Samantha’s cries cease as she scrambles to find air. Her hands fly up, desperately trying to pry away the thin piece of metal cutting into her throat.
“You can call me karma, bitch, because I always come back swinging,” I growl at her choked cries, but I refuse to let up until I know she’s dead.
I hear footsteps and briefly look up to see the guys are finally here, but then return my attention to ending this cunt.
Somehow, she finds enough strength to speak. “Let me go, or Rowan dies,” Samantha croaks.
“Nice try bitch,” I seethe. “Your reign of terror is fucking over.” I pull the garrote tighter.
Samantha’s fingers scratch at my hands, but I don’t budge.
“It’s true,” she gurgles. “There’s a chip in Rowan, just like Karl’s.”
I hesitate.
There’s no way. Shaking my head, I exclaim, “You’re full of shit. You’d say or do anything because you know you’re dying tonight.” Then, I pull the cord tight again, and her fingers desperately claw for freedom before she throws her arm up, displaying a watch.
“Check for yourself,” she croaks. I peer down and freeze.
SAMANTHA
Igasp, precious air filling my lungs as Emma slackens her grip a sliver.
“Talk fast, and don’t waste my time. What do you mean ‘like Karl’s’?” the trashy bitch asks.
Rubbing at my throat, I rasp, “I mean, once he got here, I drugged his ass and had a chip put in.”
“No,” Emma whispers, further loosening the chain around my neck. “You’re lying.”
My nostrils flare at the doubt in her tone, as if all I’ve done isn’t evidence enough that I should never be trifled with.
Everyone always underestimates me.
“Does anything I’ve done so far strike you as a bluff?” I challenge.
“What do you want?” she demands as all the fucking Heirs step into view. I survey them one by one. They all stare down at me, their mouths twisting in disgust. August and Sebastian Grant, Liamon Washington, Karl Jefferson, and??
My gaze lands on the person that part of this was all for. Rowaniel Benjamin Calloway stands tall. His imposing form towers over me even more from my place on the floor. It’s not the vibe I get when he looks at her. He sees her as his equal- even more than that. Rowaniel regards her with so much respect, adoration, and love. Fucking love.
I never stood a chance. I knew it the minute he walked over on the first day of school and saw her.
Well, fuck them and their love.
Sneering, I hiss, “You let me leave, and I’ll let him live.”
“How stupid do you think we are?” Rowan seethes.
“You haven’t done shit to earn that kind of trust,” Liam adds.
Rolling my eyes, I point to my watch and state, “Yet you’ll have to chance it because if you don’t, my last act will be to set this off.”
I see it-the moment I know I’ve earned my freedom.
There’s a pause, and then my face smacks against the concrete.
“Get the fuck out of here, and I better never see you again,” Emma shouts. “Or I’ll kill you on sight.”
Crawling, I slowly stagger to my feet. My vision doubles, causing me to miss a step when I nearly fall, but I hit a wall and keep my balance.
Their footsteps urge me on. I need to get the hell out of here.
Straightening, I limp down the stairs out into dewy air. I peer up into the sky, studying the orange and pink hues of the rising sun against the white clouds. A resolve sets in. I walk halfway to the fence and turn. They are all standing there, the six of them-unified.
Rage boils in my veins. They don’t get to live happily ever after and walk off into their futures while I pick up my broken pieces. They stole my happiness, and I plan to destroy theirs.
Lifting my finger to my watch, I shout, “You’re all fucking fools if you think I’d ever let you win.” I take five more steps back before I continue, “Enjoy your love for the five seconds it’ll last.”
Rowan runs outside, charging in my direction, but he’s too fucking late. I press the button on my watch. Then, all I hear is a scream before the bang.
SEBASTIAN
“Look at them go,” August says, smiling as Zoey and Aidan take turns tittering before they fall on each other.
It’s been five months since the horrifying night, and it’s been a mixture of anger, acceptance, and forgiveness, but all of it has led to a stronger bond.
We spent the first two focused on revenge-revenge for what was taken. The innocence that was nearly snatched from us before they had time to experience life. We turned over every stone until we eliminated every connection to the Filiae Bellonae, Matthew Baker, and Samantha.
I look to the spot where Rowan should sit and rub the back of my neck as it remains empty.
Giggles pull me from my thoughts as Liam chases after them. The twins break into laughter, switching to crawling to get away faster. “I’m coming to get you.” Liam lifts his hands like a mummy and slowly stomps toward them.
“Don’t you scare them,” Emma mockingly scolds, striding into the living room. She’s passing me when I wrap my arms around her thighs, holding her in place.
“Go, Liam. I’ll hold her off,” I joke, resting my head on her ass.
Karl play punches my side. “Unhand her, you twat. So, I may challenge you to a duel,” he says in a horrible British accent.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.