Page 69 of King of Wrath

I shake my head, not sure what to do. Think, Nia. Think. “I…I was in a car. I tried to drive…”

“Where were you driving to?”

Shit. More of Jake’s words filter through my thoughts. His promise to die before he let Toni hurt me reverberates in my head. Where is he? Where is Jake?

I’ve lied to Toni for years and the words slip from my lips now. Not that I’m lying exactly, but I need to be very careful about what I say.

I wish my head were clearer. I swipe my fingers across my forehead. “Away.”

“Away?” I hear his snort. He doesn’t believe me.

“I…” I swallow. I could tell Toni the truth. I was kidnapped against my will. Held. But it’s a lie too. Because I’d stay with Jake if I thought he truly wanted to keep me.

“That’s a nice ring on your finger, princess. Is that the price for betraying me?”

My mouth drops open as I lift my head, dropping my hand. I see Jake’s ring still sparkling on my finger, catching even the smallest bit of light. It’s some reminder that for a moment, I had real hope. That Isaw another life that didn’t involve Toni. And in that life, I wasn’t alone.

I’m done pretending with this man and I’m done living in fear. He breaks everything that’s close to him and I know I’m next. But I can’t bring myself to care. “I betrayed you? That’s hilarious.”

He pushes up from the chair. “Stupid bitch. Probably thinking with what’s between your legs just like your whore of a mother. She deserved to die, and you deserve it too.”

“Bastard.”

“I watched her last breath as I held her under that water and I’ll watch yours too,” he snarls, stepping up next to the bed.

I lay my head back down, closing my eyes. I can’t fight. Only say my piece before the end. It’s a calm I never expected to experience. “I saw what you did to her that night, and I told the Kincaids about how you drowned my mother in the bath. You’ll rot in prison and then you’ll rot in hell.”

He yanks the pillow from under my head, my head thumping down on the mattress as pain reverberates through my skull, radiating down my spine.

Then he holds it over my face. “You’ll die just like her. I’d tell you all about how she had no loyalty either but we’re short on time.” He starts to lower the pillow. “I always knew it would come to this.”

I close my eyes. I did too.

“Toni,” Jake’s deep gravelly voice causes my eyes to spring open. I lift my head to see him filling the doorway. “I’m sure you already know, pillows, like the one you’re conveniently holding, make excellent silencers.”

I gasp in a breath at the sight of a pistol in his hand, even as he steps into the room, raising the gun higher. “Jake,” I say, it comes out like a plea.

Despite all our talk about Toni, I never actually pictured this moment, the two men facing off in front of me. I swallow, the numb calmness of the last moments washing away as fear pumps through my veins.

Because I’m scared for Jake.

There isn’t an ounce of fear on his face. Jake doesn’t look at me, instead his gaze is fixed on Toni, his features drawn into hard lines. My father promptly drops the pillow, pulling his own pistol from his waistband. “If I’m dying, you are too, Kincaid.”

“The police are right outside the door,” Jake answers evenly. “Fire knowing that you’ll never leave this room.”

I see Toni wince.

But Jake isn’t done. “In one minute, several state troopers are going to arrest you. You’re done, Toni. This is the end.”

“Arresting me? On what charge? Your stupid brother?”

“No, not yet, You’ll go to prison for him. But the arrest, the first charges, will be for Nia.”

I cover my mouth to keep from crying out. Because this is everything he promised.

Toni’s lip curls. “Do you think you love her? Is that what this is?”

Jake doesn’t answer.

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