Page 118 of Thorns of Blood

I reached for the revolver tucked in the back of my jeans, but before I could shoot her right hand, a guard tackled me from behind. Instinctively, I punched him in his sternum, then landed a blow to his kidneys, and finally a kick to the kneecap.

He grunted, but before he could do anything, I straightened to my full height and kicked him in his chest, sending his body flying back.

I turned my attention to Julia, who was attempting to crawl away while groaning in pain. I raised my arms, gripping the gun, and aimed.

Bang.

Her scream pierced through the air and she brought her bloodied hand to her chest, cradling it like a baby.

“Revenge is sweeter than I could have ever imagined,” I said, my lips curving into a smile. I picked up my foot and drove it into her abdomen. “For Giovanni and my baby.”

Her eyes widened with fear as she gurgled, choking on her pain. The sounds were better than any Eminem or Sarah McLachlan song, better than Beethoven’s or Mozart’s symphonies.

“I’ve been dreaming about this for so long,” I drawled. “After what you did.”

“I secured my son’s place in the cartel,” she hissed.

I scoffed. “I never wanted it.”

“But your child would have taken it.”

“No…” My voice was brittle as I narrowed my eyes. “If you would have let me, I would have disappeared. You let me think I could, let me run through the woods while I was eightfuckingmonths pregnant.” I closed my eyes, but I wouldn’t let her win. “You could have had your precious lover and the cartel for your son.”

She let out a strangled breath as if she didn’t believe me. It didn’t matter though, because her life was finished. She would pay for killing my baby and for daring to hit Giovanni.

I took a deep breath and aimed my gun at her skull. “Any last wishes?”

Her eyes, so similar yet so different to her three sons, lifted to me with so much nonchalance, it took me aback.

“Question is… do you have any last wishes?” My brow furrowed and she chuckled. My finger tensed on the trigger and I was ready to end this once and for all, but she continued speaking. “Maybe someday you’ll meet your son.” I froze, my brain unable to process her words. She watched me, cackling. “Although, maybe it’s better that you don’t because it’ll be messy to explain to the kid that you married his father’s nephew.”

My face paled as I stared back at Julia.A son. I had a son. I had assumed, but I never knew it for sure. Tears burned my lids as my mind whirled like a cyclone.Then the meaning of her words sunk in. She made it sound like my baby was… alive.

It’s a lie. She’s lying.

I ground my feet into the stone floor, anchoring into the present.No. I would know if my baby was alive.

“You’re lying.” Giovanni’s voice came from behind me, echoing my own thoughts. I turned and saw him standing tall, though looking a little worse for wear. He and his brothers came to surround me protectively, their glares locked on their mother. “Have you truly no decency, Mother? After all the damage you’ve caused?”

Julia’s expression was cold, her entire body still.

“Am I lying, Giovanni?” she uttered. “Do you think I’m capable of killing a baby?”

“Yes,” all three brothers answered unanimously.

“I saw you…” I shuddered with the memory. My voice cracked and I swayed, but Giovanni’s hand wrapped around my waist, offering me support. “I saw you… I saw you throw him into a trash bag.”

My heart was shriveling in my chest. Julia had fooled me so many times, taken advantage of me and killed any decent part of me with her cruelty. This had to be another one of her schemes. A way to prolong her undeserving life.

“He’s a tough little fucker,” she said casually, like she was referring to a puppy at the pound. “When I got to the car, he wouldn’t shut up, kept crying, so I took him out and decided that I could use him for some leverage of my own.”

“What…” When I spoke next, my voice was barely audible. “Where is he?”

“Ahhh.” She laughed mockingly. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

“Mother!” Romeo hissed.

“You sick bitch,” Cristiano growled.