Chapter 3

3

To pray for my brother, who had died a brutal death in my past life, I went to a local cathedral to ask the priest for a private mass.

When I pushed the doors open, Jonah was accompanying the children's choir on the piano.

As the final chord resonated, a jarring wrong note rang out.

Without thinking, I stepped forward and pressed down on the correct key.

"It should resolve like this."

Our first real meeting was far calmer than I had ever imagined.

Jonah's eyes lit up instantly.

"You play the piano? I have been practicing this piece for weeks and always mess up this part!"

I offered him a faint, distant smile, but he began chatting with me as if we were old friends.

When he learned I was there to pray for a departed loved one, he knelt before the statue of the Virgin Mary and prayed earnestly for my brother.

"Lord, please welcome this pure soul into the kingdom of heaven, and bring peace to the wounded hearts left behind."

I stood there dazed. He was so much like my former self that my chest tightened.

I even felt a twinge of pity for him.

A reckless urge rose inside me to save him from my own fate.

To tell him to run far away from Nadia Frost.

Getting close to her would only bring ruin.

Then I remembered the child growing in Nadia's belly, and I sealed my lips shut.

If Jonah found out about my marriage to Nadia, he would break down and leave her on the spot.

And if that happened, Nadia would tear the world apart to punish me.

The bloody memories of my previous life rushed through my mind.

I excused myself to go into the confessional booth.

Inside, I pulled up the live security feed of my brother's facility in New York. Seeing him peacefully painting calmed my racing heart.

After our parents died, he was my only family left.

This time, I would never let him be dragged into Nadia's violent world again.

When I composed myself and stepped out of the confessional, a cold, black gun barrel was pressed against my forehead.

Every nerve in my body screamed in alarm. I glanced toward Jonah's direction.

He was already crumpled unconscious on the marble floor.

I cursed silently under my breath. The next second, a heavy rifle butt slammed into my skull, knocking me out cold.

When I woke up, I was tied back-to-back with Jonah inside a derelict warehouse.

Jonah's voice trembled with tears.

"The debt was already settled! What more do you want? Nadia warned you―"

A sharp, stinging slap cut Jonah off mid-sentence.

The scarred man leading the thugs grabbed Jonah by his hair.

"Yeah, the money was paid, but that bitch broke three of our boss's ribs! How the hell are we supposed to let that slide on the streets?"

"Since she treasures you so much, I am going to take my sweet time carving you up today!"

They were low-level loan sharks. No wonder they didn't recognize me.

I took a few steady breaths and slid out the tiny razor hidden beneath the setting of my ring, beginning to saw through the coarse ropes.

Being kidnapped wasn't new to me. I had plenty of experience.

Seeing that I was awake, the scarred man riffled through my designer leather wallet.

"Mr. Shaw, consider it your bad luck. Three million dollars. Tell your family to wire the cash right now."

Jonah sniffled, turning his tear-streaked face toward me. "I am so sorry, sir. I dragged you into this. But please don't be scared. My girlfriend is really powerful. She will come save us."

His eyes were filled with blind worship, treating Nadia like his personal savior.

My hands paused for half a second, but I didn't say a word.

Suddenly, the scarred man cursed loudly. He glared at his buzzing phone and barked viciously.

"Damn it! She thinks I am bluffing? Looks like I need to send her a little souvenir first."

He slammed a hunting knife down onto the wooden crate in front of us.

"Cut off all ten of his fingers and mail them to her!"

My pupils constricted violently.

If Jonah died here today, Nadia would skin me alive to vent her rage.

Jonah went completely pale, backing away in sheer terror.

"Please, don't do this to me! I need my hands to play music!"