• Twenty-Five •

I will fight until the very end. I swear it.

Rumor

The four walls of the windowless bedroom seemed to get smaller and creepier, the longer I sat in there. I’d memorized every corner of it. Looked for anything that I could use in an attempt to escape. But so far, I had nothing. The door to the room wasn’t even locked. They were so sure of their security that they didn’t worry about my walking around.

Perhaps I should go out and get an idea of my surroundings. Mentally map the place out. Part of me thought it was a good idea. But there was a larger part that feared what I would find. Or who. How many of them lived here? Heck, as far as I knew, there was a guard on the other side of my door.

I laid my head back on the headboard and closed my eyes.

Did King know I was gone now? He had to. Sebastian would have eventually looked for me last night. He would have found I was gone. Realized I wasn’t at Maeme’s. King would have been told then.

I glanced over at the clock on the wall. It was already four in the afternoon.

Would I get fed again? Not that I wanted to eat, but I knew I had to. I tried not to think about the beatings that Falcon had mentioned if they didn’t give him the money. Could I get him to not hit me near my stomach? Maybe he had a heart … or not. I didn’t know for sure.

He could have already hurt me, and he hadn’t. Either he wasn’t completely evil or he was just that scared of the family. I had a feeling it was the latter. He seemed to not want to fight them. This was his way of just getting them to pay him. Why hadn’t they done that already?

If he would just tell them that I needed to talk to King. Or even Blaise. I would talk to him. Tell him just to give Falcon all the money they had put back for me. I didn’t need it. I could get a job, support myself. King would help with the baby. I knew he would. He was a good man even if he didn’t love me. Besides, even if he wasn’t a dependable guy, Maeme would make him do his part.

I’d lived in wealth, and it had been a hell I never wanted to go back to. Money did not bring happiness. In my case, it had brought a nightmare. Churchill had made sure of it. Being self-sufficient and depending on no one but myself was the most secure I could ever be.

A knock at my door brought me out of my thoughts, and I sat up straight as Tabor walked into the room.

His gaze found mine, and he gave me a small smile. “You doing okay?”

I almost lied but decided to be honest. “No. I’m scared.”

“I see. You think they won’t agree to the money.”

I shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ve met the boss once. He doesn’t seem … like someone you can demand something from.”

Tabor smirked. “Yeah. I’ve heard stories.”

I sighed. “You must be used to dealing with people like him. I mean, this is a gang. So, y’all do what? Smuggle drugs, distribute, what?”

A low chuckle, then, “Let’s leave story time for a later date if you’re still here. But regardless of who we are and what we do, no one wants to tangle with the Hughes and the family that covers the South. They’re the oldest organized crime family south of the Mason–Dixon line. That brings a power no one else can compete with. At least, no one has yet.”

Crime family. That wasn’t something that fit the people I knew. It made me think of something else completely different from the family I had been living with. I knew who they were, but it just was hard to see them that way.

“They have priorities,” I said, slowly wanting to feel him out and see how soon this could go bad for me. At least in the sense that I wouldn’t be in this room, being left alone. “I can’t promise you that I am one of them. In fact, I am almost positive that I’m not. I was a … an accident, I guess. They shot Hill, my husband, and I ran. They knew I was there and followed me. They didn’t plan on taking me, but they did to help me. Y’all were not something they anticipated. They didn’t know they were getting mixed up in more of Hill’s shit.”

Tabor shrugged. “Well, we will see. That’s all I can tell you. My brother is a patient man if it means he will get what he wants. However, if his switch is flipped, he can be unreasonable. I don’t know you, but after meeting you, I’d hate to see you be at the receiving end of it.”

My gut twisted. This wasn’t what I’d wanted to hear.

“Even if I can get him the money? I have it. I just have to get it.”

Tabor shook his head. “No. He won’t take your money. He wants what is his. My opinion is that taking on the family is a mistake. But a part of him thinks this is his chance to show dominance.”

“So, he will beat and kill me, but not take my money?” I asked.

He nodded.

I dropped my head into my hands and sighed. How was I going to get out of this?

“Are you hungry?” he asked.

I shook my head, then stopped. Not about me. I still had to fight for my child. Lifting my head, I looked back at him. “Yes.”

“I’ll have a meal brought up to you. Any requests?”

He was taking my order as if I wasn’t the prisoner and bait.

“Whatever you have.”

“Very well,” he replied, turning and walking back out of the door before closing it with a soft click as he went.

Tears stung my eyes as I sat there in silence, feeling helpless. There had been no response from the family. Blaise hadn’t offered the money yet. If he hadn’t already, he wasn’t going to. I’d be beaten, and the videos would be sent.

Would he react to that? Would King be able to do anything even if he wanted to?

Placing a hand on my stomach, I whispered, “I will fight until the very end. I swear it.”

I had to do all I could for the baby inside me. Lying down and taking it like I had with Hill wasn’t an option this time. This wasn’t just me. I had someone to protect, and I was going to do everything I could to keep her safe.

Her. I didn’t know if it was a girl or boy, but somehow, saying her just felt right.