AllFreeNovel
Share Us
As if she hears me, she crosses her arms over her chest, her posture lifting. “I wouldn’t be at all surprised if William isn’t ten steps ahead of you.” Out of the corner of my eye, I see her smug smile. She’s taunting him, as though she knows something he doesn’t.
Rage mottles his face. The hand that holds the gun against Darin’s face shakes. “What do you mean by that, blondie?”
“Well, William conducted business the entire time he held me captive. He already saw the changing nature of his dad’s relationship with you when he returned to Pennsylvania. Who knows? Maybe he’s poised to take it over the second your father transfers everything to you.” She looks disinterested as she says, “Or maybe Gregory is just jerking your chain again, having you do his bidding, then he’s gonna screw you over and give everything to William.”
Damian shifts again, his grip on Darin loosening. His nostrils flare and the cords in his neck stand out as he works himself into a fury. “You don’t fucking know anything.” His eyes squint and narrow at Irelynn.
“Don’t I?” She stares him down and his gun lowers slightly.
That’s my cue.
Squeezing the trigger, I shoot, his body jolting from the impact of the bullet into his skin. It shocks him enough that he lets go of Darin. As Darin collapses on the floor, I charge toward Damian, tackling him and knocking him to the floor. His head slams off the concrete floor before my fist connects with it.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Irelynn kneeling beside Darin, checking over him.
My head turns as Vanessa comes to, her muffled screams yelling Darin’s name as her eyes rove over his body as he lies on the floor. She frantically struggles against her restraints but is unable to loosen them.
“Vanessa, please calm down,” Irelynn says as she hoovers over Darin.
I’m distracted as I look over at her. Pain slices through me as Damian rakes his fingers over my eyes, temporarily blinding me. His fist connects with my face, knocking me off him. He immediately launches at me, kicking the gun from my hand.
As he tries to kick my stomach, I roll, blinking several times, watching with blurry eyes as I see my gun lying on the floor. Slowly crawling toward it, Irelynn’s panicked screams stop me.
As I turn my head in her direction. I see an older man pressing her against his body, her gun against her head.
Fuck. This isn’t good.
Darin lies on the floor not far from me, his expression full of pain as he meets my eyes. He’s badly beaten and weak.
“Hello again, Irelynn. It’s been quite a while since I’ve seen you. You’ve certainly grown up.”
My attention is drawn back to the older man who has her restrained, trying to figure out who he is. Recognition dawns on me as I take in his white hair and the same piercing light blue eyes William has.
Her eyes are wide with fear as our gazes lock. Damian kicks me in the ribs and I wince, expelling a pained hiss, but I don’t break eye contact with her.
I’m more concerned about her than I am about myself.
Suddenly, Damian’s fingers dig into the gunshot wounds on my skin that are still in various stages of the healing process. I can’t prevent the loud scream that leaves my mouth as I struggle against him, trying to break free.
“Gregory Anderson.” Irelynn’s voice is shaky as she winces from the pain I’m enduring.
Damian kicks me in the ribs, causing me to roll over, grunting from the pain.
“Stop it, Damian.” Irelynn pleads.
As I tilt my head up to her, the tears that roll down her face gut me more than the pain I’m feeling.
I see Damian’s smug grin as he says, “I’ll stop. Once you’re naked and I hear you scream while I fuck you.”
Her body shakes from her fear, her eyes growing wide. I turn my head to him, seeing the barrel of his gun pointed at my head.
Fuck.
“Irelynn, you are in no position to make any demands.” Gregory hisses, yanking on her hair, pulling her head back. His eyes lock on mine, clearly enjoying the pain he’s inflicting on me by hurting her. His eyes are so wide I can see the whites of them. His lips pull back, baring his teeth. “You’re responsible for William’s downfall.”
“How so?” Her voice comes out strong, despite the shaking in her limbs from her terror, trying to keep him talking to buy us some time.
She winces as he leans his mouth close to her ear, his eyes still trained on me. “William’s obsession with you has changed him. He’s become soft and weak. Not at all the man I groomed him to be.” He jerks on her hair again, and she yelps. A sadistic smile covers his face as he sees my hands and jaw clench. “William was supposed to take over my empire when I’m gone, which will be sooner than I’d hoped. Instead, he turned into a feeble coward. Even after you escaped, he didn’t fucking punish you.” He shakes his head.
