Page 80 of Accidentally Mine
I looked over at Roselynn, who looked shell-shocked.Shehaddealt with the Markins twice and had lived to tell about it.I got up and helped her to her feet.“Are you all right?”
She looked down at herself.“I think so.”She took an unsteady step toward the door and slumped against me.
“You’re safe,” I whispered, putting my arm around her.“You got that?You’re finally safe.And you don’t have to worry about them again.”
She blinked in surprise.“Really?”
I kissed her forehead.“Really.They’re not going to get out for a long, long time.And I won’t let anything hurt you again.But you have to trust me, Rebel.From now on, I need you to trust me.”
It was only when she saw the men being led out to the police cars that the realization hit her.She started to cry again, burying her face in my chest.
“Yes,” she whimpered.“I trust you, Brent.I should’ve trusted you before.”
“Shhh,” I crooned, my own tension draining the longer I held her against me.“I’m not going to leave you alone.Ever again.”
She nodded, clutching me tightly, like she’d finally realized she didn’t want to let go.And now, thankfully, she wouldn’t have to.
25
Roselynn
“Please.No.You don’t want to do that,” I pleaded as Anthony removed the barrel of the gun from near my head.I’d never felt worse fear than what coursed through my body as Anthony swung his gun toward Claudia.
Claudia, who was innocent in this.Who’d been so sweet, taking me out and pampering me, bringing me sandwiches and offering her help when she had no reason to do so.She could easily have been the big sister I never had.And she was just trying to be a friend to me and couldn’t have had any idea what she was stepping into.She’d die now, and her only crime was helping me.
“Don’t!”I shouted as my ex aimed his gun at her head.With only a split-second’s thought, I reached out and grabbed his arm, and yanked.Strong and bulky as he was, he barely moved, but it was enough to stun him momentarily and have his attention drawn back to me so that Claudia could escape into my father’s office.
There was a terrified look in her eyes as she fled, as Anthony turned to me, that arrogant look on his face.He reached forward, vising my chin in his big hand.He squeezed so hard I thought my teeth would break as he said, “Sweetheart.I love you.You know that.But touch me again like that, and I’ll break your pretty face into a thousand pieces.”
Then he pushed me up against the wall and stalked into the office, going after Claudia.I trembled and looked frantically around for escape as a phone rang.
Malcolm reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell, answered it, all the while grinning sadistically at me.“I’m in the middle of something.Deal with it,” he barked.“Any means necessary.”
Any means necessary.
Those words rang in my ears—and I knew he meant them—as Anthony returned to the main area, his fist clenching a hunk of Claudia’s dark hair, dragging her like a rag doll.He pushed a gun into her face as she let out a sob.
“Don’t do that again, bitch,” he mumbled, his icy eyes studying her face.He lifted a lock of her hair and placed it neatly on her shoulder.“I don’t like bitches who play games.So, who are you?One of Rebecca’s whore friends?Did you poison her against me?”
I clenched my teeth.He’d always get those ideas in his head.He’d thought my roommate, Geri, was out to get him too, and that when we sat around chatting, we were conspiring to bring him down.For someone so powerful, he was ridiculously insecure.“No, of course not,” I said.
“I’m Claudia.Her accountant,” the red-faced woman responded, her voice trembling.
“Accountant?”His eyes trailed down her body.“I wouldn’t mind working some numbers with you.In fact, Rebecca’s right.It’d be a shame to kill you and let this opportunity go to waste.Plenty of people would pay us well for a chance to own something as sweet as you.Right, Dad?”
Malcolm frowned.“Let’s not be too greedy, son.One hostage is enough.”
“Aw.Fuck it, Dad.You know she’d be a gold mine.We can bring her along.”He grinned.“I’ll look after her.”Anthony trailed the gun barrel from Claudia’s shoulder and down into the open V at the neck of her blouse.He used it to pull the silk fabric away from her chest, letting it gape open to reveal her black bra.Claudia’s eyes widened with fear as he sneered, “Nice.Very nice.”
“Anthony,” I begged.“Please don’t do this.”
The moment the words were out of my mouth, Anthony turned his menace on me, and his gun.He bridged the distance between us in a leisurely way, as if out for a stroll.“Jealous?”
I swallowed back bile that rose up into my throat.“Please…”
“Don’t worry, baby.I’m yours.And you’re mine.Until the end of time,” he said, laying a hot kiss on my forehead.“You understand?But tell me.I’m interested.What will you do for me if I let your little friend go?”
“Anything.Whatever you want.Please don’t hurt her.”
