Page 84 of Tempting Fate

He’s wearing the same suit he had on at the sheds earlier today.

Stomach whirling, heart in my mouth, I brace for what’s about to come.

“How nice to see you again, Mr. Miles.” Joseph Kingsley’s voice fills the room. “I’m glad your face has healed somewhat since your unfortunate accident yesterday.”

Zeke scoffs. “You call it an accident… I call it an assault during an illegal search.”

“Potato, potahto,” Alex’s father retorts with a chuckle.

“I guess we’re glossin’ over the meetin’ you attended with the Maddison clan this afternoon?”

“Don’t know what you mean. I was in my office all day.” Alex’s father laughs in my face as he denies Zeke’s assertion, and the sound of his laughter makes me shiver. He’s as evil as his son when he allows himself to drop the congenial façade he uses to hide his cruel proclivities. “Plenty of witnesses to attest to that fact should you get any ideas about running your mouth.”

The officer aiming the rifle at us moves from foot to foot, apparently uncomfortable with his boss’ open admission of corruption. I curl my fingers in the towel I’m wearing and press my forehead against the base of Zeke’s neck. When the muscles in his back ripple, I realise that he’s barely keeping himself under control.

Joseph Kingsley would likely be dead if I wasn’t in the firing line.

“Don’t think I can’t see you back there, Miss Mayberry,” Alex’s father calls out when Zeke leaves his goading unanswered. “I’d ask you to step out from behind your biker and face me yourself, but I know you prefer having the men in your life do your dirty work for you… my bullet-riddled son can certainly attest to that.”

My mouth is in gear before my brain catches up. “Actually, I’m the one who shot him.”

“Lily,” Zeke interjects. “Shut up.”

Too far gone to heed the warning, I glare over Zeke’s shoulder at Alex’s dad. “And I’ll do it again if he ever comes back.”

“Ah, a little truth at last,” the father of my tormentor crows. “So, you’re the one I’m here for?”

“No,” Zeke growls. “She didn’t mean a damn word she said. She’s upset, doesn’t know what she’s sayin’.”

“I’d say I’m impressed that you’ve finally grown some fortitude, Lily… but I’d be lying,” Joseph continues, as if my fiancé hasn’t spoken. “Because we both know that when push comes to shove, you drop your clothes to the floor and offer yourself up without a fight—don’t you, angel?”

“How dare you!” I screech. “Your son is a rapist... and you know it.”

Despite the knowledge that it’s a bad idea, mindless determination to defend myself against his vile accusation fills me. I struggle to push past Zeke. I want to scratch out the evil bastard’s eyes for daring to taunt me with his vile son’s abuse. I want to show him that I don’t need to hide behind anyone.

I can defend myself.

I literally escaped his crazy son yesterday.

“He can stay… for now.” Joseph pays me no mind, motioning at the officer under his command and then at Zeke. “But we’ll be taking his little whore to lockup. She just confessed to shooting my son.”

Rage ripples from my fiancé as he uses one arm to pin me behind him. “Over my dead body.”

“You must know that can be arranged with the greatest pleasure?”

The sound of a rifle being racked makes me freeze until I realise that it’s not pointed at Zeke. The weapon is aimed at Joseph’s head.

“The only dead body in this room will be yours if you take one more step toward them,” Angelis announces. When Joseph deliberately sidles forward a few inches, determined to push the point, Slash’s father follows and presses the muzzle to the back of his skull. “Careful now, I’ve got an itchy trigger finger… might be some kinda allergic reaction to seeing your ugly fuckin’ mug two days in a row.”

When Joseph freezes in place, a second man follows Angelis into the bedroom. The sight of him sparks my relief, especially when with Angelis’ help, he crowds Joseph and the cop from behind so they’re trapped. With a fuming Zeke in front of him, and a rife-wielding biker and a mildly bemused barrister at his rear, some of the superiority Alex’s father habitually wears dissipates. He glances at me, then at Zeke, before giving us his back so he can face the preeminent legal counsel in this state.

My boss. Gabriel Abaddon. Beloved son of one of the founding members from the US mother chapter in Philadelphia. He mightn’t wear a cut, but he’s a Shamrock, through and through.

He’s also untouchable in this country.

I don’t know why.

I don’t know how.

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