Page 117 of Five Fingers of Death

“Don’t tell him.”

Fog swirled around me. I felt his hand on me, guiding me through a room, but I wasn’t certain who he was, only that I trusted him.

“Don’t tell him.”

“I won’t.”

“Promise me.”

“You’ll be safe.”

His voice echoed the words, but there was something wrong. I could feel the danger around me with every step we took. I shouldn’t be here. This was wrong.

“I have to go back.”

“We can’t. It’s too late.”

My heart hammered in my chest with every step I took. My hand rested on my protruding stomach protectively, but instinctively, I knew it would never be enough. I wouldn’t be able to protect my child. This was going to end badly—the way it did every time I dreamed of my angel.

“Go back,” I whispered desperately. “Go back. It’s not too late.”

“I’ll make this right,” the man pleaded.

I wished I could remember what his face looked like. Who was this man guiding me? Why was he trying to lead me away?

I jerked my arm out of his grasp, backing up a step. If I got away now, maybe none of this would happen. She wouldn’t be gone when I woke up.

“Izzy.”

I spun around, searching for the voice, but couldn’t find it. It was so familiar, so…comforting. I wanted to follow the voice and pull myself out of this hell before it was too late.

“Let’s go back,” I pleaded. “We can still make it.”

“We can never make it. You know it’s too late.”

I shook my head wildly, wishing it weren’t true. Then the fog lifted and I was back in that house—back on the island. I gasped, covering my mouth with my hand. I couldn’t be here. I didn’t want to ever see this place again. Beige walls. White furniture. Cigar smoke in the air.

“Oh God,” I whispered. “He’s here.”

“He’s always here,” the man said from behind me.

I turned around, and this time, I saw his face. The guard…the one who tried to help me. I barely knew his name. He was there the last time Ebarardo hit me. I fell into a table and smacked my face against it, cracking my cheekbone. He’d been the one to see me to my room on Ebarardo’s orders.

And that’s when everything changed—when he vowed to get me off the island.

I had hope for the first time in years, and that was a dangerous thing. But I was pregnant and I had to protect my child. I would give anything, risk anything to make sure my child wasn’t raised by that monster.

“We have to go,” he said, hurrying to my side and taking my hand.

“Not like this.” Panic gripped me as I waited for the inevitable to happen. I knew he would walk around the corner and spot us. The guard’s hands on me, the anger on Ebarardo’s face…it was all about to play out in my worst nightmares.

“Please,” he begged. “Now is our only chance.”

I couldn’t tell him no even though I knew what would happen. He was risking everything for me. A tear slipped down my cheek as I pressed my hand to his face. “I’m so sorry.”

“For what?” he asked, genuinely confused.

“For what’s about to happen.”

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