Page 147 of Hidden

Then I spoke.

“I know Dante and Laura hate their match,” I said, forcing the words out steadily. “They can barely stand being around each other. Laura has spoken to me about leaving. Running away in the dead of the night. We could offer her protection. The VP’s old lady?” I forced a laugh. “Imagine how much that would have to hurt.”

My father stayed quiet, pondering my words, looking as though he didn’t believe a word of it.

“And Macbeth!” I blurted out.

“What about Macbeth?”

“Crash is phasing him out. He’s already decided that Dante will be president. Poor bastard has no idea.”

Each sentence felt like a betrayal, like I were carving pieces out of myself and handing them over.

But on that screen, Vienna still stood there.

Still waiting.

Still alive.

Silence followed, heavy and deliberate, as my father studied me. Then, slowly, he smiled.

“Well done, baby girl,” he murmured, stepping forward and cupping my face. I forced myself to stay still as he pressed a kiss to my forehead. “I knew you wouldn’t disappoint me.”

The praise felt worse than any punishment.

My stomach churned, my hand still resting protectively over it as if I could somehow shield what was inside me.

His gaze followed the movement.

“Oh, baby,” he sighed. “You’ve got yourself in a bit of trouble, haven’t you?”

“I… I don’t know—”

“It’s okay,” he said, kissing my forehead again. “We can get it taken care of. It’s a small price to pay to bring them down.”

“G-get it taken… taken care of?” I stammered.

“If it meant nothing…” he said softly.

Panic surged through me. “I—I can’t… I just heard its heartbeat today—”

The words slipped out before I could stop them, hanging in the air like a mistake I couldn’t take back.

The room went completely still.

My father’s expression didn’t change.

“If it meant nothing,” he repeated.

The phone was lifted again, the screen turning back toward me.

Vienna.

“Refuse,” my father said quietly, and this time there was nothing pleasant left in his voice, “and I’ll know you were lying. Refuse, and we’ll see how long he lasts.”

My vision blurred as I stared at the screen, my chest tightening painfully.

My baby.