Page 148 of Ruthless Savage

All the blood leaves my body.

“Please don’t. I beg you! Don’t you want to move on from all this?” My chest shakes with each word. Maybe there’s some hope to convince her to let this go. “I know you’re hurting, but killing his brother should’ve been enough.”

“Enough?” She laughs, then her face goes hard. “No. It’ll never be enough. I made my father a promise that when he was gone, I would continue his legacy and I, me…” She slaps a palm over her chest. “…would bring our family justice.” She grabs a fistful of my shirt and nears her face to mine. “And that will only happen when I hurt Devlin by hurting you, right before I kill him.”

I pant with silent whimpers. She won’t let this go. I’ve never seen her this way. Never knew she hated me this whole time.

She releases a dramatic exhale and drops her hand off of me.

“I’ve always wanted to prove myself to my father. You see, he never saw me like one of my brothers. I was a girl. Weak. Pathetic.” She rolls her eyes. “But I wish Dad was still alive to see what I’ve managed to accomplish.” Her chin inclines with indignation. “Sometimes it takes a woman’s touch, don’t you think? For these men to see us? It’s what you fight for, isn’t it? To be seen by your own father?” That gaze takes me in coldly. “It’s a shame I have to kill you. I saw a lot of myself in you.”

“Please,” I cry. “I don’t want to die. Please don’t do this!”

“Hush now. Save your tears. There’s nothing you can say to change my mind.”

My body sags, and I continue to sob. “D-d-did you really work with Mason? For what?”

Her grin spreads. “We’ve been following Devlin and your family for years. I knew Devlin, and I knew he’d never wanna get married after his brother, even if he did like you.” She runs a finger through the hair lining her face. “But see, I also suspected that if I paid off some asshole to marry you, Devlin would wanna take his place, especially if you decided to sell your virginity.”

“W-what?” I can barely speak, not sure what she’s trying to tell me.

She laughs. “I mean, I didn’t know if you were brave enough to go through with it, but bravo. You fell right into my trap.”

The room spins as my mind races, taking short, shallow breaths.

I don’t understand what’s happening.

“How would you even know about the club?”

“Knew about it?” She scoffs. “I made sure you went.” With every footfall, she comes closer until she’s kneeling in front of me, the back of her hand gliding down my cheek until I recoil. “Wanna know how?”

But I don’t. I can’t take any more. My chest snaps so tight I can barely breathe.

She continues to look pleased with herself, straightening before glancing behind her shoulder at her brother. She tilts her head to the side in a quick snap, and I have no idea what that meant, but I’m sure it’s not good.

My entire body tremors, gasping for air, the pulse in my ears louder.

Her brother disappears for a moment, and in the next, another guy returns with him, dragging someone.

Not just someone.

“Karen? Oh my God! Don’t touch her! She has nothing to do with this!”

But the professor simply laughs like I’ve said something ridiculous. “Nothing to do with this? Oh, she has everything to do with this. Don’t you, sweetheart?”

“What?” I whisper, my eyes growing large.

“Please, Mom! Don’t do this!”

“Mom?” I gasp.

And in that split second is when the realization finally hits and everything changes.

Everything I believed, everything I’ve clung to, simply vanishes. And in its place is darkness, so black I can’t see through it.

Fresh tears blanket my vision, nausea swirling, my head spinning until I feel as though I may pass out.

“Nonono!” I whimper, my chest heaving while fat tears roll down my face.

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