Page 94 of Forever Fake

I see my life flash before my eyes in vivid detail. The good, the bad, and the painful, until the last image lingering in my mind is Blake’s handsome face. If only I could see him one last time before I die. That’s my wish.

Some unreadable emotion flickers in Papa’s eyes right before he slowly lowers his gun. “I don’t want trouble. Let her go.”

“Move into your office. Keep your hands up and don’t try anything.” Oliver pushes me along in front of him, his attention on my father. We step into his office, the most secure room in the house, right as Mama appears in the hallway. Oliver gestures with his weapon. “Inside. Now.”

Once we’re all in the office, Oliver closes the door. He ushers my parents to the open space before the cold hearth and has them down on their knees, hands behind their heads.

Dread wraps around my insides and squeezes so hard I struggle to draw a single breath. “What are you going to do to my parents?”

“That all depends, babe. Right now we’re just going to wait until our guest of honor arrives.” He holds the gun to my temple, and my heart hammers against my ribcage.

“He won’t come. Believe me, he doesn’t care about me like that.” It’s true. There’s no reality where Blake would give up his mother’s possession—that he’s spentyearstrying to find—and come rescue me instead. It’s simply not possible.

Oliver ignores me. “It’s so good to see you again, Mr. and Mrs. Pontrelli. I’m sure you heard that Ginny and I broke up, but that was all just a misunderstanding. You see, we’re fated to be together. She’s my soulmate, and today you both are going to come to realize that.”

Mama stares up at Oliver, her expression neutral. While the man who is not my biological father silently fumes, if the redness of his face is any indication. Papa is not going to forgive Oliver for breaking into his house and murdering his staff. But that’s something to think aboutifwe all make it out of here alive.

Which right now, I’m doubtful will happen.

“Leave my parents alone, Oliver, you don’t need them. I’ll go with you, willingly, I swear. I’ll do whatever you say, as long as you don’t hurt them.”

Oliver shakes me by my hair, the sting causes my eyes to water. “You’ll do whatever I say no matter what, you stupid slut. You hear me?”

I nod through the pain. A sob escapes my throat.

“Good. You know what, I’m tired of waiting. Let’s get this family drama started.” He points the gun at Papa. “You don’t treat your daughter very well, Mr. Pontrelli. But since I’m going to be part of this family soon, I can’t have you treating her like that anymore. She’s mine to degrade, and yell at, and tell her what a useless whore she is—that’s not your job any longer. Do we understand?—”

The office door bursts open, banging against the wall, and Oliver trains his gun on the man standing on the threshold.

Blake. He came.

My lips part in shock. I blink through the tears in my eyes to make sure I’m not hallucinating his appearance. He’s here, in all his sinister glory. Violence rolling off his broad shoulders in waves.

He came for me. Does he love me after all?

He gave up… so much. I can’t believe he’d do that for me unless he cares.

“Get your filthy hands offmy wife.”

I hear the smirk in Oliver’s voice. “I knew you’d be joining us. Welcome. Come in and shut the door. Do it, or I’ll blow her fucking brains out.”

Blake steps inside, kicking the door closed behind him. He takes in the scene, my parents on their knees, Oliver’s fingers twisted in my hair and the gun in his hand.

“Now that everyone’s here, let’s resume. Where were we?” He points his revolver at Papa, then trains it on Blake. “Oh right, Mr. Pontrelli, tell me how you will no longer tell your daughter what a worthless little slut she is, now that it’s my job to do that instead.”

Papa grunts.

“That’s not an answer. Say it or I’ll make your wife bleed.”

“I understand,” Father blurts, his body swaying closer to Mama’s and I know he wants to throw himself in front of her, to offer his body as a shield.

“Good. That’s good. Now we’re on the same page. Next order of business… Mr. Pontrelli, tell us you give us your blessing. I’m going to take Ginny as my wife just as soon as she becomes a widow. But first, I need your blessing.”

The room seems to tilt as I make sense of Oliver’s words. He lured Blake here to kill him.Oh my god.

Papa nods, once. “You have my blessing.”

“That means so much to me, Daddy. I can call you Dad now, right? We’re almost family after all.”

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