Page 65 of His Wife

Memories of the night my father asked me to arrange their anniversary party play out in my head. I remember how conflicted he was, how he seemed to wallow in the past, saying that his time for making things right had passed. He was sad. Almost hopeless with a regret I didn’t understand.

“When you’re a dying man like I am, you start to think of all the things you would have done differently. The things you wish you could go back and change.”

“All the money in the world can’t cure me or prolong my life. And power? What is power when death can erase you with a mere snap of its fingers? There’s only one thing that matters, Alexius, and I regret that it’s taken me my whole life to realize…and that’s family. Loved ones.”

“There is one decision I regret the most now…now that my life is coming to an end. One wrong decision that pains me more than any amount of morphine or medicine can numb.”

“Alexius.” Leandra’s touch jolts me out of my own head, the roar of engines slicing through the noise of rain pissing down onto the Earth. Nicoli and Maximo both leap from their vehicles, but I’m too distracted by the memories, as if my brain’s sorting through all the puzzle pieces, trying to make it all fit.

“Micah. I’ve always wanted a son with the name Micah.”

Instantly the memories all slide together. “Nicoli!” I yell as my brother rushes up the stairs to the front door. “It’s Micah.”

Nicoli stops and turns to face me. “Yeah. What about it?”

“Don’t you remember? The night Mom and Dad returned from their trip, the night of the party, Dad said he’s always wanted a son named Micah. That it would make a good name for an heir.”

Nicoli frowns. “That can be a coincidence. Doesn’t mean it’s tied to this.”

“I know. But right now, it’s the only fucking breadcrumbs we have. Go find Mom, make sure she’s safe.” I turn to Maximo. “We need to search the house. Every room, every corner, every goddamn fucking crack in the wall. Now.”

“There is no way he’d be able to get past security. Security is all over. It might as well be the fucking Whitehouse.”

“I don’t care. Just do it.”

Maximo and Nicoli rush into the house, and I grab Leandra’s hand. “Change of plans.”

“What?”

“I’m not taking you in there. Not if there’s a chance he could be in the house.”

“What about Mira? And where’s Caelian? Isaia?”

“Isaia is with Caelian. They’re safe. Right now, I have to get you safe.”

“And Mira? We have to find her, Alexius. If she’s in danger, we have to do something.”

“And we will.” I grip her arms. “I promise I’ll find her, but first, I need to take you to a safe place. Please. Just get back in the car. I know where to take you, where you’ll be safe.”

“No.” She shakes her head. “This is dangerous. I’m not leaving you.”

“Leandra, get in the motherfucking car!” I yank her arm and force her into the car. There’s no time to debate, no time to stand around and argue. If this psychopath has Mirabella, every damn second counts if we want half a chance at finding her alive.

I rev the engine, images of Melanie’s corpse bombarding my mind, praying to God we don’t find Mirabella like that.

I put the car in reverse, swerve to the side, and speed back down the driveway, my heart beating like fucking crazy with a fresh surge of adrenaline every goddamn five seconds.

“Where are you taking me?”

“The mausoleum. It’s the safest place for you right now.”

“You’re taking me to the family graveyard?”

“It’s safe. That place is a fucking fortress. No one will get in there.”

“Okay, but why are you driving off the estate?”

“It’s quicker around the outside and to go through the back gates. I can’t exactly speed down a cobbled path now, can I?”

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