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My heart dropped to my stomach. Feeling Justin’s gaze on me, I fought to keep my expression blank. Maybe we were going to a warehouse by the sea? I focused on that idea. Constantine was a world-famous assassin, he could sneak into anywhere.But there won’t be time if they take me on a ship.
Each intersection brought us closer to the water. If I fought, it would ruin our chances. Ihadto go wherever my father took me.
Private docks with stunning boats came into view. This was far more flashy than my father normally chose. Was it possible he wasn’t here? I drummed my fingers against the side panel. “Any chance you’ll tell me where we’re going, Justin?”
A grunt was my only answer.
“So we’re back to not talking?” I snorted. “Well, it was nice to know you too.”
The car slid to the side, taking a sharp right and pulling into an alley. “Miss Talia, you should run.” Justin turned in his seat. “You’re playing a very dangerous game, and I can’t save you when this car reaches its destination. No one can.”
I blinked. “Is this you caring, Justin? Are you growing a conscience right at the end?”
“Club me over the head and run.”
The offer was tempting. “I have something my father won’t refuse.”
The driver growled in disagreement. But he wasn’t offering a second time. He slammed the gears into reverse and peeled backward. The five minutes it took to arrive at the designated dock was spent in an uncomfortable silence.
I saw my father standing on the prow of a ship, an automatic rifle slung across his body. As we moved to leave the car, I murmured under my breath, “I would run if I were you, Justin. You offered me a chance, let me do the same for you.”
As I spoke, my inner voice told me that I was being an idiot. But I cared what happened to this goon in the crossfire. It was just who I was.
“I’ll stand by your father to the end, no matter if that comes today or in twenty years.”
Well, offers had been made, and the course was set. We each opened our car doors, and I passed the driver as I moved down the dock. We didn’t make eye contact; there was no more to be said.
I strode forward and approached the ship. With each step across the gangplank, the knot in my stomach twisted tighter. I smiled triumphantly up to my father. “I’ve accepted the summons. May I board, captain?”
“You’re overly confident for a dead woman,” my father snarled.
“I don’t think you understand the extent of the situation, père. I’ve won. Claude was never your true heir—I was. Now that he’s out of the picture, perhaps you’ll finally listen to me.”
The growl that left my father was damn near animal. He grabbed my hair and whipped me down. I had to lift my arms to prevent my head cracking into the rail. “You’re nothing but a whore!”
“Does a whore discover the existence of the world’s most notorious assassin?” I bit back, rage making me throw down my best card.
The devil froze. “What do you mean?”
“Treat me like the heir I was born to be, and I’ll explain,” I spat, climbing back to my feet. There we stood, glaring one another down.
“You’re more stupid than I thought. And you know what we do with rabid bitches? We put them down.”
I didn’t see the backhand until it was too late. Stars and darkness exploded. Through the haze of unconsciousness, I tried to latch onto the pain, knowing it could keep me awake. Unfortunately, it wasn’t strong enough. The last thought that flitted through my head was one of gratitude.Even if I die, Constantine will find my body and kill the devil...unless I’m fed to the fishes first.That morbid thought taunted me as I slid into the darkness.
