“You’re not getting away this time.” Dennis smirked. “I’m going to fuck you, strip you naked, and hang your body in this shop with a bouquet of daffodils.”
I knew he was an asshole, but I never imagined him joining an atrocious organization like Hawthorne’s.
“How many people have you killed?” I asked.
“Not enough.” He grinned. “You’re mine, and you need to come back to me.”
I wanted to tell Dennis I wasn’t his, that my heart belonged to Kain. But that retort could get me killed by the unhinged alcoholic.
“Why are you so obsessed?” I asked.
“Because you’re the only one who got away. I didn’t give youpermissionto leave me.”
My eyes flicked to Tony and Dennis. There were two psychos in my store, and I wasn’t sure which one was worse.
Dennis stepped over to stand in front of me, and something flickered in his glazed eyes. “How dare you let another man touch you?” he seethed, his fingers bruising as he gripped my throat.
I gasped, clawing at Dennis’s hand, trying to kick him. But he was too strong.
“Stop,” Tony said.
“I don’t answer to you.” Dennis tossed Tony an annoyed look. “We’re all working for Hawthorne asequals.”
A sly smile slid onto Tony’s lips. “You mean youpaidHawthorne to kill a woman you raped so she wouldn’t go to the authorities? Then you asked to join his club to make yourself look cool—to give you a sense of belonging?” He held up a hand. “Let me correct that—youpaidHawthorne to be his follower. Pathetic.”
“Shut the fuck up.” Dennis’s nostrils flared, making him look more unhinged. “Or I’ll shoot you dead right now.”
“Hawthorne will have his team sever your limbs,” Tony snarled. “I’m not like you. He knows my allegiance.” He inhaled a breath. “We’re not here to argue. We need to take Laura to Hawthorne now.”
Why did he keep calling me by his sister’s name? Kain had told me that I looked like her, and the resemblance had saved my life.
“You’re a fucking idiot.” Dennis snorted. “She’s Eva, and she’s not going anywhere until I have my fun with her.” He yanked me out of the chair and kissed me, grabbing my breasts.
“No! Stop!” I reached for my box cutter when a gunshot rang out.
I jerked as Dennis’s body dropped to the ground with blood oozing from his chest.
Tony stepped over, examining me with concern. “Are you okay, Laura?”
“Yes,” I said, playing along. “You’re my brother. Why did you let him hurt me?”
“Why did you betray me?” He looked at me. “Why did you run away?”
“I was scared.” That wasn’t a lie.
“I won’t let anyone hurt you.”
“But you’re taking me to Hawthorne. He’s going to hurt me.”
“I’ll talk to him. We can negotiate.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“I owe him for your heart.” Tony pointed to my chest. “You were very sick, remember? I didn’t have money, so he gave me a heart for my services. You’re my only family. I can’t let you die.”
I didn’t know why, but tears flooded my eyes. Tony loved his sister, and guilt tore at me for pretending to be her. But this was my only way to buy time. Despite all his wrongdoings, I felt bad for him.
His phone rang, and he picked it up. Someone said something to him, and like a switch, his expression changed and his eyes hardened. “Let’s go, Eva.”
