Page 79 of Prettiest Little Thief
“I’m going to ask again, and I better get an actual answer from you.” Christian drew his hand piece and scratched his head. “Where the FUCK is the rest!”
Sarah flinched at the heightening anger of her husband, scooting closer to me.
“There was nothing fucking else in the damn box, Christian.” Lucas grew more agitated by the second.
“Sarah!” Christian barked. She jumped. “Get over here.”
“No,” I gripped her forearm, hoping she wouldn’t go back to her abuser.
“I’ll shoot your brother if you aren’t next to me in the next ten seconds.”
Sarah glanced at me and patted my hand in reassurance, her fingers icy. It did nothing but send my nervous system into a frenzy. The true fear behind her cerulean eyes, the slight shaking I could feel in her hand.
“No, Sarah,” my husband said, his desperation hidden under his rough exterior.
Christian took hold of Sarah’s upper arm in a brutal grip. She winced at the rough handling. “You dissolved the deal with this play, Knight. You must think I’m stupid, don’t you?”
“I don’t think you want me to answer that,” my husband responded. “I’m not leaving without my sister.”
Christian laughed humorlessly. “You both will be leaving in a body bag. I tried to give you the opportunity to make this right.”
“Make what right?” I asked. The words tumbled from me before I could think it through.
Joey’s gun swung in my direction. I flinched and put my hands in front of my face. Like that would stop a bullet. There was no response.
“We’re broke,” Sarah said. “Christian gambled away all of it. Our inheritances. Our savings. Everything.”
“Shut up.” Christian pushed Sarah, and her frail form crashed into the coffee table, toppling to the floor.
Jericho and Lucas both looked like they were about to run to assist Sarah but stopped in their tracks when the Christian and Joseph redirected the Glocks toward them.
Sarah trembled as she pushed to a sitting position. “Christian doesn’t have anyone else but his brother as a guard anymore.” She nodded toward Joey. “He couldn’t afford to pay the staff.”
“Why didn’t you just ask for help?” Lucas asked.
“I don’t want your fucking money,” Christian seethed. “I could have made millions with those jewels, but you screwed me.” His dark eyes were consumed by fury.
“He’s too prideful to ask for a loan or hand out,” Sarah said.
“I said shut the fuck up, Sarah!” Christian discharged the gun.
I ducked down, my hands coming up to protect my head. Dust and pieces of the ceiling fell, scattering across the furniture and floor. Jericho and Evan were no longer against the wall. With their firearms aimed, they circled Joseph.
Lucas pulled his weapon from his pants, aiming at Christian, his finger poised over the trigger.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” I wanted to rush to Sarah’s side and help her to her feet, but my legs were like lead as trepidation trickled in.
Sarah didn’t seem to be injured by being shoved, and there was no surprise on her face. What a terrifying way to live. Afrown slammed down on my face, anger boiling in my veins. The longer we stayed in the hell house, the more irate I became.
For Sarah.
For Lucas.
“Next time, I won’t miss, Knight,” Christian chuckled.
“Fuck. You,” Lucas replied.
“Did you really think we wouldn’t find out?” Joseph asked.
