Blaidd
Since Lielit was spending more time working from home, I began doing the same to keep an eye on her.
The nightmares had been sporadic, and I thought the additional security would put her at ease—but nothing worked.
All I could do was hold her when she woke like that.
By morning, she was always back to her usual self.
Emotions were confusing at the best of times, but Lielit was giving me whiplash.
She was glaring at me as if I’d done something.
“I can’t see,” she hissed.
I realised I’d moved forward to inspect the babies on the screen. The other woman turned her face away—but not before I caught her amusement. I stepped back into position. At least Lielit let me hold her hand this time.
I missed the island. They would have been safe there.
She wouldn’t be having nightmares. She would never have encountered Hanson. I wanted to drag him from the ocean and kill him again every time Lielit shed a tear over his sorry arse.
She squeezed my hand. The glare was gone, replaced by a soft, dreamy look.
I sat back down.
And wondered if Lielit would ever look at me like that.
?
?
?
She clutched my arm, chattering as we walked out of the clinic. I stared at the black-and-white pictures.
A boy and a girl.
A son and a daughter.
One of each.
How would I keep them safe once they were out?
The driver opened the door, and I automatically helped Lielit in. I think she asked me something, so I smiled and nodded, which seemed to resolve the issue. I paused beside the boot as I walked around to my side of the car, taking a few deep breaths.
I think I finally understood Lielit’s night terrors.
The babies would be weak and useless once they were born. It would take time for them to gain strength and find their animals.
I got in the car, strapped Lielit’s seatbelt on, tucking it below her belly, and ensured the upper strap rested on her chest. I stared at the mound, closing my eyes for a moment before leaning down to kiss them.
Her warm hand rested on my cheek, her scent cutting through the haze.
“Blaidd,” she said softly, concern shadowing her face. “I asked if you’re okay.”
I covered her hand and pressed it against my jaw.
“I need all three of you to be safe,” I said, my voice low. “If I do or say something that seems unreasonable, it’s because I have no other choice.”
Her eyes widened.
“The island?” she whispered.
I shook my head. She nodded, then smiled wryly.
“I might not like what you say or do,” she said, as I placed her hand on my thigh and wrapped my arm around her shoulders, “but you’ll soon know about it.”
I closed my eyes, thinking of the jar of kimchi in the fridge that was always out of place.
Fuck knows what I did that time.
?
?
?
When we returned home, I took Lielit inside—she was already itching to add the new scan pictures to the twins’ memory album.
I walked the perimeter of the garden, surveying the property’s security. The walls were high, but scalable. The iron gates had the same flaw. My CCTV didn’t cover every blind spot, and in an emergency, the house lacked a panic room for the babies.
I began to build a list in my mind.
Lielit—what she needed.
The twins—what they needed.
Before removing the prime minister, I had to dismantle the people behind him.
Last—but not least—I had to make the takedown so brutal that no one would ever consider touching my family again.
Professionals cleaned the warehouse and disposed of the dismembered remains. They were paid well to keep silent, though in this case, leaks would work in my favour.
I checked on Lielit before locking myself into the study. It took less than twenty minutes to trace the PM’s donors. Campaign funds led to businesses, then to associates. The scale of the network didn’t faze me.
Fenrir was alert. Ready to kill.
We had three months to pave the way for our family. I’d grown careless, believing Hanson’s death was an ending.
It wasn’t a knife they wanted in my back.
They wanted it in my spine—twisted until I broke.
My past would not jeopardise my future.
The knock on the door made me glance at the clock. It was past dinner time. Lielit opened the door and poked her head in.
“If you’re done watching porn, dinner is ready,” she said, wiggling her eyebrows.
“Come here,” I said, waving her over.
I pushed my chair back and hauled her onto my lap.
“What do you think of these houses?” I asked, wrapping my arms around her until my hands settled over her belly.
She tapped through the different tabs, and I knew she was already evaluating the postcodes.
“They’re still close enough to your family,” I said, “and the security would be impenetrable.”
Her arse shifted against me, and I slid my hands higher.
“I wouldn’t mind making a few videos with you like this,” I murmured, cupping her breasts. “That’s all the porn I’d ever need.”
“No way am I going on camera like this. You wouldn’t even be able to fit me in the frame,” she snorted.
“Are you calling my children fat?” I mocked, rolling the soft fabric of her dress down over her breasts.
“Dinner’s going to get cold,” she gasped.
But her scent never lied.