A flutter of hope unfurls under the pain in my chest as I follow his thoughts.
“Despite all my efforts to perfect you, Angelica, you can’t kill. So, what exactly, does ‘dealing with him’ mean? Tell me you did not let him go?”
Angelica’s grip on my hand tightens. “He’s not in any state to do anything.”
Maxwell slaps her across the face. Her head snaps round from the impact and for a moment our eyes meet. I stare at her, tears clouding in her eyes.
“You stupid girl.” He takes out his knife. It’s his favorite one. Seven inches long with a bone handle and glistening steel. The steps for disarming an armed suspect run through my mind. I could take that knife from him, I know I could, but I don’t make a single move.
He presses the tip of the knife to Angelica’s neck and tilts her chin upwards. Her green eyes go blank. She stares up at him. “Wait here,” he orders.
She nods.
He turns to me. He presses the flat side of the knife against my cheek. I try to go to that blank place. The one my sister finds safety in. Instead, I find myself thinking of Jude. Of him spinning on his chair. Of Eli flipping his Stetson. Of Oz watching me with heated eyes and River holding me steady.
My father smiles at me, soft and gentle. “Don’t worry, I’ll be back for you.” And with that he twists the knife and cuts a line of fire down my cheek. It’s not much more than a scratch compared to the damage Angelica has done to my chest and I manage to stop myself from screaming.
Maxwell turns away and heads to the back of the warehouse. I watch him go, willing my feet to chase after him, to wrestle theknife off Angelica and launch it into his back. Then he slips out the door and I’m too late.
CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR
Eli
IT TAKES US ten minutes to get to the warehouse because River gives me the keys and if there’s one thing I’m good at, it’s driving fucking fast. Jude called SWAT for back up, but we’ve beat them to the scene and there’s no way I’m waiting.
The warehouse is nothing much. Corrugated metal with rusted corners and a small door to the side.
Jude, River, and I, draw our weapons and pause outside the door. Freya’s voice carries through the metal and my shoulders drop a fraction. Except then I hear his voice and I explode. The man who killed my mother is on the other side of that door.
“Eli, wait!” River calls but I’m too far gone to listen. I kick down the door and storm inside, gun raised.
The warehouse is cold. Empty. I scan the shadows for Maxwell but he’s not here.Why isn’t he here?My heart stutters in my chest. I blink rapidly.
“Eli.” Freya’s voice breaks on my name and my vision settles on her. Tears and blood track down her face and I’m so focused on the blood covering her chest that it takes me a second to see the knife at her throat. Freya’s twin really is identical to her, it’s easy to see how Oz was fooled.
She’s got her arm banded around Freya’s waist, using her as a shield as she presses the knife to her throat.
“He went out the back,” Freya says.
My feet move, already taking me to the back door behind them but then the knife at Freya’s throat draws blood.
“Nu huh, you don’t want to do that,” Freya’s sister warns.
I go still as a fucking statue. My instincts are fighting with each other, pulling me in different directions. This is the closest I’ve ever been to the man that killed my mother and logic is telling me to go after him, to sprint to that back door. Jude and River can take care of Freya. This is my shot.
Except I can’t move.
I can’t leave her here with a knife at her throat.
I’m not sure when my priorities shifted. When protecting Freya became more important to me than catching Maxwell. But the realization tears at my heart. I feel like I’m betraying my mother all over again. And yet I still can’t fucking move.
River edges in front of me and Jude stops by my side. “Let her go,” River orders.
I shake myself and step to the side, raising my gun.
“Don’t shoot, don’t shoot!” Freya shouts at us.
Her twin smirks. “You should listen to my sister. She’s always been protective. She won’t let you hurt me.” She sounds just like Freya.
