Rachel a look, I tried to find the strength to joke but couldn’t. “You’ve been talking to her?”
“Ever since I saw you grab that guy’s gun and try to kill yourself.”
“Can you tell me what happened?”
“I didn’t see much really. I was with Ben, Stewart, Pen, and Abby when I saw your brother knock you unconscious. Dr Belford came running from where she’d been treating the other injured jewels. She and Rose helped direct the doctors who came with the soldiers to give care to those most urgent. With you lying unconscious and bleeding and Ily unconscious and bleeding and Peter….” She swallowed hard. “I checked Ily’s pulse and found the faintest heartbeat. It was Dr Belford who asked if anyone had O-negative blood. I knew mine, thanks to a fun biology class where we all pricked ourselves. As we were bundled into a helicopter, she linked me to Ily before another doctor took over, and we flew away. I didn’t stop talking to her the entire flight.”
“I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you.” I bowed my chin. “I can’t say thank you to Peter, but between the two of you, you’re the reason I’m not dead right now. The only reason.”
She gave me a sad smile. “She still needs to wake up first. Then we can talk about gratitude.”
My heart squeezed. I turned back to face Ily.
Silence fell as the stars came out and the sounds of other people in this château faded as they went to bed.
Sleep kept sneaking over my mind as I clung to Ily’s hand.
I needed to rest. I could barely move unassisted, but the thought of leaving her…even for a nap.
I can’t do it.
A couple hours passed by the time Rachel clambered from her chair and headed toward the door. “You know…there is one thing you could give me. If you want…”