Page 167 of Reckoning

“He hid it in your body?” Roman gasps. “How the fuck did he do that?”

Sofia’s face turns pained, she drops her eyes, staring at the carpet like she has something to be ashamed about. “You remember all those operations I had as a child?”

Roman nods almost reluctantly.

“He was stealing other women’s wombs, transplanting them into me. But it didn’t work. So I guess he decided that my lack of ability to be a functioning woman, could be turned into a different use.”

“That fucking bastard.” Roman growls.

Sofia shrugs. “It’s not me you should feel sorry for. It’s the three women who died simply to try and fix a fault that never existed.”

Fuck, I think I love her more in this moment. To hear her say it, to hear her declare that she is enough, that she is fine just as she is.

“You’ll need to cut me open to get it but I want Koen there, I want him to ensure that you don’t simply butcher me.” She says, clenching her fists.

“We will arrange for the finest surgeons.” Magnus smiles.

“Fine.” She replies.

I don’t know what to think. What to say. She’s willing to go through that? To let them cut her open?

She takes my hand, all but strutting out like she’s said her piece and she’s done with everything.

When we get back to the room I can’t help but scowl.

“You don’t have to do this.” I state.

She snorts. “Yes I do.”

“Sofia,”

“You think I want it in me? You think I want to be a walking reminder of every fucked up thing he’s ever done?”

I grab her, wrapping my arms around her trembling body.

“If I do this it’ll be over.” She states. “All the taunts, all the drug attempts, all of it. I’ll be free.”

I tense realising that she still doesn’t know everything.

“It wasn’t them.” I state. “Those attacks, the way they were setting you up. That was Valentina.”

“What?” She gasps.

“She was the one who tried to kill me.” I explain. “She was the one behind all of it. She wanted to make you look like a junkie so that she could get her hands on more of Otto’s money.”

She stills, her body goes so tense. “That fucking bitch.” She snarls.

“She’s paying for it.” I state.

“How?”

I can’t help the grin as I meet her furious gaze. “Hastings had her thrown into the county jail. She’s going to be locked up for attempted murder.”

“Fuck,” She half-laughs.

“Fuck indeed.”

“I guess karma is a bitch after all.”