Page 18 of Bought By the Owner's Son
“P-please. Don’t kill me,” I plead, tears running down my cheeks.
The senator pulls out a handgun from his drawer and cocks it. “I won’t have to, if you tell me where you hid the painting,” he says silkily, back to the politician everyone knows.
“Well, Father. You’re truly one of a kind,” Lucian drawls from behind me. “Always so self-important, thinking no one can touch you.”
I’d recognize his voice anywhere. I close my eyes, feeling a strong sense of relief and an overwhelming rush of emotions.
He didn’t give up on me…Not like I did him.
“Lucian, you’re here. Welcome,” Senator Walters says in a flat tone. “The more the merrier. I can’t believe you ignored me for so long only to come for your…toy.”
“You have yourself to thank for that, Father. You destroyed any familial connection we might have had the minute you killed mymother,” Lucian spits out in a hardened tone as he gradually moves to stand beside my chair.
I watch Senator Walter’s eyes widen in surprise. “Oh. That’s the reason for your tantrum. Come on, Lucian. Don’t be a child. Your mother was too soft for this world, and you know that. I did her a favor.”
I gape at the man’s words, finally understanding the rot that he is. He truly is evil.
Lucian scoffs, then chuckles darkly, sending shivers of alarm down my spine. “No, Father. I’m not the little boy you can deceive with your wily words, so save me your speech. I’m going to take you down for what you did to Mom. But right now, I won’t let you take another person I love from me.”
The senator laughs maniacally and points the gun at me. “Let me give you a free lesson, son. You shouldn’t love anyone but yourself.” He pulls the trigger.
I freeze and close my tear-filled eyes, waiting for death.
Instead, I hear a soft grunt and a loud thud as something hits my calves. I open my eyes and a loud scream leaves my lips. “Lucian!”
His body is slumped on the floor, unmoving.
“No, no, no, no. Lucian, please!” I shout in panic.
My heart is pounding hard and at the same time it feels like I can’t breathe. I tug at the restraints holding down my hands, straining my body toward him. Tears blind my vision as I push his body with my legs.
“P-please,” I sob. “Don’t leave me, Lucian, please.” I can’t stop my tears or the words leaving my trembling voice. “I’m sorry…I should have listened to you…I love you. Please, wake up,” I’m sobbing and straining hard against my restraints, even as they bite deeply into my wrists.
“Do something!” I shout, looking up at Senator Walter. He’s staring down at the body of his son, in shock, as if he can’t believe Lucian would really jump in front of a bullet for a girl.
A loud groan fills the room and to my amazement, Lucian gingerly pushes off the floor and straightens before me, kneeling.
“How?” I breathe out softly, my gaze roaming obsessively over him as he swiftly unties the ropes holding my wrists.
“Bulletproof vest,” he says on a soft groan as he massages the blood back to my wrists. “I love you too, my angel. From the very moment I laid eyes on you.” He tugs me into his arms, burying my face in his chest.
“I thought you died,” I say, sobbing hard. “I was so s-scared.”
“I’m fine, love,” he says, then pulls back to wipe my tears with his knuckle.
“I’m afraid I’ll have to cut this short,” the senator declares in a mocking tone, apparently over his surprise.
Lucian stands and tugs me up behind him. “Give it up, Father. Everything you’ve built is crumbling around you and you don’t even know it,” he declares. “The FBI is currently raiding your precious chapel because of the pile of evidence I have against you. What do you think is going to happen to you, a senator? The image you’ve worked so hard to maintain is nothing but a façade to hide the true evil that you are. You’re going to jail, and there’s a witness to a murder standing right behind me. This time, youcan’t get yourself out of it.” No ounce of emotion slips into his voice.
“You ungrateful bastard. How dare you betray your father!” Senator Walter shouts, his face turning red. “I have people in high places in my pocket. I’m not going anywhere.” His anger is making him lose control, and he seems ready to deliver a much longer rant, waving the gun in the air, spittle flying from his mouth.
There’s a loud thump against the door, and the senator startles. Lucian takes advantage of his father’s surprise, darting forward to quickly overpower him, stepping back once he’s in possession of his father’s gun.
Then, all hell breaks loose. “FBI! Drop your weapon!”
There’s a loud clattering of feet and instantly the room fills up with officers in FBI uniforms. Lucian easily relinquishes the weapon as two of the officers holster their guns and rush to the Senator, pulling his hands behind him.
“Senator Walter, you’re under arrest for sexual trafficking, fraud, and the murders of Gianna Devereaux and Warren Flint,” the first officer states while the other cuffs him. “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney—”
