I brought the pliers up to his next finger, about to squeeze once more, when he blurted out, “He’s had me sterilize women.”
I took a step back, toiling this new piece of information over in my head.
It was the last thing I expected to come out of his mouth.I figured Victor had been bribing the doctor to falsify Daphne’s records as a way to control and manipulate Ariana.Keep her quiet.Keep her compliant.
But to learn this?It seemed out of left field.
“You’re a neurologist.Isn’t this outside your area of expertise?”
He shrugged.“I’m not technically board certified, but I spent time volunteering overseas during my younger years.I learned the procedure then.”
“How many women?”
“I don’t know.”I approached him once more, and he rushed out, “Four, maybe five.”
“For what?Why did he want you to do this?”I demanded, although I had a feeling I already knew.
The last thing Victor needed was a scandal to ruin his squeaky-clean reputation.What better way to make sure there weren’t any surprises than to sterilize the women he was sleeping with outside of his marriage?
“It wasn’t my place to ask,” Schaffer responded.
“Of course.As long as the money’s green.Right?”I sneered in disgust as a thought popped into my head.
I yanked my cell out of my pocket and pulled up a photo of Sarah, holding it in front of him.
“Do you recognize this woman?Did you sterilize her?”
He studied her, the seconds seeming to stretch as I waited for him to confirm my suspicions.
“I can’t be sure.Maybe.Truthfully, they all looked the same.”
I shoved my phone back into my pocket.“And you never questioned Victor as to why he wanted you to sterilize these women instead of them going to their own doctor?”
“I told you.It wasn’t my place to ask.”
Annoyed by his blind obedience, I whirled on him, thrusting my knife into his stomach.
Deep.
Precise.
Deadly.
His eyes widened, and he made a sound, half gasp, half sob.Then his head fell forward.
I stood there for a long time, watching the red spread across the concrete, my pulse roaring in my ears, adrenaline eating my veins.
I drew in a calming breath, finding more satisfaction than I should have as I watched the blood trickle down the drain.
“Like I said… Not all creatures deserve compassion.”
I tossed the knife onto the workbench.Then I turned and walked away.
ChapterTwelve
Ariana
Sunlight woke me before I was ready for it.It knifed through the curtains in thin, golden lines, landing across the rumpled sheets.My muscles protested when I moved, especially my knee, but the pain wasn’t as sharp as yesterday.
