Page 43 of Scarred Hearts

“Go,” I sighed, feeling the significance of my mistake crushing down on me. “I can handle myself. I’m the one who fucked up.”

Clearly, he was torn between wanting to stay to help me and following orders from Mr. Knight. “Gia?—”

“Tyler,” Mr. Knight lifted his chin at the door.

Offering me a final solemn glance, he shook his head and then exited the office, closing the door on his way out.

Mr. Knight stood before me, his posture threatening and tall. I was ready to accept my fate. Whatever came at me, at least I went out getting a little revenge on my abuser. Because that was what the Penthouse L.A. people were. Bullies and abusers. I didn’t see it that way until I’d been away for some time, and now, I saw them for what they were.

I didn’t have any intention of hurting Ivan when I went into that room downstairs. But I also didn’t want to be defenseless anymore. For years, I’d been trapped and powerless under their control. Tonight, I came prepared with protection, just in case. In my mind, I’d always remained tough and resilient despite their manipulation and abuse. But deep down, I knew even if I had tried to defend myself before, it would have been futile on their turf. It was a hopeless battle that I could’ve never won, and it was suicide.

A couple of months before Luke showed up, I was just going through the routine motions, doing what was expected of me, but I knew they were shitty people by then. I just didn’t have a reason to care until Luke gave me one. He saved my life when he brought me to Boston.

Mr. Knight’s gaze raked over me like a predator evaluating its prey, methodically assessing my appearance. I stood tall and unmoved, meeting his eyes with steady confidence. After what felt like an eternity of silence so thick you could almost hear it humming, he finally spoke.

“Gia,” he murmured as he lifted a hand to stroke his chin, “you’ve put me in quite a predicament.”

I didn’t respond.

“Do you have other weapons on you?” he asked.

Flickering my gaze, I reached down, taking a second sheathed knife out of my other thigh high boot and laying it on a nearby end table. Then, I reached into my other boot, taking out a third butterfly blade, setting it on the table next to the other.

“Jesus,” he blinked rapidly.

I shrugged a shoulder. “I am my father’s daughter.”

“Clearly,” he said, tilting his head. “Anything else?”

“No,” I muttered.

“The first thing I’m going to ask you is why the hell did you stab Ivan?”

“I didn’t plan to, but he kept pushing my buttons, threatening things in my ear when he knew no one could hear him. He yanked my hair, told me he was going to rape me with knives, and scar me so no man but him would ever want me. Then he told me he’d be happy to fuck my shredded pussy, marinating his cock in my pain and blood.”

“Shit,” he replied. “But why didn’t you let Tyler take the fall for you?”

His eyes narrowed as they bore into mine, probing deep into my soul. Even I knew there were limits to deception. Lying to him now would be catastrophic. So, I chose honesty.

“Because you told me that family and loyalty were the two most important things to you, and you asked me to prove my loyalty to this club and your fam again.” Placing my hands on my hips, I looked him dead in the eyes. “That wasn’t the final reason I did what I did. It wasn’t just about finally being able to stand up for myself. He told me when he got done with me, he was going behind Ekaterina’s back and going after your ‘sexy wife’ next, and that’s when I stabbed him.”

His expression hardened like stone, the color draining from his face before turning a deep shade of red once more. His emotions were written all over his features, transforming from shock to anger in a matter of seconds.

“I can handle someone talking shit to me,” I continued, “but after brunch with Jen… Mrs. Knight, I couldn’t let that happen and honestly, I was aiming to kill. But I couldn’t let anything happen to Tyler. He’s been through enough and I’ll protect him at all costs. I like hi… I just didn’t think he deserved to go through anything else.”

His eyebrows arched slightly, and his piercing gaze fixed on me as he took a moment to process my words. A hint of admiration flickered in his eyes, and his lips curved into a small smile. “Thank you for being honest with me. That takes guts.” He cleared his throat, his hand reaching up to adjust the small earpiece attached to his ear then pressed a finger to it. Tyler and Luke, get in here.

The door opened, but I didn’t turn to see them walk in.

“I threw my earpiece,” Tyler commented as they came to a stop on either side of me.

“Of course, you did.” Mr. Knight’s posture shifted, rolling his shoulders back and addressing Tyler. “They’re coming back tomorrow night,” he replied, glimpsing me. “Take her to your house tonight, and I’ll send guards to keep watch.”

The unexpected offer caught Tyler off guard, and his brow creased in confusion. “What?” he asked, clearly taken aback.

Mr. Knight turned to look at me, his expression unreadable. “You may have pissed off the Russians and possibly started another war, but you also probably saved my wife’s life. And that is most important to me.” He retrieved his phone from inside his jacket pocket and swiftly tapped on the screen before bringing it to his ear.

“What?” both Luke and Tyler asked simultaneously.

---