“That’s a fucking promise.”
I can see the deadly smile he’s giving me from the crinkle in his eyes. He steps forward so that he’s only a foot away from me.
I cringe away from him, holding Phoenix even closer to my chest.
“Here’s my promise,” he whispers. “Once Budimir is done with you, I’m going to fuck you so hard that you’re gonna split right down the middle. And afterwards, you’re going to thank me and beg for more.”
I spit in his face, “Fuck you.”
“Good! I like a little spirit in the sack,” he chuckles. “I like a woman who fights back. It makes breaking her all the more entertaining.”
My blood is boiling with equal parts fear and anger, but I don’t have any means to strike back. Tamara is clutching my arm and Phoenix is still crying loudly against my chest.
Eagle Tattoo straightens up. “Now, let’s get the fuck out of here.”
He signals to his men. Two of them converge in towards us. I back away immediately, holding on to both Tamara and Phoenix.
“Don’t be fucking stupid now,” Eagle Tattoo groans. Then he looks towards Tamara. “You can scram. We only want her and the brat. Step aside now.”
Tamara does start to move, but she doesn’t step aside like she’s just been ordered to. She steps forward, putting herself between him and me.
“No,” she says.
My heart clenches.
I know how much it takes her to do this. She’s terrified, and even if I hadn’t heard that fear in her voice, I see it in her trembling body as she stands directly in front of me and Phoenix.
She’s standing up for me.
Doing what she should have done months ago.
Atoning for her sins—with bravery and heart and loyalty and love.
Eagle Tattoo glares at her for a moment and sighs deeply.
“Fucking idiot,” he growls.
He raises his gun, but before I can so much as scream, he’s fired.
Tamara drops to the floor—a gasp forever trapped in her throat.
“No!” I scream, but before I can take a step forward towards her, two men have grabbed me.
They start pulling me towards the door and all I can do is scream and plead and curse at all of them as I clutch my baby and cry for one more innocent life stripped away—because of me.
Just before they push me out the door, I glance behind at Tamara’s lifeless body. I see blood pooling around her, but her face is turned down and invisible to me.
“Tamara…” I whisper as I’m forced into a car waiting outside.
I’m sorry.
I don’t even know who I’m apologizing to as I look down at my infant son, whose dark eyes are fixed on me with uncertainty.
I’m so, so sorry.