Page 3 of Bite of Sin

“You’re young,” she said, her gaze staying on me. “Soon, you’ll learn of what’s happening in the world. And when you do, it’s all going to change.”

“He would never do anything to our dad,” Pax said stiffly.

Her smile held nothing but sadness. “You’ll all see. But you’re not ready yet.”

“How old is she?” Viggo asked, his eyes dropping to the baby in her arms.

The lady hugged the baby tighter. “She was born last night. She hasn’t even seen how beautiful a sunset is. You three can help her live.”

“We can’t do this,” Pax said quietly, looking at Viggo, then me. “If Dad finds out—”

“We could be back before he even knows,” Viggo cut in, shifting on his feet. “A baby is an innocent, Pax. Are you really okay with her death, knowing we could have stopped it?”

Fear slid down my spine at the thought of Dad finding out what we were doing. Because Viggo was right. If the woman was a traitor, then her death was warranted. But the baby’s? It wasn’t fair.

“We’ll take her,” Viggo answered for all of us as he stepped up to the side of the bed. “I can’t promise anything else. She can’t stay here. Once we get her off the grounds, there’s nothing else we can do.”

“You won’t need to do anything else,” she murmured before pressing a long kiss to the baby’s head. “It will work itself out in time.”

“We’re going to get in so much trouble,” Pax muttered, running a hand down his face.

“We need to go if we’re doing this,” Viggo told the lady, holding his arms out.

She looked at me. “Zan, can you carry her?”

Nerves swarmed me. “Viggo’s older. He should do it.”

I’d never held a baby before and didn’t want to drop her. But the woman wasn’t taking no for an answer. She shooed Viggo away and beckoned me closer. I wiped my hands on my jeans as I crept toward her, my pulse thudding.

“You’ll protect her,” she whispered, tears falling as she hugged the baby one more time. “Don’t follow the same path your father did, Zan. You’re not meant for that.”

I didn’t argue with her. Once the baby was off the grounds, I’d never see her again. And Iwouldfollow my father. It was the reason I was born. But seeing as her life was coming to an end, I didn’t feel it was important to tell her that.

She held out the baby to me, and I carefully took her in my arms as she showed me how to keep the baby’s head supported.

“There’s a note in the blanket,” she told me, her voice thick. “Don’t lose it.”

I nodded, worried my hold was too tight, but I didn’t want to risk dropping her. I looked down at her as she slept peacefully. Her head was covered in a pink hat, and she didn’t stir as I backed away from the bed.

“The balance will stay intact,” the woman said, sagging against the pillows. Her gaze didn’t leave the baby, and an ache carved its way into my chest at the raw pain on her face. Was my mother just as sad when I was taken away?

Pax was staring at her as if she was out of her mind, but he stayed quiet. Viggo jogged to the door, cracking it open to see if the coast was clear.

“I’m sorry,” I told her as I slowly backed away. Sorry for what, I wasn’t sure. For knowing we were leaving her to die? Or taking her baby away from her, even if it was what she wanted? There was no doubt that this day would plague my mind constantly. The woman’s eyes were kind yet haunting, like she’d seen terrors I couldn’t fathom.

“Let’s go, Zan,” Viggo said under his breath, his hand keeping the door open. “There’s no one out here right now.”

The woman was sobbing, waving her hand for us to leave, and I was aware of every step I made as I slipped out of the room. I didn’t know much about babies, but I did know they were fragile. Luckily, the tunnel was close to here, and it wouldn’t take us long to reach it. About a mile behind the property was a train station where we could take her. That would be the risky part. No one could know we’d left the property.

“We’re so screwed if someone catches us.” Pax shoved Viggo as they ran ahead of me. “Listening to meetings is one thing, but this? He’ll beat us for days if he finds out.”

“He won’t,” Viggo said, his lack of confidence making me more on edge. “It’s a baby, Pax.”

I stared down at the baby as Pax and Viggo pushed open the false wall to reveal the tunnel entrance. She was sleeping so peacefully. She had no idea of the darkness in this world.

I hoped she found happiness in this life.

Chapter1

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