“I’d love to, my handsome master. Do you remember my father, Franklin? The one you pushed out of his own company? Do you remember being so joyful in showing him pictures of his young daughter falling prey to the hands of an insufferable bastard? My father chose to protect his family, allowing you to have the company he’d built from scratch, a firm he was proud of.”
Franklin nuzzled into my neck and it was all I could to do to keep from vomiting a little in my mouth. My skin crawled from his hold. All he was trying to do was to intimidate me. Fat chance. I was finished with playing his victim or anyone else’s.
“Your father was a weak man, my beautiful Reese. He was easily manipulated. Such a good man. He simply had no idea there were so many vultures around him. But don’t worry. I’ve made good use of his software, only I will admit I’ve been a little selfish in doing so.”
“You can cut the act, Franklin. Not only am I aware of your software but so is every law agency in the country and abroad. Soon, you and your disciples will be enjoying a lavish prison cell. You might not want to leave yours. In case you don’t know, sex trafficking is seen as barely one step above being a pedophile.”
“You can try to expose us, but you’ll fail.”
Franklin was so sure of himself. Why not drop the hammer. “That’s where you’re wrong. You believed my father would stay quiet. My guess is you lured my beautiful baby sister into your fold to use against him. To keep him quiet. You had a little glitch you needed him to fix. It backfired, Franklin. You’re no longer in control of the software program that you’ve been using. Not for decency and humanity, but for yourself.”
“You’re lying.” Franklin’s hiss was followed by his body tensing. With his hold tightening, stars floated in front of my eyes from limited air.
Kendrick laughed and while every move he made was now subtle, I sensed he was giving me directions. We’d become close in just under two weeks.
While he was just a man, in placing him front and center as my hero, I’d grabbed onto a lifeline that had kept me from spiraling into the dark abyss. By all rights, I should be petrified, incapable of moving, but I was invigorated by the moment. By the danger.
It would seem I wasn’t overly opposed to violence.
“I’m many things, but I do consider myself honorable in that I don’t lie unless forced… Right now, the warehouse you and your vicious clan recently used for your illegal operations is being raided by the DEA. In addition, your bank accounts are being frozen, every member within your organization exposed and for kicks and giggles, the recent murder of poor Marvin Devonshire is already under investigation. In other words, your regime is about to crumble.”
Kendrick took a decided step closer, pointing the weapon at Franklin’s face.
“And there’s one more thing. Your attempt to blackmail all your buddies had been brought to light. Your buddy Lucifer is a very intelligent man. I know Dante Rinaldi very well. If there’s one thing he doesn’t like, it’s a snitch. I daresay your time on this earth is short. But I’ve been authorized to make you an offer. The location of every single young woman for full immunity and protection. Once you’ve testified in court, you’ll be given a new identity.”
“Witness protection?” he asked, laughing as soon as he did.
“Call it what you want, but you’ll be alive. It’s entirely up to you.”
While I sensed Kendrick was bluffing, Franklin didn’t know that. But I knew him far too well. He was capable of anything and there was nothing honorable about him.
So I did the only thing I could.
I fought back.
With a single yank that he hadn’t expected, I drove my heel into his groin, pitching my body forward. I landed next to the duffle bag, immediately driving my hand inside.
Just as I yanked the knife free, Kendrick drove his fist under Franklin’s chin, his weapon tossed aside.
Kendrick didn’t stop there, his anger reaching a new high. Punch after punch was delivered, Franklin’s body twisting as the blows were received. The last threw him against the door. Dazed and wheezing, his body began to slide to the floor.
“Are you alright?” Kendrick asked.
“I’m fine.” I was breathless, barely paying attention that I’d unsheathed the knife.
“Let me have that.”
I glanced at Franklin crumpled in a heap, the anger I’d felt for him for all these years breaching the surface.
“He’s finished. They all are.” Kendrick held out his hand and I was about to comply when I noticed movement out of the corner of my eye.
“Kendrick!” My cry of warning was too late.
Franklin was already on his feet, throwing a brutal swing that drove Kendrick to the floor. With every nightmare I’d experienced over the years, every trepidation about forming any relationship with a man, I’d lost a part of myself.
All because of the man eager to take the life of someone I loved.
Maybe it was the admittance of how I felt about Kendrick that shoved aside every fear and every bit of panic. I threw myself at Franklin, driving the point of the blade into his skin of his neck.
