Cristian was regretting this plan. How was he supposed to protect Everly and Matias? They were all at Darby’s mercy.
“I had to save you somehow. I saw an opportunity, and I took it. You would do the same for someone you truly loved and cared about. Yes, I killed him. I would do it a thousand times to free you or any woman from his hold.” His eyes were searching hers the whole time.
“Cristian.” Everly tore her eyes from his. “You killed a man just for your selfish reasons. If you had rescued other women, it would’ve made so much sense. But you’re just like him. You wanted to own me.” She turned away from him, straight into Darby who was standing behind her.
“Fuck,” Matias grunted as he watched the scene unfold.
“You don’t believe that—you know I love you, Everly,” Cristian scoffed, not believing a word.
“You heard her, loser. She doesn’t want you.” Darby smirked as he ran his fingers over Everly’s face.
“Tonight, she’s going to be mine. I’ll make sure she forgets all about you and is screaming my name from now on.”
“Don’t!” Cristian couldn’t imagine the horror and torture that awaited her. What had come over her? Why would she walk back towards the monster he had set her free from?
Loud gunshots echoed in the distance. “We have to go,” Matias whispered to Cristian. Everly had made her choice. There was nothing more they could do to save her.
“No… I’m not leaving without her.” Cristian pulled away from his brother and stepped toward Darby and Everly.
“And who says you were leaving?” Luis pointed the gun at them.
“Please don’t hurt them, you promised!” Everly shivered at the sight of his weapon. She knew this was a possibility, but she prayed Darby would keep his word. She tried to pull away from him, but he held her arms in a vice grip.
“Watch as I take something precious from him,” Darby whispered into her ear, making her shudder in disgust. “Luis, kill the brother. I want them both to witness the pain of losing someone.” He smiled.
Without any hesitation, Luis released the trigger and fired three bullets into Matias’ chest, then a fourth bullet that hit his arm, knocking him to the ground.
“Matias!” Cristian screamed and sank to his knees beside his brother’s crumpled form.
“See? I promised not to hurt Cristian.”
But Everly wasn’t comforted. Cristian’s eyes were filled with so much hurt as he knelt beside his brother.
“That should keep you in check for a while. If you dare come after me, I’ll take you down. After all, you’re the only one left.”
Luis snatched Everly from Darby’s hands and swept her up on his back. She kicked and screamed as he carried her toward the boat. She sealed her fate when she turned against the Silva family. Cristian would never forgive her.
Cristian’s heart raced as he processed Darby’s last words,“After all, you’re the only one left!”
“Bastian…” he gasped, recalling the gunshots earlier. Darby had sent his other men to kill the others that laid in wait should things go wrong—Bastian being one of them.
“Fuck!” He straightened and heaved Matias into his arms. As he made his way toward the warehouse, he realized that several of the men they had come with had been killed. Their bodies were scattered around. Darby’s men had been there hiding, they had somehow known of their plan and laid in wait to sabotage it.
“Bastian!” Cristian called to his brother, desperate to hear his voice. He prayed he hadn’t gotten both his brothers murdered in one day. Katya would never forgive him for this; knowing that he should’ve listened to Matias and paid Darby his money. But it was too late to lay blame. He needed to find Bastian.
“Boss!” Benji leapt out from where he’d been hiding.
“What happened?” Cristian inquired. “Where’s Bastian?” He searched Benji’s eyes, desperate for an answer.
“I think Darby’s men took him.”
BenjihelpedCristiangatherthe bodies of the men who died. They loaded Matias’ lifeless body in Cristian’s vehicle, then the injured in a separate van. Benji and some of the men who managed to escape Darby’s attack, drove the injured home, while Cristian drove back to mansion in uncomfortable silence with the body of his dead brother.
Never in his life had he been so defeated. Many things weren’t adding up. As they neared the mansion, Cristian heard movement from the backseat. He slowed the car and glanced at Matias’ body. His heart almost jumped out of his mouth. Matias was stirring.
“Matias!” Cristian forced the car into park and jerked open the backdoor.
“That fucking hurt,” Matias groaned. “He shot me in the arm. Motherfucker.”
