“No, Johan,” Kitty wheezed. She shook her head, feeling the tension of Xander’s hand in her hair with every small movement. “No, I only . . . only took a little bit. Just a little.”

“How much is a little, Kitty?”

“I don’t know. A pinch here and there. For personal use.”

Again, Johan made a show out of considering this. He walked another figure eight, stepping close to Sly Boy, then Kitty, looping around Angelo’s head.

“Someone is lying to me.” He raised the ax, regarding the sharpened blade with his jaw pushed out.

“Not me,” Sly Boy insisted. His mouth quivered. More tears oozed from his closed eye. “Not me, Johan.”

“Are you sure about that, Kris?” Johan placed the ax on one shoulder, lumberjack-style, and stepped casually over to Sly Boy. “Because if you didn’t sell my canary to Angelo, that means Kitty did. And as punishment, I’m going to have to blood-eagle her.”

Kitty screamed and writhed. Xander pulled back on her hair, placing one knee between her shoulder blades to restrain her.

“If you’re lying,” Johan continued, raising his voice to be heard over Kitty’s struggles, “that’s going to be on your conscience. A terrible thing to have to carry around.”

“I’m not lying,” Sly Boy insisted. “I don’t know anything about your fucking canary.”

“Okay, Kris.” Johan crouched beside Sly Boy and patted him affectionately on the shoulder. “This has been enlightening. Thank you.”

Sly Boy whimpered and clanked his heavy chains. Johan straightened, the ax still on one shoulder. Kitty watched through the tears in her eyes as he caressed his beard, then nodded at Xander, who pushed down on the back of her head. A whistling breath was pressed from her lungs as she was forced low, the curve of her spine exposed.

Kitty heard but didn’t see Johan step toward her.

“Are you sure, Kris?” he boomed. “Last chance.”

“I’m sure,” Sly Boy blubbered.

Kitty tried to twist her body, but Xander was too strong. She was locked in place—couldn’t even get enough air to scream. Johan touched the ax to the top of her spine. He cut through the collar of her T-shirt, then tore it down her back in a wide V.

Kitty saw her son in her mind and ran to him. I love you, she said, taking him into her arms, feeling the weight and realness of him. I love you, I love you. He looked into her eyes and recognized her, even though he had never fully seen her. I love you, my beautiful boy. I love you, too, Mama.