Page 125 of Judgment

But this part of the hospital is just as quiet. Just as deserted.

I go out the closest set of doors and begin to run along the perimeter, breath puffing out in a cloud around me as I search for the woman who’s taken over my life and my mind.

Victor sprints out one of the doors as I approach, looking both ways before his eyes land on me. “Anything?”

I don’t answer him, just continue running.

I should have killed Frederick back when I first realized he was working against me. I shouldn’t have let Victor talk me out of it.

Then Paisley would still be with me, and Frederick would be where he belongs.

Dead.

Still the same outcome, except before his death would have been infinitely less painful than it will be now.

Victor runs along beside me as we round to the private area of the property. This portion of the hospital is reserved for service vehicles only.

If you’re the kind of person who follows rules.

If not, it could provide an easy exit for a man in a hurry.

I scan the snow for any sign of her, any hint that she might have been here recently, but the snow is already filled with tire tracks and filth, making it impossible to tell what’s new and what’s old.

“You looking for somebody?”

I turn toward the voice and when I face him the man’s brows lift in recognition.

I’ve made a name for myself among New York’s less advantaged. They know who I am. What I can offer them. It’s a partnership I’ve relied on since I came here.

Hopefully I can also rely on it now.

“A woman.” I walk toward the small encampment tucked against the building and centered around a circulation vent sending out a steady blast of warm air. “She’s in a long red dress.”

“Blonde hair?”

I nod, clinging to the first bit of hope I felt since seeing Julian in the hall. “Yes.”

The wrinkled man points toward where the service road leads away from the hospital and splits, indicating the direction they went. “A guy hauled her out here about three minutes ago. Threw her in a car. They went that way.”

Victor is already on his phone, sending our men into action.

“Tell them to move fast.” I rush in the direction the man indicated. “Tell them to take down anyone in their path.”

Victor passes on my orders, and I keep dishing them out.

“I don’t care what it takes. They are to use everything required to get to her. I don’t care if they have to burn the whole fucking city down.”

Rage burns along my skin, propelling me forward as I race to the spot Victor tells Sal to pick us up at.

Frederick believes he’s found my weakness, the thing that will offer him the ability to take me down.

He’s about to discover how very wrong he is.

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