Page 63 of Exiled

“The world?" I spat back. "You mean the dark, bloody version of it that you’ve created?”

"I created an empire," he responded smugly. "I've given you a legacy. A future."

“A future built on blood and pain? No, thank you,” I replied, my tone icy. I could tell this was going sideways and he was getting angry. I had thought about getting him to admit to a crime, at least for Stephen’s sake, but I had been so eager to come in here to kill him that I didn’t even consider how I was going to get the fuck out. Things were spinning out of control. “I would rather step on a pineapple than—”

“You ungrateful child,” he snarled, getting out of his chair quickly. His eyes burned with an intensity that made my blood run cold. He was a predator, and I had just backed myself into a corner. He began pacing the floor, his heavy boots echoing ominously in the silence. It was a terrifying dance between a predator and its prey, except that in this case, the prey was armed with venomous words instead of hidden claws or teeth.

“You think you know it all, don’t you?” he sneered, his hands clenched into tight fists at his sides. “You think you’re so much better than me, than the life I gave you.”

He reached out and put his hand around my throat. He was too strong and I wasn’t fast enough.

I gasped for breath, my hands instinctively going up to claw at his fingers. His grip was tight, unyielding. Sparks of pain zipped through my nerves as he pushed me back against the wall. Panic surged through me like a tidal wave, threatening to pull me under.

“You…” I managed to choke out, my voice little more than a whisper, stubborn defiance shining in my eyes.

He squeezed and I clawed at his hand desperately, gasping for air. I could feel the world tipping sideways, my vision blurring. But I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.

My words seemed to infuriate him further. He increased the pressure and I felt my knees buckle under me. I was vaguely aware of the floor rushing up to meet me, but before I hit the ground, he released me.

I collapsed on the cold marble floor, gasping for breath. As stars burst behind my eyes, I rolled onto my side and fought to regain control of my body.

He loomed over me like some grotesque statue, watching me with an amused smile. “All you had to do was agree. Now I’m going to have to get rid of you.”

With a roar of rage that shook me to my core, he kicked me in the ribs. Pain exploded through my body and I curled into a ball protectively. I pawed at the knife in my back pocket, but he kicked my hand away, the sharp jolt of pain making me cry out. He then stepped back and began to pace again, like a predator sizing up its meal.

“Foolish girl,” he grumbled, grinding his teeth audibly, his gaze never leaving me. “You could have had it all.”

I spat out a mouthful of blood onto the marbled floor, glaring up at him. “I’d rather have nothing than be anything like you."

His booming laughter filled the room again. I struggled onto my knees, wincing through the pain. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. I wouldn’t.

He kicked me again, pain exploding through me, and then I was only vaguely aware of the footsteps approaching. We were no longer alone. But it wasn’t just the federal agent or my brother. From the corner of my eye I saw the Blades.

Teo.

Grayson.

Jace.

Victor.

They had followed me here. They had found me.

The Viper turned, his laughter ceasing immediately as he registered the new arrivals. His gaze landed on each of them, lingering longest on Teo. Recognition flickered in his eyes, quickly followed by disdain.

"Well, well," he sneered. "Look what the cat dragged in."

There was a palpable shift in the room's tension; hostility simmered like a pot about to boil over. A cold sweat trickled down my spine as I struggled to push myself upright, desperate not to miss any part of what was about to unfold.

Teo stepped forward, his icy eyes never leaving my father's face. "Let her go now," he commanded, his tone threatening.

“Or what?”

“Or I’ll kill you,” Teo said. “Didn’t you say you would leave her alone in exchange for the Blades?”

My dad shrugged. “I expected no honor from you,” he replied.

“Fuck you, Reyes,” Teo said.

Source: www.allfreenovel.com