James's POV
The Last Breath
Time lost all meaning. The room dissolved into a suffocating haze of agony, darkness punctuated by bursts of light each time a blow landed. Pain was no longer something I felt; it was something I was. Every nerve screamed, my ribs cracked under the pressure, and the metallic tang of blood was a constant presence in my mouth.
But through it all, one thought anchored me, pulsing like a heartbeat.
Protect them.
The scarred man's voice cut through the fog, a relentless drumbeat that hammered against my skull.
"Where is she?"
I couldn't answer. Even if I wanted to, the words were drowned in the blood filling my throat. My head lolled forward, my breaths reduced to shallov "heezing gasps. Every inhale was fire, exhale a struggle against oblivion. My vision swam, the edges fading in and out of focus. But I fought to stay conscious. If I slipped away now, if I surrendered to the void, l'd fail Ethan. I'd fail Emily.
And their child.
The thought of the baby jolted through me, a flash of warmth in the cold, endless dark.
Ethan had no idea that somewhere out there, his future-the family he'd always dreamed of-was waiting. I pictured him finding out, the joy that would light up his eyes, the tears that would glisten as he held his child for the first time. I knew how desperately he wanted that. A home. A family. A life with Emily where love wasn't complicated by secrets, betrayal, or danger.
He deserves that happiness, I thought bitterly. Even if I won't be there to see it.
Through the haze, memories flared. The day l'd hired Mark, the head of Emily's security detail, replayed vividly in my mind.
His face had been a mask of
professionalism and resolve. I'd gripped his shoulder tightly a y aid, "No matter what happens to me, You Keep her safe." He hadn't hesitated. His eyes had locked onto mine, and he'd simply nodded.
I believed in that promise. I believed in him.
But then the question plagued me: Why hadn't Mark told me about the pregnancy?
I'd only discovered the truth by accident— an unexpected glimpse of Emily pushing a stroller, her careful, protective hands guiding the tiny bundle of life. That revelation had both shattered and strengthened me. Knowing Ethan's child was out there had become my lifeline in this nightmare.
He has a child, I reminded myself. He has a chance for the life he's always wanted.
The scarred man leaned in close, his breath a mixture of smoke and cruelty. His face swam into focus, his eyes two black voids filled with malice.
"Last chance, James," he hissed. "Tell me where she is, or you'll wish for death."
A sick smile tugged at the corners of my battered lips. I tasted blood on my teeth. "| already do."
His eyes flared with rage. He straightened up and drew a knife, the blade catching the dim light in a cruel glint. The cold steel touched my throat, a razor-thin promise of the end.
My heart pounded in my ears, each beat slower than the last. My body was ready to give up, but my mind refused. I pictured Ethan again, holding his child, a tender smile spreading across his face. I saw Emily beside him, her eyes shimmering with relief and love. That image wrapped itself around me, a final, fragile shield against the horror pressing in on all sides.
They'll be safe. They have to be.
The scarred man leaned down, his lips brushing my ear.
"Anita sends her regards."
The blade bit into my skin, a line of ice and fire.
Pain flared, sharper
No pain. No fear. No sound. Just darkness, deep and endless.
My last thought was of Ethan's happiness.
The life he would have.