Total pages in book: 174
Estimated words: 172061 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 860(@200wpm)___ 688(@250wpm)___ 574(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 172061 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 860(@200wpm)___ 688(@250wpm)___ 574(@300wpm)
He laughed in that condescending way he’d always laughed at me. “No, Daisy. As soon as Cash shows and busts in here, my men will surround the property. Cash will come for you, and I will have the honor of watching both of you burn, him for my brother, you for betraying me, and Hadley just for the fact that she was involved. That she was too weak and pathetic to stop Cash that day, and because of it, my brother is dead.”
He took a menacing step toward me. “That bitch has been in hiding for years because she knew I’d come for her, and now it’s her time. The rest of these women and men will be nothing more than unfortunate casualties.”
I still couldn’t make sense of it all, but it was becoming clear quickly that my sister had somehow been involved in the gambling Matthew had been. And that Cash had…
I couldn’t focus on that. I had to stop this. End it before Cash and the guys arrived. Because they would come. I knew they would, and there would be an ambush waiting for them.
I ripped open the drawer at my side and fumbled around through the growing smoke for one of the knives stored inside. A relieved sob choked out of me as I produced one, and I didn’t hesitate or give Ethan time to prepare.
I lunged for him with the blade pointed out.
A roar of pain tore up his throat when I hit his upper shoulder, but he had me by the wrist that held the knife faster than I could process, holding tight as he delivered a kick to my ribs.
Oxygen gushed from my lungs as pain splintered through my body, and the blade clattered to the floor. A fist flew through the air and landed against my jaw.
My head snapped back, and I fumbled backward, trying to catch my balance as my sight bleared in and out, but the momentum was too much. I slammed against the floor, hitting the back of my head against a side table.
Dizziness nearly had me toppling fully to the side, but I fought it, not allowing the pain to deter me. Because I would do anything for these women who were so willing to sacrifice for me.
Would do anything to get them back to their children, the same as I would do anything to get back to mine.
No longer was I willing to succumb to the idea that I didn’t get to spend this life with them. I knew Cash would take care of them. Shelter and care for them the way he promised me he would do.
Love them.
But I wanted him to do that with me at his side.
Hadley was suddenly in front of me, trying to help me up while she pointed the gun at Ethan with the other. “Oh God, Daisy. Get up. We have to get out of here. I never meant for this to happen. This wasn’t supposed to happen this way. It was only supposed to be Cash. Cash, who ruined both of us.”
“If you want to do something for me, then release the women.”
Disbelief pinched her face. “Daisy, I—”
“Do it now!” I shouted as I scrambled to my feet.
Smoke infiltrated the big room, so much that it was becoming difficult to see, the fire growing with each second.
But I could see Ethan.
A demon in the fire. His gun pointed at Hadley. His voice was low and cut with venomous power. “Do not move.”
She laughed a maniacal sound. “I’ve been terrified of you since I was nineteen. Since you wrangled me and Jaimie into doing your dirty work. I loved him. I loved him. And you made him do every abhorrent thing while you sat behind your desk acting as if you were clean. Acting as if there was no connection. No relation. I lost my sister because of you. Because I knew you would kill me too if you found me. Do you really think I’m going to bend to your will? Not any longer.”
A gunshot popped off, and I watched in horror as my sister crumpled to the ground. Ethan’s arm was still raised with his gun as he stepped out of the smoke that grew and grew, away from the flames that now swallowed the entire back wall.
A choked sob garbled in my throat as I looked at my sister. My sister, who I had finally been reunited with.
And she was…gone. Gone forever where she was a lifeless, broken shape on the ground.
Agony left me on a roar, the sound mixed with the rage as I forced myself onto my feet.
My lungs burned and my eyes stung. But it was my spirit that wanted to weep.
Sounds echoed from the roof, and Ethan turned his attention that way, fear creeping over him as he realized his plan might have been faulty.