Page 60 of Chosen
Anger wells within my chest and I want to rip her into pieces.
Willa has betrayed me? She had been my maid since I’d become Sector Leader. She’d given me no indication that she was interacting with my cousin. In fact, I’d trusted her with helping out with Jamie. My thoughts instantly go to Jamie. Did she manage to get away after all?
I wonder about my other maid Anora. Only now I realize she has been absent these past couple days because I’ve been so distracted.
“Willa you do realize what will happen to you for siding with him, don’t you?” I warn.
She tilts her head to the side and gives me her a wide grin. “I am serving the winning Master. I’ve been promised a promotion.”
“And what of Anora? Did she betray me as well?”
Braeden laughs. “Oh, your other maid? She’s dead. She’s stupidly loyal and you didn’t even notice she was gone. Her loyalty was wasted on you.”
Braeden’s lips curl into a twisted grin. “It’s time you step down, Draken. Your incompetence will ruin the sector. Most of the governors agree. They want to see you ousted. Wouldn’t it be better to give up being Sector Leader rather than being ousted in shame? Even now the governors are building a case against you. I can take it to the other Sector Leaders and have you voted out.”
“You seem so sure that your plan will work.”
“Of course it will. I haven’t been networking this past year for nothing.”
I ball my hands into fists and glare at him. “Or we could settle this with a challenge."
Braeden chuckles. “Why would I do that? I’m not a fool. We all know that you’re a big dumb brute. You’ve only managed to last this long as Sector Leader because of my advice.”
For years, he’d advised me and I realize that it wasn’t to help run the sector. It was to undermine me. He was the main reasonI always doubted myself. His subtle suggestions about me being all muscle and no brains had gotten to me, when I should have believed in myself all along.
“And what’s stopping me from ripping your throat out right now? Do you think those Enforcers will stop me. Do you think the staff you’ve turned against me can stop me?”
Braeden shrugs with a nonchalance that tells me my words are meaningless.
“You can’t take every one of us down. Besides, I have an incentive for you to step down.” He presses his communication pin. “Bring her out.”
The door that leads to the security office in the garage opens and an Enforcer drags Jamie along with him. Her eyes are swollen as if she’s been crying and there’s a bruise on her cheek.
My heart sinks.
Chapter
Twenty-Two
DRAKEN
Fear isn’t an emotion I’m familiar with. Growing up, it was something I couldn’t afford to feel because I was constantly fighting to survive. But now, terror grips me like it never has before.
What happened to Ayla? Did I bring her to the fortress only for her to betray me as well.
The Enforcer shoves Jamie into Braeden’s arms. My cousin holds Jamie against him.
“Let me go!” She attempts to twist out of his hold.
Braeden chuckles. “She’s a feisty one. But a little dangerous. She should be executed under our laws.”
“Jamie!” I rush forward but I’m halted when Braeden, pulls out his dagger and places it against her throat.
“If you harm her….” I warn with a growl.
“You’ll what?” he taunts. “You won’t do a damn thing because I’m the one in control.”
Jamie’s eyes are wide with fear and I vow that I will get revenge on every single person who turned against me.
