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“And how do I do that?”
“I’ll teach you. But you must promise me. No matter what, if the situation calls for it, you’ll do what’s necessary to survive.”
“Can I touch it?” I whisper, and he cocks his brow. “The blade. I’d like to feel the weapon that will kill my baby.” Excitement flashes in his gaze while I swallow back the bile rising from even uttering something like this, but like my dad said.
Whatever it takes.
“Ah, there is a darkness in you.”
“Yes.”
He extends his hand, leaving his palm splayed open, and despite the disgust, I trace my fingers over the bloody knife, noticing its sharp edges that remind me of a butcher's knife. “It’s beautiful. Will it make your job easier?”
“Oh yes. It requires little pressure from me, and you have a perfect cut. I won’t be gentle with you, so I’ll probably injure your baby in the process and finish the job once it’s out. I want to stare into his eyes and whisper to him that his father failed him.”
“What a plan you have.” Hurt penetrates my body and makes breathing difficult, but I gather all my strength and glance at the cave’s opening.
I can barely see the outside from the pouring rain. “Mother Nature cries right along with you, darling,” he murmurs, and I look back at him. “It’s a beautiful evening to lose a life.”
“Right.” I cover the blade with my hand, and he grins at me. “I have only one thing left to say to you.”
He sighs in exasperation. “No begging or pleading. It’ll only bore and annoy me. I won’t change my mind.”
“I’m Lucian Cortez’s daughter. I would not beg a monster.” I stretch a wide smile on my face, and confusion settles on his features, transforming into anger when I spit at him, “Go to hell, Frederick.”
I grab the blade from him and stab his side. His cry echoes through the space as I kick him away, and he lands on his back while I use this opportunity to get up and dart toward the opening, ignoring my body whimpering in pain and urging me to lie down.
Instead, I run, and instantly, the rain soaks me as I rush through the forest, barely seeing anything but silhouettes, needing to get away as far as possible so the psychopath won’t catch me.
Thick air sticks in my lungs. My legs and back are killing me with how much the crushing and agonizing sensations spread through me, but I refuse to succumb to them.
As long as I run, my baby will have a chance.
Thunder booms louder, the wind whooshes all around me and sways me to the side while the rain pours so rapidly it’s hard to take deep breaths.
“You little bitch!” Frederick roars into the night, behind me, still too close. I’m probably not running as fast as I could have under different circumstances. “Fucking bitch.”
I dart to the side, biting hard on my lip and tasting blood on my tongue as I still my whimper of pain when I fall to my knees in the mud. Getting up on shaky legs, I race forward again, all the while he continues to bellow after me.
However, the stabbing pain returns, and this time, it’s so strong, I freeze and cover my mouth as tears stream down my cheeks. I lean against a nearby tree, resting my back against it, not knowing what to do now.
I can run just for so long before the baby comes, and then he will have no chance.
“Come out now, Jimena, and I might spare you a little. I won’t cut anything off but your baby. You fucking bitch,” he rages, and I squeeze my free fist, urging myself to move somewhere.
I try to take a step when another sensation pierces my back, and the barely audible cry that emerges from my throat must be loud enough for Frederick to locate me. “Got you.”
“Move, Jimena. Move,” I whisper while crying. “You have to move.” But I can’t. I just can’t. I want to lie down because my muscles refuse to do anything else. I close my eyes and open them when someone grabs me by the shoulders. “No,” I whisper but exhale when I see Florian. “You’re here.” He kisses me hard on the mouth, a kiss that has nothing to do with passion and everything with relief. “He induced my labor, Florian.”
“You stay here, do you hear me?” He removes his dark four ring and slips it on my finger, pressing on the diamond. “Right here, Jimena.”
“The baby, Florian. The baby is coming.” That’s all I can think about, but he just kisses me again and darts off, leaving me alone as another contraction hits. I slide down the tree and pull my legs apart, breathing heavily while everything fades away.
I can’t focus on anything but the pain consuming me whole, and my fear. I seem to sit like this forever, counting the contractions and speaking to the baby. “Please, little one. Not now. Hold on.” I know it’s useless because the baby is coming.
He’s coming, and I can’t do anything to protect him.
“Jimena!”
