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I rub my hand over my face. “Guns, really guys?” I hadn’t realized all seven of them had their weapons already drawn and at their sides. Probably for this entire time since we first entered the room. I guess I should have been more direct in what I wanted from them.
“Shut up,” I call, cutting off their mumblings and complaints about Charles and the directions I had left them. Who knew being told to do nothing was such a hardship for this crew?
A new look of understanding dawns on Charles. If he had suspicions about who was in charge here before, they’ve all been confirmed now. “You were there looking for something,” he hesitates, glancing at the guys. “Someone?”
I check my nails, waiting to see just how close he will get. Will he guess that I’m out for revenge? Has he put together the pieces to get the full picture? Realized last night had been eight years in the making?
“Maybe I can help,” he pushes. “If I knew, I could help.”
I drop my hand, ready to finally comment when Kade beats me to it. “Or, hear me out. We could just kill him.”
I take a deep breath and slowly turn to my big guy, a threatening smile on my face. “I said, shut it.”
Ryder chuckles at his side. “You’re going to pay for that one later.”
I click my tongue and narrow my eyes at him. “And keep it shut.” They really can be so annoying, but it’s hard not to smirk at their antics. At least they aren’t all still looking at me like I’m one wrong word away from breaking. Their usual banter brings a relief to the chasm of confusion in my chest, but it’s still not something I can focus on. The larger part of me just needs them to listen.
It’s time to find out just how much Charles is willing to back up that statement before I kill everyone in this room.
“I can help you get your answers,” Charles swears.
“You don’t know what I’m looking for.” I point out.
“Doesn’t matter,” he’s quick to rebuttal. “Even if I don’t have them, I’ll know where to find them. Being my father’s son doesn’t grant me much, but it does grant me access to just about anything you can imagine.” He says the last part with a shudder. So he isn’t clueless about his father’s operations. I wonder just how much he is privy to.
“What is it you want in exchange?” I ask. I know there’s something. He’s too calm to be bargaining for his own life. I’m not sure if he’s underestimating me, relying on our history for his safety, or has just reasoned that the information he has is worth more than just his life. But I do know there is something he wants in exchange for helping me now. How very brave, and utterly stupid.
I ignore the guys’ outbursts. There’s no point in telling them to shut up again. They’re outraged at the thought of Charles demanding anything from me but I’m curious about what it is he could possibly want from me.
His eyes linger on the weapons in everyone’s hands but my own. He meets my eyes again, a clear determination shining there.
“Kill my father.”
Chapter Four Scar
Laughter tumbles from my lips.
Of all the things I expected him to ask, that was not one of them. For the first time, maybe ever, I break. My mask slips off my face as I throw my head back and laugh at his request. It’s not even an intimidation tactic, or calculated in any way. My true reaction just broke through with how fucking surprised I am.
I shake my head, trying to ground myself in order to continue this conversation.
“You want your father dead?” I ask to clarify.
He nods slowly, thrown back by my reaction. Once more, his eyes trail over all the weapons in the room. “I get the feeling you’re more than capable of it now.”
I lift a shoulder casually. “You’re not wrong,” I concede. “What if I told you that’s why I came back?”
“To kill my father?” he stammers with wide eyes.
“He did rape me after all.”
He nods along with my words, horror written in his expression. It’s nothing he didn’t know, but apparently he doesn’t like hearing it. “Revenge,” he whispers. “You came back for revenge.”
“I think I deserve it after what happened in my father’s office,” I drawl slowly. “And everything afterwards.”
His body slumps forward, guilt overwhelming him now.
“Charlotte,” he whispers, almost pleadingly.
