The Widow Maker (Dark Vows Duet 2)

Heath shakes his head, muttering, “Just get to the fucking point, Xavier. We’re eager to get out of here.”

“Of course,” he smiles pleasantly, sitting on the other end of the desk and clasping his hands together. “Clearly, you’ve both disappointed me. Heath, you betrayed your own family and played games with me. And you’ve been punished accordingly.”

I think of yesterday’s bloodshed. Liberato told me they’re going to start afresh. Apart from the men I met in the den, their numbers are practically back at zero and their cartel operations have ground to a halt.

“But Rain...” Xavier clicks his tongue. “You’re another matter altogether, and I cannot forgive my wife as easily as I can forgive my nephew.”

I expected this. I never thought Xavier would just let me go as if nothing happened.

“What do you want?” I demand. “Just tell us so we can get the hell out of here.”

“I’m not asking for much,” Xavier grins, telling me he’s lying again. He’s going to make this devastating for us. “I’ve been wondering for a while what a worthwhile trade could be between us. After all, Rain, I’m losing a wife... and heirs I could have had with her.”

“Cut to the chase,” Heath spits out. “What the fuck are you asking for?”

Xavier smirks at him, saying, “Your firstborn.”

We’re both too stunned to speak, but Xavier seems carefree as he pours himself a drink and faces us.

“Like I said, this loss will cost me more than just a wife. It will cost me a family, and years of my life I won’t be able to get back. So, the only way you can repay me is by sending your first heir to live with me once they turn eighteen. I know you’ll have plenty of children to make up for the loss.”

“You’re insane,” I spit out. “We’re not letting you have our son.”

“Son, daughter, it doesn’t matter to me,” Xavier shrugs carelessly. “But I am taking the kid once he or she is of age.”

“Why?” Heath demands.

“Because I want an heir,” Xavier hisses. “If it’s a boy, he will inherit my business. If it’s a girl...”

His dark smirk sends shivers of fear down my spine, and he shrugs.

“Well, I don’t need to tell you. I’ll still need a wife and children, and I’m growing tired of finding someone suitable myself.”

“You’re off your rocker,” I hiss. “We’re never letting you have our child.”

“Fine,” Xavier shrugs, as if it doesn’t matter at all to him. “That’s your mistake. But I’m telling you now, Rain. I have you surrounded in here. If you don’t give up your child right now, I have no reason not to kill you both. You, for being an insolent, bratty, cheating little bitch, and Heath here for betraying his family.”

He drags out a gun and places it on the desk, separating us from him with the barrel pointed at us. It’s such a simple move and yet it sends goosebumps erupting all over my skin. This is a threat. A death threat.

“So what will it be?” Xavier asks easily, rendering me mute.

“We’ll need some time to think about it,” Heath mutters.

“You’re out of fucking time,” Xavier shakes his head. “You need to decide now. Live, and part with your child after they turn eighteen... or die today.”

We exchange glances. This is even more horrible because I just recently realized I’m pregnant. I want to fucking cry, but I also don’t want Xavier to notice my weakness or find out I’m already with child.

“We’ll do it,” Heath mutters.

“Heath!”

“We have to,” he tells me darkly. “You know he leaves us no choice.”

My hand trembles over my belly as Heath shakes hands with his uncle.

“Splendid,” Xavier grins. “I knew you’d come around. You made the right choice.”

Neither of us say a word. We can’t even look at one another as Xavier leads us out of the study with his heavy arms around our shoulders. I feel sick to my stomach.

This baby that’s growing inside me right now is innocent, and yet there’s nothing I can do to save it. In a little over eighteen years, I’ll have to hand my firstborn off to Xavier.

Once again, I feel bile rising stomach as the weight of what I’ve just agreed to do starts settling in. Wordlessly, I follow Xavier downstairs, where Liberato is already waiting for us.

“We should have a drink to celebrate,” Xavier says jovially while Heath’s friend glances at us worriedly. “Good news all around.”

“What good news?” L hisses. “Are you letting them go?”

“Yes,” Xavier laughs. “And Rain and I are getting a divorce.”

Liberato’s eyes widen in disbelief and he places his arm around Heath’s shoulders, muttering, “But this is great news, isn’t it?”

Heath nods mutely, but his ashen expression speaks for itself.

“One last thing,” Xavier says with a grin. “Rain, I’ll need my ring back.”