“How could you ever threaten your own kids?” Disgust oozes from my words. This woman is beyond vile.
Elise looks amused by my confusion. “They were spares and nothing else. If you weren’t necessary, you’d be dead.”
Rage engulfs me, and I spring from my seat, tackling her to the table. I land on top of her, wrapping my hands around her throat. “I’m going to end your miserable life, you heartless bitch,” I grit through clenched teeth.
Her nails claw at my hands, but I refuse to be deterred. I’m going to end her.
I’m so focused on strangling the miserable life out of Elise that I don’t hear the door open or the footsteps approaching until it’s too late. I’m hauled off just as I watch a blood vessel pop in her left eye.
“You fucking brat,” she rasps, sucking in air.
I see my handprints around her neck and smile in satisfaction. It’s unfortunate I was pulled off her. I’m sure I could’ve killed her if I had a few more minutes.
“Sit her ass down and leave us. I’ll take it from here, Antonio,” Elise instructs, and I’m carted back to my seat.
“You fucking traitor,” I shout.
“We all have roles to play,” Antonio mutters before turning and exiting the room.
Elise stalks back to the other side of the table, ensuring something separates us. I’d say it was a smart decision, but it won’t keep her safe. I’ve already decided she dies tonight.
“You’re trying the last of my patience, Emma. You’ll do what you’re told, or you’ll be responsible for the death of your siblings. I’m done playing games with you,” she hisses.
Over her bullshit, I bend, pretending to tie my shoe, and reach for the blade but come up empty. The holster is there. There’s just no knife.
I’m yanked up by my hair. “Did you think I wouldn’t search you?” Elise taunts. “You’re just starting. I’ve been at this for decades.”
Pitching forward, I clench my teeth, using her hold on my hair as leverage to flip her over my back. She lands with a thud, and I punch her in the throat, forcing her to release my hair. Her hands clasp her neck before her legs swing up, and her booted foot connects with my face.
I tumble back before rolling to my feet.
“You’re going to fucking pay for that. I’m going to make sure the same thing happens to those little brats that I made happen to Karl,” Elise snarls.
What she had done to Karl? I don’t have enough time to process her words before she charges me. I’m ready for her attack, and once she’s in range, I jump, scissor-kicking her, and she stumbles backward but doesn’t go down.
She shrieks in frustration, grabbing the glass and breaking it on the side of the table. “Fuck this. You’re not worth the trouble. I’ll figure out another way. Jamie will be eighteen soon enough. What’re a few more years?”
“You’ll be dead long before Jamie hits her teens,” I snap.
We dance around each other. I parry her attempts until I see her tiring. Then, I slap her lazy thrust away, knocking the shard of glass from her bloody hand, and side-kick her.
I’m on top of her before she fully hits the ground.
Grabbing the shard, I yank her up by her roots and aim the broken glass at her exposed throat.
“I hope you enjoy hell,” I scream, pressing the serrated edge to her throat. The door bursts open just as I feel the glass cut her skin.
“Stop.”
SEBASTIAN
“We need her alive,” I finish, hoping my words get through to Emma.
My fucking spitfire looks breathtaking. I’ll question my claim of ownership later.
August and Karl bring up the rear as I step into the room. Rowan and Liam secure Antonio- he’ll be dealt with later.
“Why? This bitch deserves death,” Emma yells, pressing the blooded piece of glass into Elise’s neck.
Holster my gun, I hold my hands up, trying to get her to see reason. “She’s going to die. We need answers first,” I explain.
“Let’s get her in the seat over there, Love,” August coaxes, pointing to a leather office chair.
Emma mutters to herself but eventually drops the shard from Elise’s neck. “Fine,” she grumbles, then slams Elise’s face into the ground three times before dropping her.
Elise makes one muffled cry but nothing else. It’s not until her body slumps to the ground I realize Emma knocked her out.
Emma points to Elise’s crumpled form. “She shouldn’t be hard to tie up.”
August snorts, causing my attention to shift in his direction. That’s when I see the frozen gaze of Karl transfixed on Elise. August, noticing where my eyes are trained, leans and whispers something in Karl’s ear. Karl nods, expelling a deep breath and shaking his head clear.
When my focus shifts back to Emma, her brows furrow, observing our exchange. She doesn’t say anything. August and I pick up Elise while Karl stalks toward Emma.
Once Elise is tied to the chair, I radio everyone, telling them where we are.
“Who did this?” Karl asks, making August and my focus whip to where he and Emma are standing. Karl has her chin tipped up as he examines the bruise forming on her face and a cut to her cheek.
Emma allows him to fuss but mumbles she’s fine and it’s nothing.
August and I snicker at their banter when the Council walks into the room, followed by Liam and Rowan.
Mr. Bradford beelines straight for Emma, enveloping her in a hug. “Ry.” He breathes into her hair. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” he chokes out.
Emma wraps her arms around him. “I’m okay, Dad. I let her take me. I had to. Sh-,” she tries to say her name, but the words get caught in her throat.
Aaron pulls slightly from her hold and wipes the stream of tears from her eyes. The guys all step forward, but I signal them to stop- this is their moment.
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.