Page 46 of The Hottest Daddy
Sunday’s eyes filled with tears. “Bastard. Cory was a million times the man you are.”
“You have yet to learn who I am,” he said calmly. “When you do, you will understand.”
“That you’re delusional? I think I got that.” She couldn’t help snapping at him, but again, he maintained an icy calm.
“Sunday … our life together will be a happy one. I can promise you that. You will work to make me happy, or I will end your life. It’s that simple. When we are married, I will have us flown to our new home. At any point, if you disobey me, I will add a few more bullets to the one lodged in your spine.”
Sunday was rocked by this. “How do you know about the bullet in my spine?”
“I was there, at the hospital. I held your hand.”
For Sunday, the knowledge that he had been there while she was in a coma was too much to bear. He really had intruded on every part of her life. “Why me?” she whispered desperately. “I’m nothing special. Why me?”
“You are a goddess.” Finally, he sounded angry, passionate. “You, Sunday, are everything. Everything.”
Sunday wondered how he could make such pretty words sound so terrifying. She met his gaze again and saw he madness in his blue eyes. Obsession.
Oh, God, River … I don’t think I’m going to make it … I love you.
I love you.
Hours later, they drove into Vegas. Sunday’s eyes were scratchy from exhaustion and the silent tears she had shed. Berry was awake but scared into dead silence. She looked at Sunday with huge, terrified eyes and Sunday held her tightly.
The car stopped and Scanlan made them get out. The Little White Chapel. It was tacky beyond belief and had she been there with River, they would have been laughing and joking around.
But the gun pressed to her side was no laughing matter. She saw unmarked cars pull up and a fleet of police offers get out but Scanlan merely grinned at them and forced Sunday and Berry inside.
Inside, the receptionist stood up in alarm when she saw the gun. “Hello,” Scanlan said in a friendly voice. “One marriage please. Rightnow.”
They were hurried into the chapel, another couple looking annoyed to be shoved quickly away. They were less annoyed when they saw the gun, more terrified as Scanlan asked them, with mock politeness to be their witnesses. They both nodded, never taking their eyes off the gun. Scanlan told the clerk to hurry.
“We seem to have some unwanted company, so if we could make this quick?”
River burst into the room, followed by a bunch of cops who had obviously been trying to stop him. “I object,” he snarled.
Scanlan laughed. “We haven’t gotten to that bit yet, asshole.”
He reached for Berry but Sunday was too quick for him. She stamped on his instep then shoved Berry as hard as she could at the nearest adult. “Go!”
Scanlan grabbed her, pressing the gun to her again as River, grabbing his daughter, passed her to a police officer and turned back to face Scanlan. The gun’s muzzle was hard against Sunday’s ribs—if it went off now, her heart would be shredded in a second. River’s eyes never left the gun.
“Scanlan, it’s over. Let her go.”
Brian’s lips were pressed to Sunday’s temple. “Not a chance, Giotto. I kind of knew it would come to this, but you being here to see her die just makes it all the better.”
Sunday wasn’t about to die quietly. She struggled with him, ramming her elbow into the center of his body again and again. Every police weapon was trained at Scanlan, trying to get a clear shot—if she could just …
With one last try, Sunday used her body weight to try and throw him off, bending double with the effort. Shots rang out, deafening her and she felt herself being propelled through the air. There was pain. The breath in her lungs was pushed out of her.
Then River’s arms were around her and as she opened her eyes, she saw Scanlan falling and felt only relief. She laughed, mostly from shock, and gazed up at River. “Hey, baby.”
River’s eyes were almost crazed. “Sweetie, hang on, we’ve got you … hang on …”
Why was he telling her to hang on? She was safe; she was free. “River, I’m okay.”
He shook his head and she saw the blood. “No, baby …”
As the adrenaline seeped away, she began to feel the pain—a very familiar pain.Oh, damn it, damn it … not again … not this …her chest hurt …
