I don’t move, staying my ground as I keep my eyes on Dorran.
I hear grass crunching to my left, a second before Chris whispers, “Go, or else he’ll make me hurt you.Please.”
Dorran notices our little interaction, of course, then gives me a barely-visible nod while clenching his jaw.
With a swallow, I walk over to Fred, making sure to breathe despite the stifled pressure I feel pressing down on my chest.
Dorran’s eyes bounce back and forth between Fred and I, and it’s evident that he’s holding back with the way his feet keep moving forward and backward, and how he absentmindedly keeps bringing his hand near his pant pocket – where he always keeps his switchblade.
“Come now; we don’t have all night,princess,” Heyman grunts as he wraps a clammy hand around my bicep and pulls me to him.
“Don’t touch me, you fil–” I stop when I’m yanked in the other direction, and something sharp, ice-cold is placed against my throat. And that, right there – the very subtle shift of power – changes the entire dynamic of the situation, because everyone not associated with the Byron family now has utter panic marred across their faces.
“Quiet.” Fredrick presses my body to his, and as I cautiously glance downward, I see the top half of his cane, which apparently is a long-knife, placed awfully close to my windpipe. It gently scrapes my skin when Fred’s grip wavers as he exhales,and fast as lightning, a realization hits me: there’s a strong chance I may not make it out of here alive tonight. And with that realization comes a natural wave of fear. But the emotion that takes over all others is one of heartbreak, especially when I see my dread mirrored across Dorran’s now paling face as he looks at me. It’s because we both know that all it’ll take is one quick swipe of Fredrick’s wrist, and it will all be over. Good as he is, it’s obvious that Dorran won’t be able to reach me in time. I fuckingknowthat, which is why I can’t help the tears from falling down my eyes.
He swallows as his frantic gaze moves above me, and then at the distance that separates us. He sniffs and meets my eyes, and I notice how they shine under the moonlight, brimmed with an ache that is so innate to us.
“I love you,” I mouth as I try not to work up my throat.
He starts shaking his head, but stops when I repeat myself. He blinks, and a single tear drips down to the shadowed arch of his cheek. With a heavy exhale, he then mouths back, “I love you,” before hastily running a hand over his face.
I smile through my blurring vision because this is enough. If this is the end, then the last thing I want is to see him, to feel his words as they encompass me.
27.
God, I might fucking lose her. She’s mere steps away from me, but the possibility that I might not make it to her in time is blinding me with fear.
I’m aware of every drop of sweat as it trickles down the back of my neck. The light trembling in my hands may not be noticeable to others, but to me, it’s a distraction too cumbersome to ignore. My heartbeat thrums in my chest, causing its echoes to ring so fucking loudly in my ears. And then there’s this stupid pressure on my throat. It’s like a vise-gripped claw digging itself into my skin, constricting the only luxury I can currently afford: to breathe without losing my focus.
“Let’s not be dramatic about this, huh, Fred?” I tell the old cunt. “A knife? Seriously? That’s a step too far if you ask me.”
He has the audacity to chuckle, and that subtle movement causes Cignette to stiffen. He’s put the blade too close to her skin. Fuckingtooclose.
“Well, that’s upsetting, becauseIthink it’s a step in the right direction,” he says to me. “A life for a life and all that.”
“A life for a sorry excuse of one, you mean,” I clarify. “Play fair, asshole; if you want revenge, come and get some of it fromme.”
He scoffs. “And give you the undeserving satisfaction of gutting me like a pig? I don’t think so. Besides, this just shows that you’re not special,Dorran Ledger. Anyone can hold a knife to a person’s throat and call themselves a killer. You are, after all,dispensable, and so is your pretty little fuck toy.” He snakes an arm around Cigs’ waist and holds her tighter against his frame, and a shot of fiery rage burns through every fiber of my being when Cignette sucks in a breath and closes her eyes as tears fall down her bruised face.
I grind my teeth together as I glare at him. “Seems cowardly to admit that you’re scared of me,” I state. “And I don’t think you need me to explain to you whatthatmeans, Fred.” I glance at the guards surrounding him, then smirk and arch a brow at him. “It also questions the significance of your present security, but that’s beside the point. I may be replaceable, but if I’ve instilled uncertainty in your mind – or fear, for that matter – then I’m assuming my reputation has, in some way, preceded me.”
Fredrick’s expression contorts into a menacing scowl as he lets go of Cignette’s waist and moves his knife away from her throat, pointing it forward – at me. “Thisarroganceof yours…it’ll cost you someday, and cost you good.”
Cignette looks between me and the knife, and I can see that she’s contemplating whether to run to me, or to snatch the weapon from Fredrick.
I bring my right hand to my thigh and tap it once, making sure to keep my attention divided between Fredrick, the guards, and Cigs.
She lets go of a breath and swallows, and then, in a split second, decides not to go for the knife. She runs forward – a sign of struggle etched clearly on her face – but only gets as far as an arm’s length of Fredrick before the bastard realizes his error and pulls her back to him. With his fingers in her hair, he yanks her against him yet again, and laughs when she grunts in evident pain.
“Stupid,” he hisses against her temple, bringing the knife to her neck again, but this time, he places its needle-like tip against her jugular. “So fucking stupid, aren’t you?”
“Did you think I’d simply stand here listening to your arid fucking bullshit all night?” she hisses.
Despite the graveness of the situation, I find my lips quirking up in a slight smirk.
“That’s enough, Fred,” comes Aras’s voice from next to me. “Let Cignette go and leave my premises before I’m forced to take brute actions against you. We’ve already established that our agreement is now annulled, which means you’re no longer my guest. I’d suggest you take your entourage and go home, because it’s been a long night, and frankly, I’m sick of hearing you talk.”
“And forget about my son’smurder?” Fredrick grits out, then laughs like the fucking madman that he is. “What do you take me for, a clown?”
