Page 70 of Cruel Savior

I’d barely gotten my lock picking tools out of my tactical vest when the front door popped open and a female computer voice welcomed me like this was a god damned video game. I winced, knowing this was going about as I’d expected but still wishing it could be different.

I would have preferred a quick in and out without any messy games. The last thing I needed was for this to get dragged out and Axel and gang show up here looking for their pound of flesh. I’d had enough with the casualties and the blood shed on their behalf. This was my fight, not theirs and I didn't want anyone else hurt because of me.

At the same time, part of me knew the mistake I’d made coming here on my own. Axel would never forgive or forget. And while that was part of the plan, it still hurt.

I slowly made my way through the penthouse, having studied the building schematics before entering, I had a solid knowledge of the layout.

“You might as well step out of the shadows. I know you’re here. I’ve actually been waiting.”

I blew out a hard breath as his voice, strong and deep, snaked down my spine. It sounded so familiar. Deciding there was no point in pretending, I stepped with my gun drawn and pointed in front of me into the dining room where he was waiting.

“Well, that’s rude. You don't see me brandishing a weapon at your face. Were you not welcomed into my home?”

I jolted at the sight of the ghost I’d been cyber chasing for days. “Anthony?” I asked, unable to hold back my shock. I’d imagined a lot of different scenarios over how this would go, and who he might be, but this was not a man I’d expected to find.

He chuckled. “You sound so surprised.”

I was. I’d honestly been expecting a faceless, nameless stranger. Not someone I’d seen every day for months. “You’re Frank’s son?”

The smile on his face faltered and I got a look at the darkness that lurked underneath the beautiful exterior. “Again with the surprise. Are you trying to insult me? What? Do you think I’m not good enough to be his bastard son because I did his shit work for years? Or because he treated me like nothing more than the hired help my entire life?”

“I—I just didn’t know. I thought you were…” I let my words trail off because what I’d been about to say didn’t matter. Anthony had been witness to every little thing Frank had put me through. He knew all my dirty little secrets. Because of that, and the kindness he'd occasionally shown, I’d thought we’d shared a kinship. He’d taken care of me more than once. How could he be the cold-blooded killer? It just didn't register.

“What? Come on, Kelly, speak up. Or should I call you Amanda? You seem to have a bit of an identity problem these days, don’t you?”

That was the least of my problems. I hadn’t seen this coming. Frank’s son was his own personal security guard? Although I guess it made sense. It kept him close. Which meant he’d spent years absorbing everything about the business and taking over wouldn’t be that hard. He'd also experienced every fucked up twisted thing Frank did in living color. That would probably twist anyone into a monster.

“Does it really matter what you call me?” I asked.

“I suppose not. Either way, you won’t leave this room alive. It’s time for me to tie up all the loose ends that Frank left behind and that includes you. Your intimate knowledge of his business is unacceptable.”

“That doesn’t make sense. You know Frank never told me anything important. I couldn’t even get enough information for a solid arrest. And I tried, despite all the shit he pulled on me.”

He leaned forward and placed his elbows on the dining table.“Which, I suppose is why you resorted to manipulating that little motorcycle club into killing him.”

“Can you blame me?” I regretted that question as soon as I said it. Antagonizing him wasn’t going to help the situation. Swaying him to my side at this point seemed futile.

“It was ballsy, I’ll give you that.” He hesitated, his expression turning hate filled again. “But you took away the one thing I’d waited my entire life for.”

Oh my God if this was all because this idiot had daddy issues I was going to throw up. Join the fucking club, dude.

“Really? Because from where I’m standing all I can see is that you were handed the keys to the kingdom. You don’t have anything to complain about.”

“Then sit down and let me explain it to you in words you can understand.”

“No thanks, I’d rather stand.”

He slammed his fist down on the table and yelled, “Do as you’re told, and sit the fuck down.” Before I could tell him to fuck off, a young woman with tears streaming down her face appeared in the doorway to my left. I barely spared her a glance until a sick smile crossed Anthony’s face. “Sit down and hand over your gun toNataliehere, or I’ll kill her.”

I jerked, looking again at the woman who had appeared from nowhere.

"Nat,” I whispered, the horror finally taking hold. Everything I’d worked so hard to prevent unfolding before my eyes.

“Yes, now you see why you should do as you’re told.” I looked back to Anthony and he indicated a small remote-looking device in his hand. It was then I noticed what she wore. My seventeen-year-old sister had on a black vest made up of explosives.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

I should have anticipated something like this. Frank had a fondness for hurting women and it made sense that his son did too. And as a witness to all of Frank’s crimes, he knew exactly what to do to get to me. Apparently, the son had been influenced in all kinds of sick ways by his father.

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