Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 75783 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75783 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
I look at Harper and see the pained look on her face as her mother lashes out at her. I wish there was a way I could shield her from these insults, but something tells me she’s used to it. She’s just not used to her mother selling her out to criminals.
“Shut the hell up,” I shout across the warehouse, my voice echoing through the empty space. Diana looks at my dad like he’s going to reprimand me for talking to her that way, but he just sits still in the chair, watching the exchange.
I can only imagine how angry he is with me for going against his plan. He probably thinks it’s all my fault we’re here. I doubt he has the ability to take any accountability for what happened. It was his greed and desire for Malik’s men that started this whole ordeal. Everything has been fine how it’s been—none of this needed to happen.
“I have to say I’m surprised you actually brought her,” Malik says with a grin as he approaches. “The bruises are healing nicely. I’m sure I can fetch a pretty penny for you when you are back at the brothel.”
He reaches out to touch Harper, and she recoils, backing away. I stand in front of him to let him know that’s not happening right now. “Untie them, and then you’ll get her.”
Malik watches me, trying to determine whether I’m trying to pull something. I am, but I don’t let it show. Xander isn’t here beside me, so he thinks that I obeyed his command. Little does he know, Quinton and five of his best men are all swarming the warehouse with guns in hand. If there are any guards walking around, they’re dead by now.
A gunshot sounds, and I know that’s my cue. Malik whips his head around to see what’s going on, reaching for the gun at his waist just as I duck to the ground with Harper in my arms. Malik looks down at us, ready to point his gun at me, but before he has a chance, the doors to the warehouse bust open all at once, and he doesn’t know where to look.
He points the gun in one direction and shoots recklessly. The bullet ricochets along one of the metal walls and backfires. He ducks out of the way and tries to scurry along the ground to keep Quinton and his men from spotting him. Bullets fly in his direction as Harper and I both move away. Quinton’s men keep a close eye on us to make sure we’re not caught by stray bullets.
Diana is once again shrieking in the seat as she shakes against the ropes, accidentally knocking herself over and falling to the ground. One of the guys cuts both of them free and helps Diana up to lead her toward a safe space at the end of the warehouse.
It’s chaos in the warehouse as Malik fires at Quinton and his men aimlessly. Smoke and gunpowder fill the dusty room so much that Harper and I are coughing as we take shelter against a wall. After a few minutes, the gunfire dies down and the smoke clears.
Quinton scours the room for any sign of me and Harper, and as soon as he sees us, he rushes over to make sure we’re okay. He looks Harper in the eyes and assures her that nothing bad is going to happen now.
Looking around the room when everything is clear, I see some of Quinton’s men have a few cuts and scrapes, surface wounds that can be easily mended by their doctor. Malik, on the other hand, is slithering along the ground with a trail of blood behind him as he tries to escape the warehouse.
I let go of Harper’s hand, which I only just realized I’ve been holding, and walk over to Malik with one of Quinton’s guns. Malik hears me approaching and tries to hurry up as if he’s going to outrun me.
As I approach, I stand in front of him, stomping on his hand and savoring the shriek that escapes when I break his fingers.
“You have no idea how long I’ve waited for this,” I say as I squat down in front of him, grabbing a handful of his hair and forcing him to look at me. I spit in his eyes, completely degrading him as he’s about to die in shame. “I’ve lain awake during the night for the past week dreaming of ways to torment you. I know what you’ve done to the women in your life. I know what you would have done to Harper. I thought about torturing you, about cutting your dick off and shoving it down your own throat.”
I pause and watch the fear settle in his eyes as he stares at me with his mouth hanging open and blood dribbling from his chin. By the look on his face, he’s not above begging. I just wonder how many people have begged him for mercy and he’s shown none.