I kiss her fingers. I kiss her wrist and palm. “I’m here.” I want to devour her, wrap her in my arms, and make sure she’s safe.
“Rosie…”
I clench my jaw and say nothing. Some of the fire in my guts quenches in one heavy burst of agony.
Allie’s face crumples, and tears roll down her cheeks.
I try to wipe them away, but she flinches.
“I tried to get away,” she whispers. “I really tried, but Satya shot me.”
“It’s not your fault.”
“They took her, Mass. They took our daughter.”
“I know they did, but I’m going to get her back, I swear.”
“I tried…” She trails off into more sobbing.
I stay by her side. I have nowhere else to go. I feel hollow and empty now. Some of my rage is spent, and the rest is ruined at the sight of my beautiful wife breaking down. It kills me worse than I ever thought it could.
This isn’t her fault.
It’s all mine.
And I’ll never live it down.
No matter what happens from here on out, I’ll carry this failure with me like a stone around my neck.
I’ll never be this weak ever again.
Never be so low either.
“So many times over the years, I’ve wanted to give up,” I say softly when Allie’s crying softens and begins to subside. “I’ve hitrock bottom a thousand different ways. I’ve been shot, beaten, stabbed, strangled, kicked, and worse. I’ve lost friends, watched whole neighborhoods burn, and failed a million different ways. But I’ve never stopped. That’s what separates the powerful from men like me. No matter what happens, no matter how low I get, no matter how smeared in blood and shit and dirt, I don’t stop. Otherwise, I’ve lost, and I can’t tolerate true failure. I’ll get our daughter back, Allie, I promise.”
“I believe you.” She touches my cheek. I take her hand in mine and squeeze. “Kill them all, Mass. Start with that horrible bitch Satya.”
“I will.”
I stay for a while longer until the nurse tells me Allie should get some more rest. She’s sleepy already and doesn’t mind when I step out into the hall to get some air. Lucy’s already waiting, a grim look on her face.
“What I don’t understand is why Medved wants my daughter.” We walk together, not going anywhere, but moving anyway.
“She’s important. You know that. Besides, she’s great blackmail material.”
“It won’t work. He has to know that.”
“What does he have to lose?” She grimly pauses near a window and looks out to sea. “Enzo contacted me a little bit ago. He thinks he located Medved’s boat not far from here. It’s a military-style vessel. Fast and well-armed.”
A thrill runs into my stomach. “Put out the call. We’re going after them with all the strength we have.” I can already taste the burning oil in the air and hear the screams of Medved’s crewechoing out through the ocean. I hope the sharks are fucking hungry.
Lucy doesn’t move, though. She’s still looking out the window. “How far are you going to go for this, Mass? What are you going to give up for that old man in the west wing?”
I grimace and look at my hands. “He’s got nothing to do with this.”
“You’re wrong. Kill him and Medved will take his place. Then he won’t need your daughter.”
“You just want me to give Medved what he wants? You think that’ll stop him?”
