Page 76 of Owning Emma

Chapter 37

ROMAN

One lookat Emma had me putting up my hands in defeat, unwilling to make a move that could risk her life. I would get us out of this, of that I was certain, but right now I couldn’t risk her life. My eyes flicked to the clock on the wall.

We should be leaving right about now. Shaw had to know that. If I could just drag out time . . .

I licked my lips. “Krank, out here, doing the dirty work himself? Isn’t this a Christmas miracle?”

The butt of the gun came down fast and hard, causing my vision to blur. My stance staggered for a moment before I forced my body upright. I smirked, knowing I was infuriating him more by doing so.

“You’re pretty cocky for someone whose girl is tied up,” Jack said from beside Krank, and I felt that betrayal deeper than the jolt caused by the hit of the gun. He was my friend, my fucking family, and he betrayed us.

Jack slipped past me, and a few seconds later, I heard Mike grunt. He dragged Mike to the center of the room. “He was reaching for a phone. Who were you going to call, Mike? The police? Yeah, I don’t think so.”

My eyes drifted to the clock again. Shit, had it only been a minute? I sent out a prayer to the man above, hoping that Shaw suddenly needed me for something and tried to call. I wouldn’t answer, of course. But, if I didn’t answer my phone, and Emma didn’t answer hers . . . well . . .

Krank pushed forward, forcing me back toward the counter. “You think you could have it all, don’t you?”

“I earned what I have,” I shot back and his nostrils flared with anger.

“I’ve earned it! I worked hard to secure loans, make deals, and take territory. I’ve fought my way to the top, and you come along, seeping into my territory and stealing my members.”

It wasn’t his territory. He wasn’t at the top. And his members that came to me were never his to begin with. Well, all but Jack. I was willing to bet every single one of his men who came to me looking for an alternate life, an honest one, were a hundred percent loyal to me.

Except Jack.

That fucker, he was dead!

I concentrated on the least important thing. “I didn’t steal your members, they willingly left. Couldn’t even satisfy a few straight men with your little cock, eh, Krank?”

The punch he threw missed his target as I brought my arms up to block it, just grazing my temple instead of my eye. It was weakened by its missed aim, but it still fucking hurt. I heard Emma gasp, and I looked past Krank’s furious glare, and shot Emma a wink.

“You think you’re funny. I can’t wait to show you just how funny it is when your girl watches your life slowly drain from your body. Then, well . . .” He let out a laugh that was anything but humorous. “Then I’m going to fuck her.”

The thought made me furious, but I knew it would never get that far. Shaw wouldn’t let it, and I had to trust that. That even if this were my last day on earth, he would continue to protect her until his last breath. I mustered up as much nonchalance that I could spare and shrugged. “You can try.”

“I will fucking succeed,” he growled, his hand coming to my throat, squeezing with all his strength. He wanted me to struggle, to kick and claw at him and show him I was weak, but it would never happen. I would never beg the fucker for my life, even as Emma’s muffled screams filled the room, pleading him to stop and Mike’s half-ass attempt at bartering muffled the distance. I was stronger. I would always be stronger.

He flexed his fingers tighter before releasing his grip, pushing my body back roughly. I stumbled, but straightened just as quick. “I could use this gun on you right now, end it. Take all the control away, own everything and everyone within a twenty mile radius.”

“Why don’t you then?” I goaded, and I didn’t dare look at Emma, knowing I would see a spark of fury directed at me for pushing him.

“Where’s the fun in that? I want to see you suffer.” He kicked my leg hard, the unexpected motion causing me to lose my balance, and I went down to my knees hard, hitting them on the solid cement floor. I fought not to wince as he stood over me, waving the gun around. “I’ll use this . . . when I’m finished making you scream and plead and wish you were dead.”

Not likely. Well, maybe I would wish I was dead, but the screaming and pleading wasn’t going to happen. I chanced one more look at the clock, and I knew that if any of us were to get out of here, Shaw had to catch on quick. I took a step closer to him, appearing unphased as I pushed myself into his space.

“I guess it’s time to make me beg then.” I took the swing, knowing full well I was outnumbered, and I was going down. But if their attention was on me, it was away from Emma. Their slimy hands wouldn’t and couldn’t touch her while they were laying blows on me. They could do whatever damage they wanted to my body. It was just a shell next to her temple.

I expected Krank to offer me one of those diabolical laughs he did so well, the one I had no doubt he practiced in the mirror. Instead, the corner of his lips tipped up in a slow smile, seconds before my body jolted forward and pain radiated through my skull.

Jack leaned into my ear as I blinked back the pain and ignored the blood trickling down my neck. “I’m going to own her. Every damn inch of her, and it will be fucking glorious.”

I fought back the growl. I couldn’t lose control. But he would never own a single inch of Emma, every hair on her body belonged to me. Was owned by me.

And Jack? Well, I was going to fucking kill him. One way or another, he was fucking dead.

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