I see Tyson’s hand flex harder against Charlie’s throat, and hear my baby choke. I want to rush Tyson and fucking pummel him into the ground, but there’s a good chance that would end up hurting Charlie too.
“Okay, okay. I’m waving a white flag here, Tys. Please, let him down. Don’t hurt him.”
“Good boy, Kip. Now, sit the fuck back down, and let me finish.” He nods his head from me to the chair I abandoned.
My body screams at me to fight him, but I ignore it, slinking back to the chair. Once my ass hits the seat, Tyson squeezes Charlie’s throat once more, forcing a squeaky rasp, before releasing his throat and letting Charlie fall gasping to the floor. My body jerks up from the chair, wanting to rush to Charlie’s side, but Tyson levels me a look that has me slamming back down in my seat. I can’t take my eyes off Charlie’s quaking little body as Tyson stalks back over, sitting down gracefully across from me.
“Anyway, where were we?” He says nonchalantly. “Yes, so Lisette made sure you were released, foiling my plan. So I had to pivot, again. Who knew being an evil mastermind was so much work? Seriously.” He sighs. “So I tried again to convince Charlie that you two weren’t meant to be. He, of course, didn’t listen. Doesn’t know what’s good for him, apparently.”
“This monologue is getting really old.” Charlie rasps. The struggle between him and Tyson must’ve knocked the gag loose.
Tyson continues, pretending not to hear Charlie. “Then comes poor Bryant. I didn’t target him specifically, he just happened to be the one to pick up that greased dumbbell. Dumb luck. Get it, dumbbell, dumb luck?” he chortles.
I’m confused. I thought that Bryant smashing his own foot was far-fetched, but how could the footage lie? “But the footage…Joe and I looked at it. It didn’t show anyone messing with the dumbbells.”
“Only a little manipulation of the security footage for that. It was actually pretty easy. Snuck into Joe’s office, cut the footage, and then snuck back out.” Tyson smirks. “Moving on, so Bryant smashed his foot, and the goal was for you to absolutely lose it over his blood. I have to commend you though, you kept it together. I guess the training I did with you actually worked.”
“Are you serious right now? First Allie, who is lucky all she had was a gash to the dome, and then Bryant? He might never be the same after decimating his foot with that fifty pound weight!” Oh my god. All of this, for what? To get me?
“I mean, their injuries are kind of your fault, no?” Tyson’s face isabsolutely serious when he says this. He honestly believes it. “Same with if something happens to Charlie today. If you had chosen me, none of these people would need to get hurt. And don’t get it twisted, I will continue to hurt people who get in the way of us.”
“My hope was that I’d get you back to the cell after you attacked Bryant in a blood rage, and then my plans could continue. But, you didn’t attack him. And then, Lisette came over and said that the rogue council members were taken care of. Everything I had worked for, gone in a flash. Which leads us to here, and now. My last resort.”
“And what is that? What are you hoping to achieve with this?” I’m so fucking over this guy. If I never see him again, it’ll be a blessing. And where the fuck is Lisette? Shouldn’t she be here by now, helping?
“Well, I’m not going to get the spot in the council without my insider. Which is fine, whatever. I really only wanted it to have you as my thrall. So now it’s simple. I want you to break up with Charlie, because if you don’t I’ll fucking snap his neck like a twig.”
I choke on my own spit. “I’m—I’m sorry?”
“You heard me, Kip. You think you’re in love with him, right? Well, here’s your choice. Dump him, and he walks free, unharmed. Choose to keep him, and I’ll kill him.”
Chapter Thirty-Three
Kip
Top Ten Ultimate Betrayals
In a blink, Tyson leaps to his feet and is behind Charlie, his arm wrapped around Charlie’s throat.
“Think quickly, Kip. I know that’s hard for you, but this should be an easy choice.” Tyson tightens his arm, and tangles his other hand in Charlie’s hair, gripping tightly enough that Charlie winces.
“Kip,” Charlie grimaces as Tyson yanks his head to the side by his hair, “he’s bluffing. Don’t give in. He knows that if he kills me, you’ll never forgive him.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure about that.” Tyson sneers. “I don’t need your forgiveness, Kip. I just need you. And with Charlie gone, I’ll be all you have left.”
“And where will that get you, huh?” Charlie goads, hissing from the pain of Tyson’s forceful grip. “What is the point of all of this if Kip hates you in the end?”
“Will you shut the fuck up? Don’t make me gag you again.” Tyson curls his lip in disdain. “It doesn’t matter if he hates me. I’ll find someone else to help me make him my thrall and then his feelings won’t matter.”
“You fucking suck, you know that?” I hiss. He’s talking about me like I’m not even here. Like I don’t matter. “Did you ever think about maybe talking to me about all of this instead of going behind my back and forcing me to be with you? Like, what the fuck is wrong with you, dude?”
“My therapist tells me a lot is wrong with me, but…it doesn’tbother me, so…” Tyson shrugs. “Anyway, enough stalling. Make a choice Kip. Break up with him, and he keeps his pretty little neck as is, or try to keep him and I snap it. Ooooh, or better yet, maybe I’ll drain all of his blood so you can watch the life slowly fade from his eyes. That’d be fun, for me at least.”
Tyson leans down, running his nose along Charlie’s neck. “Mmm…I bet you taste sweet, don’t you, Charlie? Is that why Kip can’t resist you?”
And I see red. Before my brain can catch up, my body is moving towards Tyson and Charlie. Tyson’s head snaps up, eyes locking with me as my fists clench his shirt, tugging him towards me. Tyson shoves me away, while keeping his arm locked around Charlie’s neck. Tyson’s hold yanks Charlie to the side, choking Charlie in the process.
“Bad move.” Tyson growls.
