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His boot slams into my stomach where he assumes I’ve been shot. Though the fact that there isn’t more blood seeping from the wound should give me away, his anger seems to be distracting him from his common sense.
“I gave up everything,” he roars. “I left my family to come claim what was mine, to make a better life for them, and even though I still risked my life forhim, nobody was there for me when I needed them. Your father first, and then you. He paid for that mistake with his life, and now you’re going to find the same fate as him.”
I know that Bryson said Titan hadn’t killed my dad himself, but hearing him take claim for his death, no matter how cruel my father had been in raising me, I know I can’t lay here and do nothing. Not any longer.
Reaching for the knife still behind my back, I lean forward and aim for the silent guard, sending the sharp blade through his chest in the next second. He teeters briefly, and I worry that the single weapon isn’t going to do the job, but he finally drops to his knees, holding his chest, before falling onto his face.
I’m on my feet, still sore as fuck from having been shot, even if not all the bullets penetrated my skin, but I need Titan to die. I scramble for the guard’s gun, but by the time I’m turned around, Titan has already drawn his own.
Pointing the weapon at my head, he says, “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”
“Why? You’re nothing to me,” I say with venom, not forgetting that I need to incapacitate this piece of shit so I can call for Olivia. “Just a pathetic man who has spent his whole life trying to be someone he never could be.”
The hate he throws my way with his eyes lets me know I’ve said just the right thing, but as I’m about to take advantage of his distracted rage, he says the one thing that could save his life. At least for the moment.
“I have Olivia.”
With my borrowed pistol still pointing at him, I glance around, but she’s nowhere to be seen. “Bullshit.”
“Kill me and see just how much ‘bullshit’ you find,” he taunts.
Fucking hell. I don’t know how the man is always a step ahead of me, but the moment I finally get to take his life will be one of the greatest days of mine.
“What do you want?” I ask with more regret than I’ve ever felt.
28
OLIVIA
The cacophony of gunfire and screams are making me anxious, but I’ve stayed put as I promised Luca. Though, I don’t know how much longer I can stay here.
Men are dragged from the house, and I assume most or all of them are dead. Bullets mar the fence nearest to me, having come through the broken-out windows. Neighbors peek out their windows, phones up to their ears, but I have a feeling help won’t be arriving anytime soon.
The gun Luca left with me stays in my hands at all times as I keep my eyes moving around. I wouldn’t think anyone would expect me to be out here, but I refuse to lower my guard, not when this moment feels so monumental. It’s all or nothing tonight.
We win or we lose. There is no in between. No regrouping to return at a later date. Titan has done too much damage not to end him now.
My phone buzzes with a text that I hope like hell is from Luca.
Justine: This isn’t good. The board let me speak on Luca’s behalf and I know I made a few of them see reason, but they kicked me out while they put things to a vote. I don’t know if it was enough.
Fuck. I know Luca said he didn’t care if he lost his company, that he could build another, but I don’t want this for him. He’s worked too damn hard to protect all he’s built, providing just enough good in his fucked-up world that I know he doesn’t deserve what Titan’s done to him.
Resting the phone over the pistol in one hand, I use the other and start to type out a response to Justine, needing her to know that no matter what happens, the fact that she tried is more than appreciated. Except before I can finish the sentence, a palm covers my mouth, and a blade goes to my neck.
“Drop the phone and gun,” the grumbly voice demands.
I consider my options. If I don’t listen, I might be able to shoot him, but will he slit my throat in the process? The possibility is high. Still, dying might be better than being held captive by Titan again, allowing him the satisfaction of killing me himself.
“We have Luca,” he adds. “If you want to say your goodbyes, I’d suggest doing as you're told.”
Mother fuck fuck.
I never should have let him go into that house without me. I thought I was making the right choice, staying behind so that he wouldn’t be distracted, but clearly that didn’t help shit.
“Fine.” I release the pistol and phone, holding my hands up. “Care to remove the knife from my neck now?”
“No, actually I wouldn’t,” he retorts. “I saw what you did to Bryson. Titan almost didn’t let him go to the hospital, and he likes him.”
