Page 138 of Power of Shadow

In slow motion, I saw my father approaching the desk and the moment Ash made her decision. She acted instinctively. Just like me.

Aisling...

Father freezes mid-step, Aiden and Victor Matthews stand frozen by how the situation has turned.

And me? The pain in my arm is nothing compared to the pain in my heart. All those lies, those moments of opening up to her.

Ash turns white as a sheet, her hands shaking violently.

She looks at me with teary eyes and whispers, “What have you done?”

I shake my head. I don’t know. I couldn’t let her kill him, even though I wanted to do it myself.

Perhaps it’s a matter of distraction, but none of us notices until it’s too late. My father pulls out a gun hidden under the desk. When I glance at him, he has it pointed at Ash.

I react too, pulling out my gun and unlocking the safety.

James is so sure that I won’t shoot him he only gives me a fleeting glance.

The adrenaline in my body paralyzes me completely. My heart stops, my throat goes dry. I don’t dare take another breath. My thoughts scream at me.

Ash... She’s too far away. I can’t cover her. Fuck! Think!

“Girl, put the gun down. This is no joke. Look at how your hand is shaking. You’re not cut out for this.” The hatred in my father’s eyes matches the mockery in his voice.

“Father, put the gun down,” I say in a warning tone.

“No fucking way. You think I’m going to let some bitch threaten me in my own house? Think again!”

“Put the gun down!” I demand again.

In my mind’s eye, I see my father raising his gun, putting his finger on the trigger, pulling it. My mother’s body slumps lifelessly onto the damn floor. Blood...

For a second, my eyes wander to the same place where she lay that day. There’s nothing there now, but I would rather die than see Ash in her place.

I take a small step to the left and hold my breath.

“Ryker—” The whisper of the love of my life is filled with pain. And I hate it.

“Look at yourself,” James spits out. “You’re so soft. You’re going to defend some bitch like you used to defend your mother and sister? I knew you were a useless piece of shit...”

More memories flash through my mind. These are the same words that started our life in hell. He once shouted the same words to my mother.

Ash lied to me, but... I won’t be able to live in a world without her. I can’t lose her.

Another step...

I look into the eyes of the man who was supposed to protect our family. Who was supposed to love us and be our support. But all I see is a person with hatred flowing through his veins, his soul replaced by pure evil. And I listen to his hateful words.

“You’re just like your mother. You don’t deserve a place in this world. You’re a waste of space. You’re…”

One more small step.

But he can’t see it.

The demon inside me whimpers. It digs its claws into my insides, struggling like a caged animal. It begs to be released, wanting to play with its prey. My father’s words provoke it with every passing second.

“Where’s Aisling?” I growl at him. “Where’s my sister?”