Chapter 18 #2
“As for why you’re here…” Julian’s voice brings my attention back to the present as he flips another page. “Jude tried to kill you, but I saved you.”
My lips tremble, my whole body going into shock. “W-what?”
“He was the one who sent the killers. They work for him—or, more accurately, follow his command in our organization hierarchy.”
“Why would he do that to Mario?”
“Because Mario was overstepping in his duties. He got too close to the subject he was watching, and that’s not how it works. He failed to do his job and, therefore, is considered collateral damage.”
That’s what the guy called Mario—collateral damage—right as he was bleeding out on the pavement.
As if he were an insect.
Because the lives of people like me and Mario don’t matter to people like Jude and Julian.
And yet my chest hurts at the thought that Jude really stooped that low. That…he’d kill me and Mario in a heartbeat.
Over our last couple of encounters, I thought I was feeling some softness in him. Even his words about not blaming me but my mom soothed me, and I felt like…something was different.
Apparently, I was wrong and Mario was right—I’m a horrible judge of character.
“Do I not get a thank-you for saving your life, Violet?” He flips a page, then another and another. “It was a hassle to have my people kidnap you from your assailant and bring you to the hospital.”
I wipe my eyes with the back of my hand. “You couldn’t care less about my life. It’s unimportant, just like Mario’s. So, no, I won’t be thanking you, because you had an ulterior motive behind your actions.”
His lips curve in a smile. “I can see why Jude chose to play with you for a while before killing you. Despite the innocent appearance, you’re smart, so I’d appreciate it if you keep the intelligence streak throughout this conversation. Let me ask you, Violet. What do you want?”
“You and your brother out of my life.”
“You got it.”
My lips part, but then I purse them again, holding on to the courage even if my hands shake.
He’s messing with me. He has to be.
“Excuse me if I don’t believe that. Jude said he wouldn’t leave me alone until I died. Just because he failed once doesn’t mean he won’t try again or go back to watching my every move and threatening my sister so that I’ll do his bidding.”
“You’re correct. He wouldn’t. Unfortunately, Jude is…persistent, to put it mildly, and he’ll find you even if you run. Lucky for you, I have a solution.”
“What type of solution?”
“I’m not sure if you’re aware, but I run the Callahan empire, which is the pioneer in the medical-industrial complex.
The reason we made it this far isn’t because of transparent and on-the-record testing, it’s because we use unofficial methods as well.
My scientists developed an interesting coma-inducing drug with little to negligible side effects.
It’d revolutionize the industry; however, we know we won’t get the approval to test it, considering its volatile key composition, but you see, I need to test it. ”
“You want me to test it? Is that it?”
“Yes. Your blood tests are extremely promising. You have the near-perfect genetic profile to test it.”
“I refuse.”
“Then you’ll die by Jude’s hands sooner or later or be driven to slit your wrists. That’s not ideal, is it?” He leans over, still gripping the book. “Especially since Jude arranged for Dahlia’s scholarship to GU, where he can hurt her anytime he wants just to get to you.”
My spine jerks. “Jude said he didn’t…”
“Convictions are more dangerous enemies of truth than lies.” He closes the book and then taps it with a finger. “According to this clown.”
I swipe my finger against my tattoo, back and forth. I don’t care what Jude does to me, though I feel stupid for feeling a spark of something whenever he touched me or texted me, but I’ll never allow something to happen to Dahlia because of me.
Never.
“For the record,” Julian says, pulling out his phone and tapping a few times before angling the screen toward me. “This is how Jude takes care of his targets. You made a lucky escape.”
My stomach twists before I even see it, and then bile surges up my throat.
On the screen is a grainy surveillance image—a man torn apart, his body sliced open with brutal precision. One eye is gouged out, the other still impaled with a knife that’s buried to the hilt.
Standing in front of the scene is Jude.
I’d recognize that stance anywhere—rigid, menacing. His hand grips the blood-coated knife, his expression unreadable except for the fury burning in his eyes. Another man is beside him, turned away from the camera, but I barely notice him. All I see is Jude. And what he’s capable of.
The room tilts. I turn my face sharply, swallowing down the nausea crawling up my throat.
I’m going to be sick.
“Listen, Violet.” Julian pockets his phone. “You and your sister will never be safe as long as you’re in Jude’s orbit. If you help me test out this drug for three months, I’ll effectively remove you from that orbit.”
“Remove me how?”
“I’ll arrange new identities for you and Dahlia, give you a house and a new life on the West Coast. I’ll fund your education and your sister’s at top universities and even pay you for the experiment.
In the meantime, while you’re in a coma, Jude won’t have access to you, and I’ll protect your sister until you wake up. How does that sound?”
“Too good to be true.”
“Not really. You have to know that there’s a fifty percent chance you’ll never wake up from this coma. But even if you don’t, I’ll honor my promise about Dahlia and give her the life I just pledged.”
“I’ll need a contract and a financial advance so that your promises don’t sound empty.”
He smiles. “Fine.”
“Can I talk to Dahlia?”
“No. She has to believe you were attacked and brought to the hospital, which is the reason for the coma. Otherwise, this won’t work.”
God. She’ll be so worried.
I don’t want to stress her out when she just started her new journey at GU, but I also know that if I don’t take care of the Jude problem, she and I will never be safe.
It’s just for three months.
Three months, and then we’ll reunite and have our new beginning.
My eyes stray to Julian, who’s watching me intently. “Do you not care?”
“About?”
“Susie…your stepmother who I couldn’t help?”
“Doesn’t matter when you have the perfect profile to test my drugs.” He stands up and places the book in my lap. “Besides, you wouldn’t have been able to help Susie even if you had intervened.”