Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 119476 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 597(@200wpm)___ 478(@250wpm)___ 398(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 119476 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 597(@200wpm)___ 478(@250wpm)___ 398(@300wpm)
“That’s exactly what I’m telling you. And countless other bitches.” He has the sick audacity to sound proud. “Practice makes perfect, son.”
“I’m not your son.” My voice is low. Deadly. “I meant it when I said I’m not your anything.” I spit the words at him, disgust dripping from every single syllable.
“Watch your tone, Atlas.” He rakes his bloodied fingers through Nora’s hair, yanking her head back.
She yelps, her back bowing under the pressure of his grip.
My eyes connect with hers, and for a moment I catalog every injury—from her black eye and split lip, to her bruised neck and bleeding stomach.
I’m going to kill him. I’m going to end his sad, miserable existence so he can never hurt Nora ever again.
“Atlas,” she whispers my name, her hoarse voice barely audible.
“I’ve got you,” I promise, meaning it. This has gone on long enough.
The man—no, the piece of shit on his knees before me, using the love of my life as a living shield—is reprehensible. He’s hurt God knows how many people, and now, he needs to pay.
I just need to lure him away from my girl so I can make the shot.
“You’re pathetic,” I whisper, hoping to bait him.
“What was that?” Those three words take me back to my childhood, to the way he’d whisper them any time I did something to disappoint him. They were usually followed with the back of his hand striking hard against my cheek.
Which means my plan is working. He’s getting pissed—at me. And if I’m lucky, he’ll play right into my hand. He’s an arrogant fuck. Here’s to hoping pride really does come before the fall.
“You heard me.” I stare down my nose at him, not masking an ounce of my hatred for him. “Look at you, preying on defenseless women because you know going toe-to-toe with a real man would leave you on your ass.”
He appraises me with a wicked glint in his eyes. “And I suppose you’re a real man?”
“Why don’t you get off your sorry ass and find out?”
His grip on Nora’s hair tightens momentarily before he shoves her out of the way and climbs to his feet, immediately charging me.
I let him think he has the upper hand, allowing him to slam me against the wall. I even let him get a few licks in, knowing if I give him an inch, he’ll shamelessly try for a mile, and that’s when I’ll fucking end him. His cockiness will be his downfall.
As we go toe-to-toe, trading and blocking blows, I maneuver us so that Nora’s out of the line of fire.
I grunt as he drives his knee into my ribs. He’s in decent shape for his age, but he’s no match for me. Especially not with all I have on the line.
Playtime’s over.
“Should’ve killed you when I did your mom,” he growls, trying—and failing—to pry the gun out of my grip.
“Fuck. You.” I spit in his face, shoving him away from me.
He roars like a man possessed, charging me once again.
But I’m ready, and I take a step back and then to the side at the last minute, faking him out.
His shout shakes the windowsills, but I just grin, because he’s playing so perfectly into my hand.
Before he can charge me again, I move in from behind him, wrapping one arm around his neck while using the other to wrench his arm behind his back.
Nora whimpers at the sound, momentarily distracting me. It’s the in he needs, and he grabs the gun from me.
I react with a mixture of fear, instinct, and adrenaline—punching him hard in the nose. Blood sprays as he staggers back, his eyes wide.
Sirens sound in the distance, and I know we’re running out of time, the same way I know there’s no justice for him inside the four walls of a courtroom, only death.
“They’re coming for you,” I sneer. “They’re coming and they’re going to lock you up in a cage for the rest of your life.”
He waves the gun through the air, more animal than man, as panic washes over him.
“You know what happens in jail to men who hurt women, right?” I scoff. “What about what they do to pedophiles? They’re going to put you through every ounce of torment you put Nora through. Over and over and over again.”
“There’s no fucking way,” he mutters, the only thing shaking harder than his voice is his hand as he brings the gun to his own head.
“Do it,” I hiss. “Fucking do it.”
I wait with bated breath, but he’s as much of a pussy now as he ever was and can’t pull the trigger.
That’s okay though, because I fucking can.
Moving slowly, I step into him, sliding my hand over his, I force the muzzle harder against his temple.
“Atlas…” he croaks, but I have no desire to listen to anything else he has to say.