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“VIVIENNE!” I screamed as I stumbled out of the car and ran. My voice flew back to slap my face and the wind snatched my hair.
There were armed soldiers all around the hangar, but I didn’t care. My bare feet stung as they slapped against the asphalt. I was almost naked, dressed in nothing but thin lace. Still, I felt that fire in my belly as I sidestepped the soldier and ran along the side of the hangar after the jet.
Red lights flashed and the engines roared as they propelled the expensive plane around to face the runway.
“NO!” I screamed, waving my hands like a fool.
A blur of movement came from my right before I was hit.
“NO! NOOOO!” I shrieked, kicking and thrashing, clawing the soldier’s arms as they wrapped around my middle.
“ENOUGH!” He roared, lifting my feet from the hard surface and dragging me backwards.
I threw my head back, cracking the back of my skull against his forehead. His hold slipped, allowing me to crash back down to the ground.
The jet’s engines were deafening as it powered ahead, picking up speed. I pumped my arms, driving myself forward as I ran, not for my life, but for hers…but it was too late. The sleek Gulfstream’s front wheels lifted and it rose slowly.
“No.” I cried one last time as I dropped my hands, but momentum still took me, smacking my feet against the runway until they were on fire.
I stopped, my shoulders curling as suffocating sobs consumed me. No…nonono. I’m sorry, Vivienne…I’m so fucking sorry. My knees buckled, sending me crashing down. Agony flared through my knees as they hit the ground. Still, it was nothing compared to the grief that pummeled my chest.
I’d failed her.
I rocked forward, pressing my forehead to the hard surface until I drew in the choking, sickening scent of the pavement. Until hands found me once more, wrapping around my waist only to haul me up like a child. Tears streamed down my face as the soldier shook me.
“Stand the fuck up!” He roared.
I slammed my feet down and spun, then worked the pathetic wetness in my mouth and spat. The spittle hit his cheek and slid down. The soldier’s lips curled and rage flared as he yanked his hand up. I couldn’t help but flinch.
“Enough.” Coulter commanded. “Take her to the hangar.’
The soldier sucked in hard breaths, trying to leash his anger, and slowly lowered his hand. Instead, he grabbed my arm and yanked me forward hard enough to slam into him.
“Give me a fucking excuse,” he snarled in my ear. “I dare you.”
Stunned, I careened forward as he dragged me back toward the hangar. Each step was flaying the soles of my feet. I limped, biting down on my whimpers. I wouldn’t break, not in front of them. But as I was shoved forward, I turned my head to find the blinking lights of the jet as it climbed into the sky. Heading where, I didn’t know.
But what I did know was they’d won.
They’d taken.
They’d ruined.
They’d controlled.
They’d…beaten us.
They’d beaten us all.
I was shoved toward the glaring lights of the hangar and the two other luxury private jets waiting to take any one of these vile bastards anywhere they wanted. Maybe it was Coulter? Maybe I was the next one to be ripped away from the only family I was willing to die for.
“Move.” The soldier shoved my shoulder.
I stumbled forward, biting the insides of my cheeks to try to stem the flow of tears, and rounded the rear of the jet…and walked straight into Haelstrom Hale.
He stood there, staring at me with that same detached, holier-than-thou smugness. One I’d seen before. But now…now this was all too real.
“Helene.” He murmured my name.
