Page 75 of Carved in Ice (Made of Steel 3)

If I had any doubts about who V was, they disappeared. I’d recognize that color brown anywhere. The curve of his neck. “Don’t touch him!”

“Because you can’t hide from me, Summer,” he said, ignoring me. “I own this city. The good.” He straightened his tie. “The bad. And every inch in between. You can’t possibly do better than me.”

Was he trying to win me over? That couldn’t be what this was about. I couldn’t be the reason why the streets were filled with crime. Why he became mayor. He had never wanted to win me over before. He just took me. He took me without asking. Again and again and again. I felt the tears falling down my cheeks.

“This can all end tonight. Just come home, Summer.”

His words echoed around me, swirling with my memories. How many times had V told me to go home? I stared at his back. V had been telling me to go to Miles. Miles had always been home to me. And he wanted me to go home where I belonged, right next to his side. He was waiting for me to choose him. And now I was worried I was too late.

“Home isn’t a place, Don. It’s a feeling.”

“You’ve always been naïve. Just like your mother.”

There were pieces of my mother’s story that I didn’t understand. I had held her on a pedestal my whole life. But she may have cheated on my father. She may not have been the woman I thought I knew. That didn’t mean he could judge her though. He ruined her life just like he ruined mine. And he may have taken her life too. “I know what you did.”

“Which thing?”

The way he said it made the little hairs on the back of my neck rise. I was done playing his games. I grabbed my gun as fast as I could and held it out in front of me. “Step away from him.”

Don didn’t move. “Or what? You’ll shoot me?” He laughed and placed his hand on Miles’ shoulder.

“I swear to God, Don.” My hands were shaking. I wasn’t sure if it was because of the cold or my own fear. But I knew if I took the shot I might miss. It was like all my training evaporated as soon as I saw Don. And I couldn’t afford to miss when Miles was so close. “Get the fuck away from him!”

“That’s enough, doll. You’re coming with me.” He nodded and someone grabbed me from behind. My gun skidded away from me. I kicked and screamed, but whoever it was just held me tighter.

Don patted Miles’ shoulder. “Come morning, the whole city will know the identity of the New York City vigilante. And that their beloved mayor made sure that V would no longer be terrorizing this city.” He pushed Miles forward and his body toppled over the ledge.

Chapter 32

Monday

An ear piercing scream made my eardrums feel like they might burst. It sounded like something was dying a brutal death. I didn’t even realize that the sound was coming from me until I needed to take a breath. I screamed again as soon as I could. The agony needed to escape from me and screaming was the only way I knew how.

The man holding me in place loosened his grip, probably trying to get away from the awful noise I was making.

I pulled my arm back fast and elbowed him straight in his Adam’s apple. Twice.

He wheezed and grunted, but didn’t let go of me. So I lifted my foot and slammed my heel between the man’s legs. He immediately dropped me.

I landed in the slush on my hands and knees. But I didn’t feel the coldness against my palms. All I could feel were flames. There was no time to think. I held my breath and ran as fast as I could. For one second.

If I leapt off the side of the building could I reach Miles before he hit the sidewalk below?

For two seconds. How high up were we?

For three seconds. Could I break his fall?

For four seconds. None of it mattered. I had to try.

For five seconds.

But before I could jump, Don caught me around my waist. I screamed again, the sound piercing the quiet night.

And for just a moment, it felt like I was back in time. After Don had cut me with a knife. After he killed my baby. I could feel all the hope draining out of me again. And then my mind turned, taking me back further. When I realized my parents were never coming home. My body felt numb.

But this? It was the third time in my life that I let Don take everything away from me. And this time I had no fight left. No hope of a better tomorrow. He had officially taken everything from me now. Every. Single. Fucking thing.

“There, there.” His voice oozed with insincere sweetness.

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