The knife falls from his grip, and his hands weakly grab for me.
“Say hello to your father for me.” My bicep flexes, and I shove the knife higher, twisting as I do.
The last of his life flickers from his eyes.
And it’s over.
I shove him away as I release my grip, leaving the blade inside his head as he falls to the floor.
Reaching across the table, I pick up his unused napkin and clean some of the blood off my hands.
Nero makes a sound close to a snicker. “Circle jerk of assholes.”
King snickers, too.
I roll my eyes. “I can’t believe you idiots run The fucking Alliance.”
“You went to pretty long lengths to join us.” Nero lifts his left hand, flexing his fingers around his stained red diamond-encrusted brass knuckles. “Guess that makes you an idiot, too.”
I roll my shoulders and press my hand to the ache in my chest, feeling the strain in my sutures. But I think of Valentine waiting for me at home. I think of her and the baby she’s growing in her belly, and smile. “No regrets.”
CHAPTER 83
Val
The sun is rising, filling the penthouse with a soft orange glow, as I climb down the stairs and find the girls in the kitchen.
Aspen is seated at the island next to Savannah while Payton fiddles with the coffee maker.
“Morning.” I greet them as I pull out a stool next to Aspen.
“Can’t sleep either?” she asks me.
I shake my head. “I know they do stuff like this all the time, but I don’t know how you get used to it.”
“You don’t. Not really,” Payton answers, having been married longer than any of us. “Want coffee?”
I shake my head. “No, thanks.” I can hear the disappointment in my voice.
“You sure?” Payton asks, probably having heard the same thing.
“I’m sure,” I sigh.
“Oh, that’s right, you can’t,” Savannah says casually, but my eyes still widen.
Aspen slowly turns to face me. “What does she mean you can’t?”
I lean over the counter to look past Aspen at Savannah, who has slapped a hand over her mouth.
“Sorry,” she says, her apology muffled by her palm.
“Are you pregnant?” Aspen looks so shocked it almost makes me laugh.
It’s too early to really be telling people, but since the cat seems to be out of the bag, I shrug. “Yeah.”
Aspen shoves at my shoulder. “And you told Savannah but not me?”
“I didn’t mean to!” I defend. “She was with me when the doctor was checking me over. And when he asked if there was a chance I was… I had to tell him the truth.”
Savannah grins. “Does this mean I can finally tell King? The secret has been killing me.”
I shrug. “Might as well.”
“How did this even happen?” Aspen asks.
Savannah snorts. “Well, when a man puts his penis inside you…”
Aspen spins around to shove at Savannah. “Clearly I’m not the one who needs the birds and the bees talk.”
Savannah lets out a snicker. “Fair point.”
“For the record, I don’t need the talk either,” I tell them, then decide that if I want this group to be my family, I want to be open with them. “Right before the guys left yesterday, I told Dominic I’m pregnant.”
Savannah gasps, leaning against the counter to see me. “What did he say?”
“He told me he was happy.” I bite my lip. “And he told me he changed out my birth control pills with fakes a few weeks ago.”
Aspen shoves my shoulder again. “What?! Why?!”
I try not to smile at her outraged reaction. “Because he wanted to keep me.”
Aspen’s jaw drops just as Payton lets out an aww from the other side of the counter.
Aspen swings her head around to face Payton. “You think that’s sweet?”
Payton doesn’t look at all embarrassed when she nods her head. “It is.”
Aspen guffaws. “It’s psychotic.”
I huff out a laugh. “You think that’s psychotic,” I mumble before I can think better of it.
Everyone turns to face me, so I hold up my ring finger, the black ink on display. “After I threw my ring out the car window, Dominic drugged me and tattooed his name on me. One time for every man I’ve been with.”
“I knew you wouldn’t have done that on your own.” Savannah slaps her hand down on the counter. “I’ve heard finger tattoos fucking hurt.”