Page 88 of Freed By Fire
I snort and turn away. As much as I hate to admit it, Katia is right. I was just as likely to have her head on a platter as listen to her if she’d come to me first.
Silence settles around me, but it does little to drown out the roar in my head.
What the fuck am I supposed to do about all this?
London has made sure there’s only one option, hasn’t she? It’s not too late. There’s still some time.
I’m grasping at straws. I can’t make London get rid of the baby without her consent, and I hate that she’s forced my hand in this way.
Before I know what I’m doing, I throw the office door open and stride out, pushing past clients and women until I reach the back door. I step out into the brisk night air, inhale, and hold my breath. Katia matches my strides, apprehension crossing her face as we step into the manor.
I take the stairs two at a time until I reach the top.
I’m panting when I make it to my wing and see the door slightly ajar.
Through the crack, I spot London on the bed, puffy-eyed and curled into a ball. Her shoulders heave, and I move toward her, but Katia reaches out to stop me. I hold my breath when London flips onto her back. A few moments later, her breathing turns even, and she goes still.
I let my eyes sweep over her, and some of the earlier anger and frustration melt away.
I still want to shake some sense into her.
But goddamn if I don’t love her and want to offer her the world.
“It’s been hard on her,” Katia says as I move to face her. She withdraws her hand, and we’re standing across from each other. “I’m sure you can imagine.”
“She should’ve told you,” Katia adds. “I’ve told her as much, but she had her reasons, and with everything else going on, you can’t blame her for trying to give you one less thing to deal with. I can’t say I agree with the decision, but I understand why.”
I huff and turn her words over in my head.
Would it have been better if she had told me, and I had been forced to carry the truth around while dealing with Noah’s father and the city inspector?
She was trying to do you a favor.
I let one arm fall to my side. “We both know what happens if she keeps the baby.”
Katia nods.
“They’ll have a target on their back from their first breath,” I continue. “That’s if they make it that far. I have no fucking clue how she managed to keep it a secret for so long…”
I suspect my assassin had something to do with it.
Katia is one of the most skilled killers in our world, but she also knows how to handle the more delicate matters.
There’s no one else I trust to keep this under wraps.
For a moment, I’m thankful that London had enough common sense to bring Katia into the loop.
As far as confidantes go, she could’ve done worse.
I clear my throat. “You know better than most what our world is like. She can’t keep the baby.”
Katia studies me. “Are you prepared to give her up?”
“No.”
I can’t even handle the thought, much less imagine it.
You’d really force her to stay by your side and give up one more thing to stay together? How many more things do you think she’ll give up before she’s had enough?
