was a cruel man. I just didn’t realize he was worse than the devil.
My father is responsible for every horrible thing in my life. For the loss of time with my kids. For their kidnappings. For my enemies. For my pain. For the loss of Langston, I will surely endure. He’s responsible for all of it.
I don’t know why my father decided not to be in my life and yet ruin it entirely. Why take my children from me? Why refuse me to love the only man in the world I ever could? Why control me without ever getting to know me?
Because he’s a wicked, evil man.
A man I now want dead.
I stare at Corbin across from me, still not sure if I should trust him or if I should run from him. But he seems to have information that I desperately need to find the last of my children. To kill my father and ensure my family’s safety.
“What is the next clue?” I ask Corbin. My throat creaks as I speak.
Corbin studies me a moment before he speaks. “Are you ready to help me?”
“Since I have no information about where my father is, I don’t know how I can help.”
He pulls a card out of his pocket and hands it to me.
I take it carefully to ensure our fingers don’t brush. I read the card, and it doesn’t make sense. It might as well be gibberish or in a foreign language.
“What does this mean?”
“I was hoping you had the rest of the clue. I’ve spent the last few years trying to figure it out, but I haven’t been able to.”
I read the card over and over, trying to piece together what it could mean. I think back to the note that my father, well, the man pretending to be my father, gave me.
It hits me all at once.
“Moscow,” I say.
Corbin’s eyebrows jump up. “Moscow? Do you have more than that? Moscow’s a big city.”
I study the card again. “No, but I know who might.”
Corbin narrows his eyes like he’s not sure he believes I don’t already know.
“Langston?” he finally asks.
I nod.
“Shit,” he curses under his breath.
We are going to have to involve Langston in this. At least call and talk to him. Something I’m desperate to do anyway because the last time I saw him, he was pale and rapidly deteriorating. But I don’t want him involved. Even calling Langston could decide his fate, and I won’t allow him to die. He has to live at all costs. He has to be there for our children. He has to take care of them.
Before I contact him and get more information about our next step, putting his life in danger, I need more reassurance from Corbin that we are on the same side. If I do speak to Langston, I don’t know if I can keep him from coming if he knows the location. I’ll only work with Corbin if I know that Langston will be safe.
“I’ll call Langston. I will figure out the rest of the clue, but I need some reassurances first.”
Corbin cocks his head. “What makes you think you are in any place to negotiate?”
“You need me to get your revenge. You’ve had years to figure it out on your own, and you failed.”
Corbin smirks. “As I said before, we are on the same side.”
“Prove it.” My eyes dig into his skin, threatening to end him.
Our eyes lock as he thinks about how he can prove his loyalty to me. I don’t think he can. I don’t think he will. I’ll have to figure out how to save Declan, kill my father, and keep Langston alive by myself.
Corbin leans forward and reaches into his boot, pulling out a knife.
I don’t recoil. I stay strong as I face my enemy, now holding a weapon he can use against me. I’ve been tortured enough to know that nothing he does to me will matter.
Corbin twists the knife around in his hand, taunting me with how he’ll use it on me. It makes no difference. I always knew I would die a horrible death. Today is as good a day as any, especially if it means Langston is safe. My father will have no reason to go after Langston if I’m dead.
“You sacrificed, your friends sacrificed, so I too shall sacrifice.”
My eyes darken, not understanding what he’s going to do. Suddenly, he plunges the knife into his stomach in a very similar spot to where I did.
He doesn’t make a