Page 132 of Dual

“You think this ends anything?” He coughs, blood speckling his lips. “My son will chase you to the ends of the Earth.”

I frown. All my research indicated Kozlov had no children. No family at all. No one to inherit his empire of misery.

“Your son’s already dead,” I lie smoothly. “Along with everyone else in your organization.”

But his smile widens. “You know nothing, bitch. Nothing about what’s coming.”

Ian puts another bullet in his head before he can say more.

I stand in the silence that follows, surrounded by bodies and the smell of cordite.

Ian rushes to the wall. “Chloe!” He yanks at the shackles before hurrying to one of the men and pulling a set of keys off his hips, then returning to the girls.

The blonde one, Chloe, falls into his arms, eyes lost and dazed. It’s the other one doing all the screaming.

My heart pounds, the parasite kicking frantically as if responding to the violence. Dammit, whenever it does that, I can never stay in control for long. Anna’s maternal instinct kicks in, and I’m pushed out.

“Thank you,” Ian says, putting his arm around his sister. “For Chloe.”

I nod, understanding. Some debts can only be paid in blood.

But as we prepare to leave, Kozlov’s words echo in my mind.My son will chase you to the ends of the earth.

What son? And what didn’t I know about what was coming?

Anna moves to place a protective hand over our belly, where the child grows. Domhnall’s child, innocent of the sins of its parents.

Right then, pain tears across my stomach, and suddenly, as if losing control of my bladder, water drenches through my ski pants to the floor below in a gush.

“Well,” I sigh, right as I feel the dizziness that means I’m about to lose control of the helm. “Shit.”

ANNA

The pain hits like lightning,splitting me in half, and suddenly I’m back—Anna, not Red—gasping as warm fluid soaks through my pants and pools on the concrete floor.

“Oh no, oh no, oh no,” Ian stammers, still supporting his dazed sister. “This can’t be happening. Not here. Not now.” His face has gone pale beneath the grime and blood. “Do you have a hospital bag? A birth plan? Should I call someone?”

“Ian,” I manage through gritted teeth as another contraction builds. “We need to get out of here. Births for first-time mothers take forever—days—if the contractions have just started, we have plenty of time to get somewhere safe, somewhere clean?—”

“Move!” Chloe suddenly barks, her voice cutting through the chaos like a blade. She pushes away from Ian with surprising strength, her earlier dazed expression replaced by razor-sharp focus. “You!” She points at her brother. “Find clean fabric—sheets, towels, anything. Now!”

Ian blinks stupidly. “But I thought you were?—”

“I’m a trauma nurse, you idiot!” Chloe snaps, already moving toward me with steady hands. “Three years in the ER before those bastards took me. Now MOVE!”

Behind her, the other girl remains huddled in the corner, rocking slightly, her eyes vacant and unfocused. Whatever they did to her has left her somewhere else entirely.

Ian stumbles backward, nearly tripping over one of the bodies. “Right, yes, supplies. Clean things. Got it.” He disappears down the corridor, calling back, “How much time do we have?”

Chloe guides me to another room in the compound that’s much cleaner and has a bed. She helps me pull off my snow pants and lay back. Then she kneels beside me, her hands gentle but efficient. “Let me check,” she says quietly. “This might be uncomfortable.”

I nod, breathing hard as she examines me. Her face changes.

“We’re not going anywhere,” she announces grimly. “You’re fully dilated. This baby is coming now.”

“That’s impossible,” I protest. “First babies take hours?—”

“Not this one.” Chloe’s voice is calm, professional. “Sometimes trauma can accelerate labor. Your body’s been through hell tonight, and it’s ready to push this baby out.”