“Where is he?”
“At a club.”
Scarlett got there fast.
Too fast.
Inside the private room, Colin Drake was exactly where you’d expect him to be-sprawled across a couch, surrounded by women.
One draped over his left arm. Another leaning into his shoulder.
He laughed, careless, indulgent.
“Oh, you’re awful,” one of them teased, pressing closer.
“Yeah?” Colin smirked. “You like that, don’t you?”
He leaned in for another kiss-
The door slammed open.
Hard.
The entire room went still.
Colin turned, annoyed-
Then froze.
His gaze locked onto Scarlett.
And shifted instantly.
Interest. Sharp. Unfiltered.
“Well… now this is new,” he said, pushing the women aside as he stood. “Who are you?”
Scarlett didn’t react.
“Are you Colin Drake?”
“That depends,” he said lazily. “Who’s asking?”
But his eyes stayed on her.
A woman like that didn’t walk in by accident.
And she definitely didn’t walk in for someone else.
Howard stepped forward slightly, already reading the look on his face. If Scarlett hadn’t stopped him earlier, Colin would already be on the floor.
“Gloves,” he said quietly.
Scarlett took them without looking.
Slid them on.
Then raised her eyes.
Cold. Focused.
Something about it made Colin pause.
“Alright,” he said, a little less relaxed now. “What do you want?”
Scarlett tilted her head slightly.
“Louie Monroe is my brother.”
The shift was instant.
Recognition hit.
“…Scarlett?”
His eyes widened slightly.
“Scarlett Hayes. Right?”
A slow grin spread across his face.
“I thought you were still locked up. What, they let you out early?”
Scarlett didn’t answer.
Colin let out a short laugh, the mockery clear.
“What, you here to stand up for him?” he said. “Your brother picked a fight he couldn’t win.”
He leaned back, tapping his cheek.
“Go ahead. Take your shot.”
His grin widened.
“I won’t even move.”
Scarlett looked at him for a second.
Then-
“Your call.”
She moved.
Fast.
Too fast for him to react.
CRACK-
The sound echoed through the room.
Colin’s head snapped to the side as his nose shattered on impact. The force sent him flying backward, crashing hard onto the floor.
A beat of silence-
Then-
“AAAH-!”
He screamed, clutching his face, blood pouring between his fingers.
“You-!” His voice broke into a roar. “I’ll kill you!”
Scarlett walked toward him, unhurried.
“Oh?” she said calmly.
Her foot came down-
CRACK-
The sound was worse this time.
A scream tore out of him, raw and uncontrolled.
“Stop-!”
Too late.
She pressed down harder.
Bone gave under pressure.
Another scream. Louder. Desperate.
She didn’t rush.
Didn’t hesitate.
By the time she stepped back-
Both legs were destroyed.
Colin lay there shaking, his face drained of color, his body barely responding to the pain.
Scarlett looked down at him.
Unmoved.
“Now we’re even.”
He glared up at her, hatred burning in his eyes-
But he didn’t say another word.
He couldn’t.
Right then, Brielle rushed in.
She stopped cold at the sight.
“Honey?!”
Her voice cracked.
She stared at Colin, broken on the floor, panic flooding her face.
“What happened?! Who did this?!”
“I did.”
Scarlett’s voice cut through the room.
Brielle snapped her head toward her.
“Scarlett?!”
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.