Page 70 of The King of Hearts

I’ve always wanted kids, but I never expected to have them so young. I thought I’d be happily married to a man that I love when the time came. Instead, I’m stuck with a psycho killer who has an unhealthy obsession with me. One who gets off on causing me pain. Who gets enjoyment from ripping out men’s hearts and gifting them to me like they’re some prized possession.

Don’t even act as if you don’t like what Ryker dishes out to you, my mind whispers.

I scowl. “It doesn’t matter if I like it or not. It’s wrong. Twisted and sick,” I mutter to my subconscious.

I push my stupid thoughts away and focus back on my stomach. I run my hand in small circles over the spot where a life grows. “However you came to be,” I whisper, “we’ll get through this together.”

I check the time on my watch and cringe when I see that I only have ten minutes left before Marcelo is due here to pick me up. Grabbing my phone and purse from the vanity, I get up frommy seat and go to my closed bedroom door. My bags are already downstairs waiting by the front door, along with Loki. Before I leave, I turn and take one last look at the room that I spent my whole life in. It’s hard to imagine that I won’t be sleeping here anymore.

I close the door behind me with a soft click and go to a room down the hall. Liliana and Harper have changed a lot since they were first brought here weeks ago. Lili is still reserved and quiet, but since her meeting with Dad, she’s opened up a bit more. There’s a determination and fire in her eyes that wasn’t there in the beginning. Like being given the opportunity to seek justice against her bastard brother has given her new life.

After some discussion and being given some options, she and Dad came up with the most appropriate way to murder her brother.

The door opens seconds after I knock, as if she had been waiting on my arrival.

“Hey,” I greet the petite woman. “I didn’t want to leave without saying goodbye.”

Over her shoulder, Harper is at a desk coloring on a sheet of paper, her short legs swinging back and forth. Her hair has been split into pigtail braids, the ends tied off with two pink ribbons.

“I hate that you’re leaving,” Lili says. “You’re the only one I feel completely comfortable around.”

I reach out and grab her hand. “I’ll come back for visits. Mom and Lea are here, and you have my number, right? You can call me any time.”

She nods. “It’s not going to be the same here without you.”

“I know, but I promise you’re going to be okay.”

I pull Lili forward, and we embrace. Her arms are tight around me, and I tighten mine just the same. After we pull apart, I go over to Harper and place a kiss on the top of her head.

“I’ll see you later, Harper,” I say.

She looks up from the picture she’s drawing. It looks to be a depiction of a big house. Three stick-figure people are in front of it. Two are clearly female, going by the long hair. I can’t tell the third yet, as she’s only drawn the head and the long stick of the body.

“Are you coming back?” She looks sad as she asks the question.

“Absolutely. I’ll come visit you in a few days.”

“Okay. I’m going to draw you a picture for when you get here.”

I smile, my heart melting for the hundredth time for this little girl. “I’d really like that.”

After another hug from Lili, I leave the pair in their room. The house sounds eerily quiet as I walk down the stairs. Family pictures hang on the walls, and I look at each one as I pass by them. I feel like I’m never going to step foot in this house again, which better not be the case.

I don’t know what Ryker’s plans are for me, but keeping me from my family better not be one of them. It won’t go well for him. I don’t care if he’s bigger and stronger than me and plenty capable of keeping me where he wants me for however long. I don’t care that he’s obviously a psychotic killer, and I don’t know how safe my life is being in his hands. For all I know, he has a flesh fetish, and he plans to chop me up into tiny pieces and use me for stew meat.

Well, I do care, and I hope that’s not his plan because that would really suck. I don’t think it is, though. Why would he go through the trouble of getting me pregnant only to kill me once I am? Maybe he’ll wait until after I deliver his baby.

The point is, whatever his plans are,myplans are to make his life a living hell.

Once I reach the bottom of the stairs and the front door comes into view, I spot Marcelo standing just to the side ofthem. Dad, Mom, and my brothers are several feet away. Mom is pressed against Dad’s side while he shoots daggers at my treacherous bodyguard. Bishop and Cassio look as if they’re silently killing him in their heads. My bags and Loki’s carrier are no longer beside the door, so Marcelo must have already put them in the car.

Ignoring him, I go to my parents. Mom releases Dad and wraps her arms around me. She’s not crying, but I know she’s on the verge of it.

“Call or text me later, okay?” she says, her voice cracking.

“I will.”

“Ihatethis.”

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