Before I can say anything, the engine starts to rumble, and the car jolts to life.
“No.” I turn in my seat and watch through the back window as the house slowly disappears out of sight.
My stomach drops.
I might never see Kieran again. For all I know, he could already be dead.
And if he isn’t, will he come to save me?
If he does, it’s only because of our baby.
Question is, will he make it on time?
The end of the cigarette glows brighter as Sean takes a drag before blowing the smoke right at me.
I choke on an inhale and start violently coughing, which only amuses him more.
“Yetook something that was mine, Riley Walsh. And for that, I’m going to make sure I take everything fromye.”
My eyes stream as I try to catch my breath.
The car is so full of smoke that I can’t escape it. The smell alone is enough to make my stomach churn, and every time I try to gasp for air, it fills my lungs once again.
“Don’t worry, I’ll make sureyeboth suffer.”
What does he mean? Does he mean me and the baby? Or does he mean me and Kieran? Because if it’s the latter, that would mean Kieran is still alive, that there is a chance he can still find me.
“Please. Please, don’t hurt the baby. Don’t hurt Kieran. You don’t have to?—”
“Don’t beg.” Sean looks at me with ice in his eyes. “Ye’re better than that.”
I don’t think I am.
Maybe if I could find a way to make him talk, if I could get him to underestimate me, I could find a sliver of leverage. It’s a ridiculous, dangerous thought, but it’s the only plan I have.
“You don’t need to hurt Kieran. If you let me go, I won’t tell Kieran any of this. He’ll never know.”
Sean snorts as he snuffs out his cigarette. “He’ll know everything.”
“What do you mean?”
“It means I've got some big plans forye.”
I can only imagine what those plans entail from the wicked gleam in those pale blue eyes. It’s enough to make my blood run cold as I think of the small life inside me, so impossibly tiny and helpless.
The only thing standing between my baby and Sean is me, so I rest a protective hand over my stomach, hoping to plead to any thread of humanity that Sean might possess.
“You can’t hurt us.”
Sean’s answering laugh has a sob building in my throat.
The life growing inside me is no more than a bargaining chip—something to lure Kieran out of the shadows with.
“Ye’ll wishyewere dead by the time I finish withye, Riley Walsh. But don’tyeworry. I’m not going to killyeright away. That would be messy. No, I wantyeto watch the worldyelove burn slowly aroundye. I want to remind Kieran of what he stands to lose. And if he thinks he can saveye, if he tries to come after me, well, then…we will make a spectacle, won’t we?”
“You’re insane.” My voice shakes because I know Sean isn’t bluffing.
“Insane?” He cocks his head. “No. That would imply I have no control or understanding over my actions. If anything, I am the opposite. I am deliberate and precise in everything I do.”
