Chapter 10
I woke in the chapel basement.
My wrists were tied loosely to a wooden chair.
Victoria sat across from me, calm as morning tea.
“You are harder to break than I expected.”
My head throbbed.
My baby moved.
I breathed through the panic.
“Where is Marcus?”
“Upstairs, deciding whether his father lives.”
“You won’t win.”
Victoria smiled.
“I already did for ten years.”
She leaned closer.
“You see, Elena, men like Marcus need grief. It makes them obedient. Arthur became defiant, so I turned him into a ghost. You became loved, so I turned you into a threat.”
“You drugged me.”
“I refined you into evidence.”
I wanted to slap her.
I wanted to scream.
Instead, I looked around.
Old stone walls.
Candles.
A small security camera in the corner.
Blinking red.
Victoria followed my gaze and laughed.
“That records only for me.”
“Good,” I said.
Her smile faded.
Upstairs, Marcus shouted.
Then a gunshot cracked.
Victoria stood.
For the first time, fear crossed her face.
The basement door burst open.
Caleb appeared, bleeding from his forehead, holding a key.
“Now.”
He cut the rope.
I stumbled up.
Victoria lunged for me.
I grabbed the teapot from the table and threw hot tea across the floor between us.
She slipped.
Caleb caught her before she hit the stone.
“Police!” he shouted.
Marcus came down carrying Arthur in his arms.
His face was streaked with tears.
Arthur looked at me.
“Save the child,” he whispered.
May you like
I touched my belly.
“We’re saving all of us.”
