Page 161 of Thorns of Malice

"Thank you?" I shout.

"Get him out of here!" Dax orders again.

Cooper turns back toward Dax, snickering. "He was destroying your life just like he destroys everyone's. I did you a favor. I got you far away from here, but you were too stupid and had to return."

The amount of shock filling me is overwhelming. My entire body trembles, and I go weak in the knees. I almost fall, but Dax reaches for me, tugging me into him again. Tears spill out of my eyes. How did I never see it?

"I gave you your life back," Cooper insists.

"No, you didn't. You destroyed it," I hurl, still trying to come to grips with the fact Cooper did it and not Avery or Bobby.

"Get him out of here," Dax orders again.

"You aren't kicking me off the estate. I have every right to be here," Cooper claims.

Dax points at Chad and booms, "Carrington Enterprises pays your salary. I run Carrington Enterprises. Decisions I make are yours to implement. Now, I'm going to tell you one last time. Get him off the estate."

Chad still hesitates.

"You can't. I have every right to be here," Cooper smugly repeats.

"He doesn't. Get him off the property," Dax barks.

Cooper insists, "You can't, you?—"

"Cooper, time to go," Chad interjects.

Cooper's head snaps toward him. "No, it's my right to be here. Same as Dax's. Same as Avery's. No one can kick me off the estate."

Dax scoffs. "Is that what you think? I can assure you, little brother, I can. Now get the fuck out of here before I kill you."

"No, you can't."

"Time to go," Chad repeats, and the security guards move him toward the door.

Cooper tries to fight but can't overpower them. He protests the entire way, screaming, "I'm going to kill you, Dax. I'll kill Ivy too, just to spite you."

I shiver, and Dax pulls me tighter against him, then leads me down the hall, following the guards.

Dax calls out, "You're finished, Cooper."

"You can't do this! I'll have you arrested! You're in breach of trust!" Cooper screams as the guards drag him down the stairs.

Dax grunts. "Just try it. Anything you want, Cooper, try it. I guarantee you the only place you'll end up is in a body bag. Now get the fuck out of my sight."

He continues protesting as they pull him out the door. It slams shut behind them.

Dax and I don't move, staring at the entryway for several minutes.

He turns to me. "I didn't know it was him! I swear I didn't know!"

"I know you didn't," I reply numbly.

He shakes his head, then leads me back into the bedroom. We step inside, and he shuts and locks the bedroom door. He slides his hands over my cheeks. "Baby girl, are you okay?"

I open my mouth, but no words come out. Then I stutter. "I-I-I..."

He tugs me into him, holding me close. "Shh. I'm so sorry. I don't know how I never figured it out."

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