Chapter 3

"Seraphina Sinclair, if you lay a single finger on her today, I swear to God I'll make you regret it."

"Oh? I'd love to see how you plan to manage that."

Mother flicked the tip of her dagger through the sash on Sabrina's dress.

Daddy's eyes widened. He snapped his fingers.

From every shadow around the courtyard, dozens of gun barrels emerged, all trained on Mother.

Daddy snatched the dagger from her, hurled it aside, and turned to save the woman.

Mother looked at the woman he was shielding in his arms, and gave a cold laugh.

"Damian Vale. You're certain you want to play this game with me over some cheap piece of trash?"

His face darkened further. He passed Sabrina off to one of his men, drew his own pistol, and pressed it to Mother's head.

"Seraphina. I gave you your chance."

Mother's eyes narrowed on him.

"Did you? I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you."

More figures melted out of the shadows—twice, three times as many as Daddy's men.

Within seconds, Daddy and Sabrina and every one of Daddy's crew were pinned to the ground.

Mother pulled me into her arms and pointed at Sabrina's right hand. Her voice was gentle.

"Rory. Tell Mommy. Was it this hand that pinched your face?"

I nodded.

"Take it off."

Daddy roared, "Seraphina! Don't you fucking dare!"

A flash of steel. A severed hand went spinning through the air, thudded to the ground, and blood sprayed everywhere.

Sabrina convulsed with pain, nearly passing out.

Terrified, I buried my face in Mother's chest. She patted my back to soothe me.

"Seraphina! You crazy bitch! I'll kill you!" Daddy's eyes were red, his body thrashing.

Mother acted as if she hadn't heard a word. She picked up her dagger and walked toward Sabrina.

"I could have sworn I also heard you call my Rory a little bastard."

Sabrina, half-conscious with pain, could only shake her head desperately.

Mother's wrist flicked. The blade sliced clean, left and right.

Two long gashes opened across Sabrina's face. Blood poured out in dark ribbons.

Then Mother twirled the dagger idly, letting the point drift down toward Sabrina's swollen belly.

Daddy watched, helpless, screaming himself hoarse.

"Enough! Seraphina! What the hell do you want?!"

Finally, she turned to look at him.

"What do I want? She wanted to send my daughter away. So I'll send her child away. Fair, isn't it?"

"No! Sera, I'm *begging* you! Let her go, let the baby go!"

"Begging me?" She laughed softly. "Damian. Is that how you beg?"

His face went from white to ashen. Then he dropped—*thud*—hard, onto his knees.

"I'll agree. We'll divorce. Just—please. Don't hurt her, don't hurt the baby."

"Divorce? It's too late for that."

"Actually, I've decided—widowhood might be a little more direct than divorce."

Daddy's head snapped up. He stared at her in disbelief.

"You've lost your mind!"

"Yes. I have. I lost it the moment you people laid hands on Rory."

His eyes locked onto her. He forced the threat out one syllable at a time.

"Seraphina, don't push me. So what if the Sinclairs have your back? I have three arms warehouses. Enough firepower to level the entire East Coast. Even the Sinclairs would come out of that bloody."

Every man in the courtyard flinched.

Mother's lips curled in contempt. She pulled out her phone and dialed.

"Before nightfall, Damian Vale's three arms warehouses are either mine, or they're gone from the face of the earth."

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