Page 78 of Triumphant Kings

I can see it in his eyes, the realization I’m serious.

“Back the fuck up,” I demand again.

He does, and I can tell that it physically pains him to do so. He doesn’t want to listen to me, to know he’s been overpowered. But he cares more about his life than his own pride. That works to my advantage.

When he’s far enough away, I shift to the side until my back is lined up with the front door. “You're making a big mistake,” he tells me as I start to walk backwards. “Don’t think I’m going to just let you walk away.”

“You have no choice.” I make it to the door, feeling for the handle with my hand, not taking my eyes off him. “You either let me leave, or die. Take your pick.”

Opening the door, I continue to make my way out, not taking the gun off him until I’m next to the driver's side door of my car.

He doesn’t go past the front door, so I feel safe enough to open my door and take the gun off him as I slip inside the car.

“You're dead to me, Preston! Do you hear me? Fucking dead to me!” he shouts, storming down the front steps as I peel out of the driveway.

Good, because he’s been dead to me for years now.

My mother was more of a stranger to me than he was, so there’s no loss on either of their parts.

To me, they’re just two infected limbs being removed, making me feel lighter.

Racing down the highway, adrenaline pumping through my veins, I wait until I’m far enough away from the house before pulling over to the side of the road.

Throwing it into park, I sit there staring out the front window into the dark of the night for a long moment before the first bubble of laughter spills out. Then another, and another, until I’m in full-blown hysterical laughter.

“I’m free!” I shout, grinning so wide it hurts my face. I welcome the pain. “I’m fucking free!”

I say it over and over again, sounding like a crazy person.

But I feel it. Like someone sucked all the poison from my veins, replacing it with the antidote.

I’m free. Free to be me. To do what I want. To live how I want. To fucking love who I want.

No one has power over me anymore.

“I’m free.” The laughter starts to die down. “I’m free,” I whisper. “I’m fucking free.” The laughter is replaced with a sob, and within seconds, I’m a mess.

I’m not too stupid to think I’m truly free. None of us are while that monster is still breathing.

Collin wanted some brotherly bonding? Nothing screams that more than planning on taking your father down. Because it’s about time that Bradly Jones is taken out, for good.

Chapter 18

Declan

As I head into my dorm building, all I want to do is turn around and head back to the hospital to be with Sadie.

Sadly, with visiting hours done for the night, I have no choice but to go home.

I’m a mess of emotions after everything that happened today. Seeing Sadie being taken out on a stretcher, her body limp and lifeless, will forever haunt my dreams. Knowing she is going to be okay is the greatest relief. But I’m hit with another wave of anguish at the reminder of what happened to her that night of the party. The night I tried my best to get her to safety.

Knowing who did that to her, and that he’s someone who’s done it to multiple women before and after her, enrages me. He should be locked up for life, where he can’t hurt another person again.

I feel helpless because there’s nothing I can do to help.

With heavy limbs, sore eyes, and a tired mind, I make my way up to my floor on the elevator.

When the doors open, I step out and see Rolland, the guy who lives a few doors down from me. “Hey, Declan. Ah, just to give you a heads up. There’s some guy sitting outside your door. He looks pretty rough.”

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