Page 60 of Power of Shadow

“As far as I know, he never looked for that bitch and her bastard.”

I have an urge to welcome him with that bastard’s knives. But David is the only thread that can connect me to the former senator.

“Careful, David... Since you’re of no use to me anyway, I should kill you now. What’s the point of keeping you alive?”

“Then why don’t you do it and end this game?! Do you think you’re such a tough girl?!”

I step away from him. Grabbing the mask, I slowly pull it off my head.

My face tells him nothing, and why should it? His words stir up hatred in me. Gripping the mask in my fist, I stare at him.

“Who are you?” he asks in a weak voice laced with interest. He tries to put the puzzle together to find the answer to the question. “Have we met before?”

Life’s unfair, but that’s no secret. What would our lives have been like if our father had wanted us? What would they have been like if our mother had never taken that first shot in her vein? What would they have been like if I hadn’t killed for the first time in that dark alley in the city?

“I’m that bastard, the daughter of that scum and your brother. The bastard who survived despite everything. Uncle David.”

Once again, his eyes widen. David looks like a fish out of water as he opens and closes his mouth once, twice, before finally blurting something out. “That’s impossible—”

“Impossible? Who helped break up that relationship? Who helped my mother disappear from the scene?”

“Your father should answer those questions...”

Father. In my head, he’s just Charles. It feels strange to hear it out loud.

“You’re right,” I agree. “That’s why I want to know where he is. Where can I find him? How can I contact him?”

Loyalty to his brother prevents him from telling me everything. His gaze is suspicious. “I thought you wanted to kill him, just like your friend who dragged me here?”

My friend? I can’t understand why Alex would want to kill him. What is he talking about?

Seeing my confusion, David continues, “The one you almost fucked in my house.”

The realization hits me with force. If he’d slapped me, it would have made less of an impact.

The Jackal.

Breathing deeply, I try to control my emotions.

The pieces of the puzzle fall into place.

In a second, my satisfaction at being one step ahead of him dies. If this is his doing, it means I haven’t outsmarted him at all. He’s right behind me—if not already ahead of me.

“There was no fucking involved, and he’s not my friend,” I say, hiding my surprise at this news.

“I don’t think he got the message yet. Either way, he wanted you. I’m a guy, I know these things.”

“You’re wrong.”

“No, I’m not. I would recognize his mask even in a dark alley. I know what I’m talking about.”

I shake my head because it doesn’t matter now. “Never mind. Anyway, I don’t want to kill my father. At least not yet. Now listen carefully. In a moment, I’ll let you go. You’ll leave here and go to my father. No one will follow you; you have my word. Go to him and give him a message. Tell him his daughter is looking for him and wants answers. He’d better be ready to give them to me.”

“How do you know I’ll do that?”

“You will. No doubt about it. No one can hide forever, David. Not you. Not even him. Eventually, I’ll find him, and if I find out you didn’t tell him anything, you’ll be next. I’ll kill you first, and then every other member of our lovely family.”

“You’re a good daddy’s girl,” he says with contempt.