The Paper Swan(103)

“I want you to pay for it,” he said. “I’ve been waiting for you to get out of prison. Of course, I wasn’t expecting this cozy reunion.” He tilted his head towards me and Sierra. “A ready-made family, Damian. The bastard son has a bastard daughter.”

Damian’s fists clenched. “If you do anything to hurt her—”

“Don’t worry. I haven’t harmed a hair on her head. Just given her a little tranquilizer. Babysitting screaming kids in these situations is really not my thing.”

“You drugged my daughter?” There was a nerve ticking on Damian’s forehead. One I’d never seen before.

Victor laughed. “You drugged Warren’s daughter, didn’t you? Don’t like it when the tables are turned?” He yanked me closer.

“Your problem is with me, not them.”

“Your problem was with Warren, but it didn’t stop you from kidnapping Skye. Casualties get caught in the crossfire.” Victor shrugged. “You know that.”

Victor was worming his way under Damian’s skin, making him relive the horror of shooting me.

“You and I are more alike than you think,” he said. “Mercenaries at heart. You didn’t really think you could start over, did you? I thought it was a brilliant move, manipulating Skye to get to Warren, but I’m starting to think you fancy yourself in love with her now. I’ll save you the trouble. Women like her don’t love men like us. I loved your mother, but she shunned me. She said she wanted a better role model for you. I hated her, and I hated you. Warren set me up with a nice sum to keep her comfortable in Valdemoros. I left her to rot in there. I should have finished you off too. You came back to bite me, but I still have the final say.”

“You don’t have to do this,” said Damian. “Take everything. I can set you up for the rest of your life. You won’t ever need for anything.”

It sounded a lot like what I’d said to him on the boat, bargaining for my freedom. A cold knot formed in my stomach. Nothing could have deterred Damian then. His thirst for vengeance had set off a domino effect that was staring back at us now.

“You think this is about money?” Victor laughed. “I got a hefty settlement out of Warren. Part of our contract. And I have a nice disability check coming in every month. This isn’t about money, it’s about—”

“Revenge.” Damian said the word like it had filled his mouth with poison. “Trust me. I understand it all too well. It won’t bring you anything, Victor. It’s an empty promise. Walk away and—”

“Enough chit chat!” Victor barked. “Which one goes first? Her?” He pointed the gun at me. “Or her?” I started trembling when he trained it on Sierra. The stakes were too high. Damian couldn’t risk attacking him, not when he had us both at his mercy.

“Take me.” Damian put his hands up and got down on his knees. “Right here, right now. Pump as many bullets into me as you like. You don’t really want them.”

Icy fear tightened around my heart. He meant every word. Damian was willing to lay down his life for Sierra and me. He wanted to do it. He was blaming himself for bringing this down on us. If he’d stayed away, Sierra and I wouldn’t be here.

Maybe someday I’ll be the hero that you and your mama deserve.

“Witnesses are messy, Damian. You’re all dead anyway,” said Victor. “Choose. Or I’ll choose for you.”

My heart started pounding erratically as fearful images flashed through my mind.

“What do you do, Skye?” Damian’s voice pulled me out of the downward spiral.

I fight back and I fight hard.

I raised the syringe I was holding and plunged it into Victor’s thigh. He screamed and let go of me. Damian moved at the same time, knocking him off his feet. Victor pulled the syringe out of his flesh, and got up, still holding the gun. Damian stood like a shield between him and me. I knew what he was planning to do.

“Don’t,” I said.

He did it anyway—threw himself straight at Victor. The gun went off, but Damian deflected Victor’s hand so it zinged to the ceiling. The two men crashed through the doorway and fell on the railing that opened to the foyer below. It was dark, but I could make out their forms, grappling for control. Victor still had the gun, but with one arm paralyzed, he was no match for Damian. He lost his grip and it fell below. Damian punched him. Hard. Twice in the gut. Victor doubled over. When he straightened, he was holding another gun.