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“Shut up!” Mark snaps, pressing the blade harder against her skin. A thin trickle of blood rolls down her neck. She trembles with fear.
My eyes flick back and forth between Summer’s terrified face and Thal’s smug grin.
“Tick-tock, Ciarán,” Mark taunts. “Time’s running out.”
My mind races, searching for a way out of this nightmare. But the clock is ticking, and every second I hesitate brings Summer closer to death. Anger, fear, and desire all war in my soul, overwhelming me completely
“Fine,” I grit out between clenched teeth, my eyes locked on Summer’s pale face. I can’t let her die because of me, and I won’t allow Mark to hurt her any longer. With a gut-wrenching decision, I lay down my weapons. Revenge against Thal is pointless and childish, but I needed to make sure he didn’t try something like this again. Seems he’s had my own man working for him this entire time.
Most of me isn’t surprised, but a tiny part of me feels the betrayal in my gut.
My gun clatters onto the cold concrete floor, followed by the heavy thud of my knife as it lands beside it. It feels like I’m giving up a part of myself, but I have no choice. The room goes eerily quiet, and all I can focus on is the sound of my ragged breathing.
“Good boy, Ciarán,” Mark sneers, his grip on Summer tightening as he holds the knife firmly against her throat.
She whimpers, tears streaming down her cheeks, and something inside me snaps.
“Let her go, Mark,” I growl, my voice filled with barely restrained rage. “You’ve made your point.”
“Have I?” Mark smirks, stepping back slightly and dragging Summer with him. They’re now positioned in front of the warehouse’s large windows, the moonlight casting eerie shadows on their faces. “Stay back, Ciarán,” Mark warns as I step towards them, seeing the knife glinting dangerously in the dim light.
“Or what?” I challenge, my pulse pounding in my ears. “You’ll slit her throat? You think you can get away with this?”
“Maybe,” Mark shrugs, his eyes cold and calculating. “But I know one thing for sure - if you don’t do exactly as I say, she dies.”
“Damn you,” I mutter, stopping in my tracks. My eyes remain locked on Summer, and I can see her chest heaving as she tries to control her fear. I want nothing more than to tear Mark apart for what he’s done, but I know that any wrong move could end in disaster, not to mention I’ve still got my traitor brother to deal with.
“Please, Ciarán,” Summer whispers.
“I’ve got this, Tinks. I’ve got you. Always.”
“Ugh,” Thal mutters.
“Keep dreaming,” Mark snarls, tightening his grip on Summer again. “You’ve already lost, Ciarán. You just don’t know it yet. Her for your kingdom. That’s what this all boils down to.”
“You’re going to regret ever crossing me.”
Mark’s eyes gleam with triumph, the corners of his mouth curling up into a wicked grin as he watches me seethe in frustration. I can see the malicious satisfaction written all over his face. I’ve never hated anyone more in my life.
“Look at you,” he taunts, tightening the grip on Summer’s arm, making her wince in pain. “You used to be untouchable, Ciarán. And now? You’re nothing.”
“Fuck you,” I hiss through clenched teeth, trembling with rage. But even in my anger, I won’t risk making a move that could hurt Summer.
Where the fuck are my guys?
The thought is soon squashed as my reality becomes apparent. I’ve been well and truly stitched up.
“Fecking hell,” I mutter, rolling my eyes. “The lot of you are gonna pay so fucking much, your grandkids will still be shoveling shit my way in the old folks home.”
The flash of fear in his eyes tells me all I need to know. They might be going against me, but he doesn’t trust them either. He is the lesser of two evils, and right now, they’re about to see how fucking evil I can be.
Mark’s eyes narrow at my words, and I catch sight of him swallowing nervously. I have him exactly where I want him.
“Enough!” I shout, taking a step forward before I remember the danger Summer is in. I stop myself, clenching my fists at my sides. “Do what you want with me but leave her out of it.” All I need is Summer out of the way, and I’m going to blow this motherfucker’s head right off his fucking shoulders.
The tension in the room is thick enough to choke on. We stare each other down, our gazes locked in a deadly dance.
And then, without warning, a gunshot rings out.
