Chapter 2
That was my dog, a golden retriever who'd been my loyal companion for ten years.
A few days ago, Selina shot it with an air rifle and left it seriously wounded. It was still at the animal hospital, fighting for its life.
I rushed forward frantically, grabbing the cold dog tag.
There was still wet blood smeared on it.
I stared hard at Lucas, my eyes blazing. "What did you do to Donut?"
Lucas flicked his cigarette ash with a lazy indifference.
He said, "Oh, you mean that damn dog? While you were out, I swung by the hospital.
"It looked miserable, hooked up to all those tubes, so I just pulled them out.
"Then I tossed it in the dumpster out back. The strays have probably ripped it to shreds by now."
It was like a bomb went off in my head. The last thread of sanity snapped.
Donut was more than just a pet. It was family, the one who got me through my darkest days.
Lucas had killed it ruthlessly, when I wasn't even around to protect him.
"Lucas, I'm going to kill you!" I howled, clawing my way up the rocky wall, desperate and wild.
Even though I knew I'd never make it, even as my fingers were left bloody and raw from the jagged stones, I refused to stop.
I wanted to rip those two filthy bastards apart with my own hands.
Seeing my wild attempt, Selina raised her air rifle and fired several shots at the snow near my feet.
The bullets struck the rocks, sending up a spray of snow.
Startled, I lost my footing and crashed hard back into the snow.
A sharp pain shot through my ankle. I'd probably sprained it.
Selina burst out laughing. "Wow, that pose suits you way better than that dead dog ever did."
Lucas tossed his cigarette, and it landed right on my coat, burning a black hole into it.
He said, "Judy, give it up already.
"Just jump, and everyone will think it was an accident.
"The insurance payout will be huge, just enough for Selina to trade up to that sports car she's been drooling over."
So that was it.
To them, my life was worth nothing more than a damn car.
Tears rolled down my cheeks, freezing into icy shards that stabbed at my skin.
But the fire in my chest only blazed stronger.
I wiped the blood and tears from my face and forced myself to stand tall.
I glared up at those two bastards, and my eyes were colder than the raging storm swirling around us.
"Lucas, Selina." My voice was like ice. "You'd better pray I survive. Because if I die, I'll come back from hell just to drag you down with me."
Selina flinched under my icy stare.
She curled her lip, looking totally pissed off.
She complained, "Lucas, look at her pathetic face. She still dares to glare at me.
"Just push her off already. She's really pissing me off."
But Lucas waved his hand dismissively, a sick thrill lighting up his face.
He said, "Don't rush. The night's still young.
"Just killing her now would be way too dull. Let's play a game."
Selina's eyes sparkled. "Game? What game?"
Lucas gestured at me, and then at the bag Selina was holding.
Even my spare clothes had been taken away.
Lucas said, "It's minus 50℉ out here.
"Judy, if you grovel on the ground and bark like a dog, I'll have Selina toss you a piece of clothing to keep you warm for every bark.
"If you bark well enough, maybe I'll even pull you up myself."
Selina clapped her hands, grinning wide.
She said, "This is great. This is so thrilling.
"Judy, aren't you obsessed with dogs? Well, today you get to play the part."
Lucas pulled out his phone and started recording.
He teased, "Hey, honey, give us a smile and say your final words.
"Let's see how the prim and proper Judy Quinn grovels and begs like a dog."
They didn't just want me dead. They wanted to crush my dignity beneath their feet.
I stood in the blizzard, my body so frozen that I couldn't feel a thing anymore.
But my mind was sharper than ever.
I let out a cold laugh. "Want to hear some barking? Why don't you two bark for each other?
"After all, you filthy bastards are a perfect match."
Selina's expression darkened. She grabbed a rock and threw it straight at me.
It smacked me right in the forehead.
Warm blood trickled down, covering my left eye.
The agony nearly knocked me out.
As I wiped the blood from my face, I slipped my hand beneath my clothes.
Hidden there was a vintage mechanical watch.
My dad had given it to me for my eighteenth birthday. It was also a lifeline for the Quinn family heir.
It housed the most advanced satellite tracking and emergency beacon system in the world.
One press of the button, and the Quinn family's bodyguards would rush to my side in record time.
I married Lucas and kept my real identity under wraps, just so I could taste what it was like to live as a normal person.
But in the end, that hidden identity turned out to be my last hope for survival.
I pressed down hard on the red button. On the watch face, a tiny red light started blinking.