Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 70417 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 352(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70417 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 352(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
“I do.”
His hand gripped my knife, his fingers stroking the handle fast. “I would hate to add your knife to my collection, Anthony.”
“Carlo will kill you where you stand.”
“Carlo has already been eliminated. Larry never liked him, so as his reward for his good work last night, I let him put a bullet between Sean’s eyes after you left the room.”
My stomach rolled and my chest tightened, but I hid my fear. If it was true, I had to see this through for Sean. I would avenge his death as well as my father’s.
“You’ll regret that, Orson,” I spat.
“Not as much as you’ll regret trying to double-cross me, Anthony. You think I haven’t figured it out?” he snarled.
“Figured what out?”
“Figured out you’re trying to take over my business? Buy off my distributors and take control? You think I’m really going to stand by and watch you? You think I don’t know what the fuck is going on?”
I almost started to laugh. That’s what he thought was happening?
I shook my head. “You are so stupid, Orson. Your incredible lack of vision is beyond belief.”
I flinched as he pressed the knife to Skylar’s throat, a thin red line appearing. “You think I’m stupid, Anthony? I’m not the one with a gun pointed at me and my whore about to die in front of me.” His voice lowered. “Except, she isn’t your whore, is she?”
It was time. This was going to end in the next few minutes, one way or another.
“No, she isn’t.”
“Who is she?”
I shook my head. I wasn’t telling him who she was or how important she was to me. Fuck him.
“The more important question right now is who am I, Orson. That’s what you should be asking yourself.”
“What?”
I stepped forward, not surprised when Rex moved with me, but I noticed his gun didn’t press as hard.
“My name is Cian Cooper. Does that ring a bell?”
He frowned. “Should it?”
“You killed my father years ago. He was a cop, going to testify and put you away. You hired Anthony Malone to kill him.” I grinned, letting all my hate soak into the twisted smile. “And he hired me to make sure you suffered the same fate he did.”
“Which was?”
“You took away the one thing in his life that mattered. The only thing he cared about.”
Orson’s expression was one of disbelief. “Which was?”
“His sister.”
“His sister?”
“Her name was Gina Rawlins. Ringing any bells now?”
His gaze snapped to the wall where I knew her pendant sat, his face shocked, realization slowly dawning as he put the pieces together.
“Where’s Anthony?”
“Dead.”
“He killed your father.”
“On your orders. I know everything, Orson. I have control of all of it now. Everything you’ve worked for—everything you’ve killed for—it’s gone, Orson. Your life is over.”
“Who the fuck are you?”
“Your worst nightmare,” I growled.
Orson’s hand moved, more blood appearing on Skylar’s throat. She gasped as I cried out her name and lunged forward, Rex letting me go easily.
Skylar’s elbow came up, smashing into Orson’s face. He stumbled back as I grabbed her, spinning her away, and I drew my gun, pointing it at him.
From the other room, the sounds of constant pings began from the computer, echoing in the empty room. Orson’s phone kept chirping, message after message beginning to chime. Rex’s phone echoed from the corner, but he didn’t move. I smirked. Somehow, no matter what else had happened, Sean had done it—he’d ended Orson’s empire.
“Listen to those sounds, Orson. They’re telling you it’s all gone,” I taunted him. “The cops have it all. And whether I walk out of here or not, I know you’ll be going to prison. I know you won’t survive more than a day before someone shanks you and ends your miserable excuse for a life. It’s over.”
“It hasn’t even begun,” he spat.
I laughed. “You don’t believe me? Check your computer, Orson. It’s gone. It’s all gone. The shipments, the contacts, your accounts.” I grinned, wide and angry. “The best part, though, is your life. It’s over. Completely over. You’re dead, Orson. You just don’t know it yet.”
He had the audacity to laugh, although the sound was strangled. His eyes were bright with fury. “Kill them, Rex.”
Rex didn’t move, his gun never wavering. Orson was so enraged he didn’t even realize what direction the gun was pointing.
“Kill them!” Orson screamed.
“I’ll kill you first,” I threatened, moving so Skylar was completely protected.
Orson shook his head, holding out his hand. In it was a small remote. “I’m not leaving here alive.” His chuckle was evil. “Neither are you.”
It happened all at once.
Chaos broke out behind us.
Gunshots rang out, even as I pushed Skylar out of the way and dove for the floor. Rex’s gun exploded, and Orson stumbled back, blood covering his chest. There was screaming, yelling, and the sound of thundering feet. I pushed off the floor, desperate to get the remote away from Orson before he blew up the room, taking us all with him. He struggled, both of us cursing, as I tried to pry it away from him.