Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 63842 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 319(@200wpm)___ 255(@250wpm)___ 213(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63842 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 319(@200wpm)___ 255(@250wpm)___ 213(@300wpm)
“Guys,” Knight whispered loudly. “Can you wait a few minutes to go make out? There’s a deranged asshole outside the door right now.”
I heard more than one of the guys clear their throat, stifling laughs, and the tension in my body melted away. My brothers had our back. Eric Blackwood wouldn’t get anywhere near Jade.
The doorknob turned slowly. A soft amber light drifted in from the hallway as Eric stepped into the room. Jade gripped me tighter and buried her face against my chest. Not from fear but to hide the anger I saw blazing in her eyes. She obviously understood showing her fury would undermine the trap. Eric needed to see her frightened, not fighting.
I curled my body protectively around her smaller frame, making us a single silhouette in the dim reddish light. Everything in me wanted to lunge for the door and end this threat permanently. But the plan required patience. Eric needed to come fully into the room.
The door exploded inward with a force that sent it slamming against the wall. Eric stood framed in the threshold with a sleek black pistol gripped in both hands. His eyes darted wildly around the room before locking onto us in the center. For one second, his face showed pure shock at finding Jade in my arms. Then his expression twisted into something that barely resembled human.
“You fucking whore,” he snarled. The gun wavered between us as he took two steps into the room. “You actually replaced me with this gutter trash?”
Jade stiffened against me but kept her face hidden. I tightened my grip on her protectively while keeping my expression blank. Just let him walk in a little farther. Just a few more steps.
“Step away from him now, Jade,” Eric ordered. His voice carried that practiced authority he probably used on her in the past. The voice that expected immediate obedience. When Jade made no move to leave my side, his face flushed dark with rage. “Did you not hear me? Get over here.”
“She stays with me,” I said quietly.
Eric laughed sharply. “You think this is some kind of rescue mission? You think you can just take what belongs to me?” He pointed the gun directly at my face. “You can’t walk away from me, Jade. You are my property. You have always been my property.”
The gun shifted back to aim at Jade. “I made you. Everything you are is because of me. You were nothing but trailer trash when I found you. I gave you everything.”
Every muscle in my body tensed, but I kept my face expressionless. Eric took four steps into the room now. Knuckles remained motionless just within my peripheral vision. Waiting.
“I own you, Jade,” Eric continued. His voice grew louder with each word. “You are mine to fuck. Mine to hurt. Mine to do with as I please. You think these criminals can protect you? They can barely protect themselves.”
He gestured wildly with the gun. “Look around you. Power cut. Security compromised. You think I came in here without knowing exactly how to get to you?”
I caught a flicker of movement as Knight positioned himself better in the shadows.
“I saw your pathetic little story online. Your sad attempt to turn people against me. You know what will happen now? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. People have already forgotten about you. Even if a few of them try to support you, I have connections in this city. There will be outrage and maybe my lawyers will draw out delay after delay in going to court. Then, once everyone’s completely forgotten about something as insignificant as you, it will all quietly fade away into the background and nothing will change.”
Jade pulled back slightly from my chest looking up at me with silent permission. I nodded once, and she turned to face her tormentor. I let her shift but put her partially behind me. I curled my arm to hold Jade close as I could without Jade being between me and Eric.
“I don’t belong to you, Eric,” she said. Her voice wobbled but held firm.
“Of course, you do. You always have,” Eric sneered, an empty, frightening expression that never reached his eyes. “You were so easy to control these last few years that I got bored. That’s why I went after your friend Mia. I wanted more of a challenge.” Jade sucked in a sharp breath. “Did you know that was the reason? I wanted to see how long it would take to break her like I broke you.” A vein pulsed visibly at his temple. His eyes had a wild, unfocused quality now. I knew Eric was completely insane.
Jade stayed silent, knowing not to engage. I’d never been prouder of anyone in my life. Jade’s hand bunched in the band of my jeans at the small of my back, but she no longer trembled.