Page 138 of Darling Wildfire
“It’s okay baby…” I murmured, my voice broken and far from reassuring. “I’ve got you.”
I pushed her hair out of her face and gripped her face in both hands.
“Look at me,” I demanded, trying to remain steady even as I was breaking down. “You’re so brave—”
“Two…”
“Okay!” I cried out, eyes jumping frantically to Vetticus and back to Emersyn.
Her big blue, gray eyes were wide as they met mine, tears running freely in streaks down her face.
“Just do it,” she whimpered. “It’s okay, dad…you have to…”
My heart shattered. Everything came crashing down.
“One!”
Her eyes slammed shut and I quickly put the blade above her eyebrow.
“I love you…” I said, my voice breaking.
I dug the blade into her skin and slid it down her face, careful to avoid her eye. I may as well have been cutting out my own heart. The pain hit her and instinctively she tried to pull away from my hand, but my grip tightenedon her neck. My vision blurred as tears fell and a sob caught in my throat as I continued down her cheek.
She was crying loudly now, her hands gripping my forearm as she gasped in breath after breath. She looked on the verge of a panic attack. I quickly finished the cut at her jaw and the knife dropped from my shaking hands even though I wanted to turn it on myself. Nausea rolled in my stomach and I quickly pulled Emersyn into me as she sobbed into my shoulder. I was shaking, trying to murmur words to her but they came out as sobbing gasps.
The embrace didn’t last long before she was ripped from my arms. Vetticus tossed her away and I lunged for her only for Vetticus to shove the gun at my head. Emersyn started screaming and thrashing, trying to get back to me but Vetticus’ men grabbed her. Her fight didn’t last long.
“She’s in good hands, I promise you that,” Vetticus said. “Consider her my insurance policy that you won’t do anything stupid again. Next time, it will be something worse you have to take from her.”
I slumped on my knees, my shoulders shaking.
“That’s better—” he smirked after studying my face. I had no energy left to fight. I was numb. The knife still lay in the dirt, covered in Emersyn’s blood.
I wanted to die. I was nothing.
I was a horrible person—a fucked up father—I realized I was crying when I felt wetness drop onto the backs of my hands that sat clutching the fabric of my pants. I swayed on my knees. Vetticus gripped my jaw and pulled my head up to meet my gaze. If not for his grip on me, I would have fallen.
“Now…who do you belong to?” He purred.
I blinked. “You,” I breathed.
Vetticus patted my cheek roughly. “Good boy.”
The sound of another vehicle approaching along the dirt road drew everyone’s attention. Even Vetticus cocked his head and straightened, watching the SUV approach. Men got out, equipped with assault rifles and stood around the car while one of them opened the back passenger door.
A man stepped out, fixing his suit before looking around at the chaos surrounding him with calm appraisal. He was a large man with a tan complexion and short styled black hair without a strand out of place.
“Albatron,” Vetticus said, his tone surprised.
He immediately dropped to his knees in the dirt and bowed his head.
“Wh-what are you doing here?”
So this was the man behind the curtain. The one I’d heard them speak about during the party. His jaw ticked with obvious displeasure at being questioned as he stepped into the beam of the headlights.
“I was told you were having issues with some of your investments,” Albatron said. “Is this true?”
His voice was a silky caress, yet the edge was sharp enough to cut glass. I saw Vetticus visibly shiver at the accusation. Albatron’s perceptive gaze slowly scanned the clearing, lingering on me, my men and finally Emersyn. His head tilted curiously before his gaze swept back to Vetticus.
