“Kai!” I scream as he’s carried into the room by Benjamin and Maurio. He’s still strapped to a chair, and his injuries look so much worse in the flesh. My heart pounds, and my lungs scream for air as I struggle to hold back tears.
I can tell it takes great effort to lift his head up, but he does. “Abby,” he rasps in a hoarse voice.
I thrash about in Drew’s arms, needing to go to him. “Let me go.”
“Not yet,” Drew whispers in my ear. “Keep it together, A. Please. You need to keep it together for Kai.”
Again, my brother’s words calm me down, reminding me of all that’s at stake. Father can end Kai’s life with the click of his fingers.
I know I alone have the power to save him, so I’ve got to set my emotions aside and bring my A-game.
“What do you want?” I ask when I’ve gotten myself under control. I deliberately avoid glancing at Kai, because I won’t be able to rein my emotions in if I keep looking at him.
I want to stab my father a million times over for what he’s done to him. I’ll add it to the list of all the things he needs to pay for.
“What I’ve always wanted.” Father stalks toward me, and I shuck out of Drew’s arms, standing my ground as the bastard walks right up to me. He grips my chin painfully. Charlie steps up behind me, dropping his hands to my waist. “You married to an elite and your shares in Manning Motors transferred to me.”
“I’ll do it, and I won’t fight it this time. I promise. Just let Kai go. Please.”
He pinches my chin, stretching my neck as he tilts it up. “You’re just like all women. Ruled by your emotions.” He narrows his eyes. “But you have inner strength, and it’s why you keep pushing back. You’re not as easy to break as most women. That might make me proud, if you weren’t trying to fuck with my plans and ruin my reputation.”
He lets go of my chin, but my reprieve is short-lived. He slaps me across the face, and Drew pulls me back, shielding me with his body. “You hit her again, and I’ll put a bullet through your skull.”
The bastard laughs. “I think not, son. Or have you forgotten the things you’ve done?”
“You don’t get to hurt my sister,” Drew snarls. “You can do your worst to me, but you won’t put your hands on her again or you can look for a new heir because I’ll put a bullet through my heart before you can stop me.”
Silence descends for a few beats until he says, “I will deal with you later.” Father’s threat sends chills down my spine. “Come here, Abigail, unless you want me to kill the punk right now. I know Trent’s only dying for an opportunity to pay him back.”
I step forward quickly, and the bastard chuckles. “You make it too easy.”
“I told you I’ll do what you want. Just let Kai go.”
“Abby.” Kai stirs in his chair, attempting to lift his head again. Pain makes mincemeat of my heart as I look at my broken and battered boyfriend. “No,” he murmurs. “No deal.”
“Stop, Kai,” Drew says. “Don’t make this any harder on her.”
“If I let the punk go today, there’s nothing to stop you from running off with him,” the bastard says, “and while I can increase security, you’re a cunning cunt, and I know you’d continue sneaking around with him, so I need something more.”
“I give you my word.”
He cranks out a laugh. “Your word means shit.”
“I told you she was a lying, cheating whore,” Trent supplies.
“Quiet!” Father snaps, and Trent shuts up.
“What are you saying?” I work hard to keep the panic from my voice and my face.
“You will marry Charles today. Here. The minister is on his way.”
My head spins, and my stomach lurches violently in protest, but I maintain a cool exterior, nodding my consent because I don’t trust my voice to say the words.
“No, Abby!!” The chair shakes as Kai tries to move. He looks at me through his one open eye, pleading with me not to do this. “Don’t do it.”
“I have to. I don’t have a choice. Not if I want to keep you alive.”
“You can’t trust him,” Kai pants. “He’ll kill me, anyway.”
