Diamond Kisses (The Jewelry Box #4)

The heavy thud of his body as Henri landed.

The dangle of his dirt and blood-covered limbs.

He flickered in and out of awareness and agony. Cradling his newly set arm, he groaned and did his best to sit up but failed.

My heart wrenched in my chest; I couldn’t breathe.

Seeing him on the altar made every part of me howl for help.

Removing his handkerchief again, Victor dabbed at his face as he stood over Henri. He studied him for a moment as if trying to decide what to do.

Henri spasmed. Rolling over, he almost fell off the stone table as he convulsed and spat up a huge glob of blood.

“Easy, easy.” Victor pressed Henri’s no-longer-dislocated shoulder down. “Breathe.”

Henri cried out. He licked his split lip. “Vic—”

“I know.” Victor’s tone was soft and consoling. His touch as he cupped Henri’s bloody cheek fatherly and gentle.

Henri twitched and moaned, his face swollen from so many punches, his jaw puffy, his shirt torn and cape missing.

“There, there,” Victor crooned as Henri sucked in a breath and cracked open blood-shot eyes. He flinched as he noticed Victor touching him. A heavy groan escaped him as he wrapped his good arm around his chest.

Had the guards broken a few ribs too?

What else had they broken?

“He needs to see Dr Belford,” I snapped, gagging on fear all while trying to be brave. “You have to help him.”

Victor sighed and caught my eyes. “Oh, I have to help, do I?” He clucked his tongue. “Did I have to play nice when I knew all along he was consorting with you? Did I have to be the better person when he betrayed me? Did I have to silently forgive him when Kyle’s body washed up covered in stab wounds? Did I have to pretend he didn’t lie to my face about what happened in the caves that day? Did I have to hope that my offer to make him family—to make him godfather to my son—would sway him to forsake you and choose me instead?”

Peter sucked in a gasp beside me.

So Victor knew Henri was complicit all along.

We were so stupid.

So naïve.

I slouched with horror.

Death suddenly seemed like freedom.

There were so many things far worse than death and I had an awful, awful suspicion that Victor would make us wish for that freedom before he was through.

I choked on a morbid thought.

Peter had offered to kill every jewel by whatever method they wanted—all to prevent them from being slaughtered, harvested, and displayed in that cupboard. He’d been willing to crack his soul if it meant protecting us and how terribly weak of me to want him to do it.

I’d take his gentle hands holding a pillow over my face over what was coming. I would happily say goodbye as he pushed me under water in the large bath if I could avoid the horrors in our future.

“Answer me, Ilyana.” Victor curled his upper lip. “Don’t tell me you’ve gone shy.”

With a heavy sigh, I accepted how terrible everything was and let fury blaze bright. “You’ll pay for this.”

“Is that all you have to say?” He frowned. “Disappointing.”

“Let him go. You have me. You have Peter. You said it yourself that it was us conspiring against you. Henri went along with us because I made him.” I sneered. “You were right. I made him love me so I could win. He’s as much a victim of my dastardly plans as you are.” I stepped toward him, cursing Larry as he jerked me back with my hair. “I fooled him. I made him fall in love with me. I used every weakness I could, and he didn’t stand a chance.” I grinned like a maniac. “But I don’t need him anymore. He failed. Just let him go and—”