“I’ve decided to take my ventures elsewhere,” Adrian imitated the arrogant man then laughed. “Give me a fucking break. You know your ass is grass, so you’re tucking your tiny little dick between your legs and running like the little bitch that you are.”
“You know, it’s sad, really.” Radcliff turned to Adrian. “We, too, have had a good run. Unfortunately for you and Dr. Dawson, this little soirée of ours has started to bore me.”
“That’s what I thought.”
“However, I do think Mr. Hall is still owed something I promised him on the plane ride here.”
Stepping out of the way, Radcliff stood next to the far wall as the other man approached her with a sickening grin.
“You’ve been a royal pain in my ass.” Hall raised his foot, kicking Ellena’s chair over onto its side.
She cried out, her entire body jarring as it slammed into the concrete floor. Adrian yelled a string of profanities as Hall drew a large knife from a leather sheath hanging from his belt.
Ellena knew her time was limited now. She silently prayed Gabe hadn’t suffered, and she’d find her way back to him soon. To him and their heavenly baby.
I love you. I’m so sorry.
Hall began pushing the tip of the knife against the skin at the base of her throat. She winced but didn’t give him or Radcliff the satisfaction of screaming. Warm blood began to pool in the dip between her collar bones.
“Goddamn it, don’t do this!”
She could hear Adrian’s chair slamming against the floor as he fought against his ties.
An unexpected calm came over her as Ellena accepted her impending death. Being careful not to move her neck for fear the knife would cut deeper, she opened her eyes and looked over at Adrian.
“Don’t. It’s what he wants, Adrian. Don’t let him win.”
Hall pushed the tip in further. This time Ellena couldn’t keep a small whimper at bay. She expected him to slice her throat completely, but instead the asshole laughed and pulled the knife away.
“Fuck you, Hall,” Adrian ground out.
“You’re not my type, Walker. She, however, will do just fine.”
Oh, God.
“So nice and soft.”
Hall spoke with a lustful tone as he dragged the knife seductively down her sternum and between her breasts. Pulling the t-shirt she’d thrown on—was that just this morning?—he tightened the material before slicing it down the center to the hem.
“Hall, you perverted son of a bitch!” Adrian went against her advice and continued screaming. “Why don’t you cut me loose and fight like a man!”
Ignoring the outburst, Hall calmly pulled apart the two halves of her shirt to expose her white, lacey bra. Using the blade, he followed the lines of her bra, tracing down and around the bottom of one breast.
“Mmm…I bet these taste delicious.”
Her breathing increased, her heaving chest inadvertently rising towards him. She couldn’t see Adrian but could hear his chair legs shaking against the floor again as he continued to use his whole body in protest.
“Hold on, Doc. Just a little longer, okay? Hold. On.”
Somewhere in the back of her mind, she wondered if he was trying to tell her something. A flashback hit. One from that day in her kitchen with Victor Campbell and Gabe.
She and Gabe had both communicated with each other in a way Victor wouldn’t pick up. Was that what Adrian was doing now?
It didn’t matter. There was nothing he could do. Nothing anyone could do.
Not seeing any way out of this situation, Ellena forced herself to stay strong. If this was how her life would end, she was damn sure not going to give either man the satisfaction of hearing her beg.
With her voice low and steady—or as steady as she could muster, anyway—Ellena looked Hall square in the eye and said, “You want me? Then you’d better just kill me now because I’d rather be dead than to ever feel someone as disgusting as you inside of me. So just do it.” She licked her dry, cracked lips. “Kill me, already. Or don’t you have the balls?”
