Page 30 of My Temptation

Ethan drove fast, and we ran into the offices in less than fifteen minutes. Jax met us just as we cleared the front door.

“We know anything yet?” I asked.

“He’s getting stitched up. Doesn’t look too bad. Brody said they’re heading back here as soon as he’s released.”

“He agreed to that?” Ethan sounded as surprised as I felt.

“Not yet,” Jax stated. “But if anyone can convince him, it’s Brody and Kyle.” He gestured toward the conference room. “Grab your laptops. We’ll work until they get here.”

We hurried to our offices and grabbed our stuff before settling in the conference room and getting to work, but we hadn’t found much before Striker, Brody, and Kyle walked through the open door.

“Any damage?” Jax asked, but Striker only stared at him. I didn’t know what they promised him to get him to come to the office, but it must’ve been good because there wasn’t a doubt in my mind after seeing his face that he wanted to be hunting instead.

Cam walked in behind them and threw his phone on the table before motioning for them to sit. “Sydney recorded this. I was out on a call when she finally reached me. Sent out units right away and called Jax, who had men”—he looked up at Mila—“and women en route immediately.”

Cam glanced at Jax, who crossed his arms over his chest and nodded once. The conference room grew eerily quiet while we listened, and the first sound I heard clearly was the gunshot, followed by Beth’s scream tearing through the silence.

“Get up.”

I stared at Striker while we listened to the recording and wondered if this was a good idea.

“Get the fuck up now!”

Some noises sounded like movement. “Let’s go.”

“No.” Beth’s voice sounded strong when she gave the reply none of us expected.

“What are you gonna do? Shoot me? Over this piece of shit?”

After a moment of silence, he spoke again. “He’s a killer, Elizabeth. Just like your brother and me.”

“He’s nothing like you.”

“He doesn’t care about you. He’s only protecting you because he’s being paid to do it. No one ever cared about you, Beth. You’re weak. I know it; you know it. Danny knew it. That’s how he got you to do the shit you did.”

“You need to leave.” There was fear in her voice, but she still sounded strong and confident. Pride soared through me, knowing she defended herself and wasn’t the victim he expected her to be, but that pride was tainted. This could backfire on her, and we all knew it.

“I’m not leaving, bitch. I would’ve already killed you if I didn’t need the money you owe me.”

“Money? What money?”

“What Danny promised me. I know he left it all to you, and it’s in a safe deposit box. You’re going to walk out of here with me right now and take me to that box. And if you’re really nice to me, I may just let you live.”

“What the fuck is he talking about?” Striker said right before I heard Beth repeat what she’d been saying. “No.”

“You’re a victim, and you always will be, Elizabeth. You never defended yourself. You never did anything to save yourself, so there isn’t a doubt in my fucking mind that you won’t do it now. I’m tired of fucking around with you. Put the fucking gun down, and let’s go.”

It took a moment, but then I heard her voice, and she sounded so defeated. “You’re right, Max. I never did anything to save myself. Until I decided I was tired of being the victim.” A grin tugged at my lips when I heard the confidence in her tone. “And I won’t let him be one either.”

The shot sounded like a blast in the otherwise quiet room while we all listened.

“She shot him,” I whispered. “That’s good. It should slow them down.”

“We don’t know that she actually hit him,” Jax replied, cursing under his breath when the recording stopped.

He looked up at Striker. “What money?”

“No idea,” he answered. “Never heard about a safe deposit box. He was talking about shit owed to him but never mentioned a safe deposit box when I was conscious.”

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