Chapter 3 - The Blade in the Dark
Emma’s hands shook so violently the silver blade caught the lightning flashing outside the window.
She wept silently, apologizing over and over again through her broken lips.
I lowered my pistol and looked directly into her terrified eyes.
I told her I knew Kolov had taken her mother and her brother.
She sobbed and confessed that Kolov had called the room phone ten minutes ago.
He had promised to burn her family alive if she did not drive that knife into my heart.
I took a slow, deliberate step toward her.
She closed her eyes and lunged forward with a desperate, untrained thrust.
I easily caught her fragile wrist and twisted it gently until the knife clattered to the floor.
She collapsed against my chest, crying hysterically as the last of her strength faded.
I wrapped my arms around her and promised I would bring her family back alive.
I carried her back to the bed and covered her with a heavy blanket.
I turned around to leave the room and formulate a rescue plan.
My sister Lucia was suddenly standing in the hallway.
She was holding a suppressed revolver aimed directly at Emma’s sleeping form.
I froze, demanding to know what she thought she was doing.
Lucia looked at me with cold, unfamiliar eyes.
She slowly shifted the aim of the revolver away from Emma.
She pointed the lethal weapon directly at my forehead.
Lucia smiled and told me I was far too emotional to run this family anymore.
She said she had watched me weaken ever since I brought the housekeeper into our home.
I stared at my own flesh and blood in absolute disbelief.
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Lucia pulled back the hammer of the revolver with a sharp, metallic click.
She whispered that she was the one who told Kolov exactly where Emma would be walking tonight.
