Page 78 of The Heart of a Villain

However, I feel some change is coming. Lachlan has been hunting him down for years, and he won’t rest until he gets his hands on him.

The man has integrity, and just saving kids is not enough. He wants to punish Jade.

And like all cowards, Jade will run, but I have to be prepared for everything.

I will hide this diary so my boys will know the truth.

That the father they knew, their real dad, always loved them and never became a monster they were afraid of.

And despite everything, I pray.

Pray for Lachlan to save my boys in time before Jade destroys them.

There is no more after that entry, and I close my eyes, shocked to my core at the uncovered truth and how everyone in Rush’s family suffered at the madness of Jade.

And how they still suffer because he twisted the truth of the past and made his nephew seek revenge on a man who didn’t deserve it.

“Aileen,” Jesse whispers in fear, bringing me back to the situation at hand, where I see countless men surrounding us, trapping us in our circle.

That’s when the loud clapping behind me registers in my ears, and I spin around, coming face-to-face with Jade standing mere feet away from me, as a smirk spreads across his disgusting mouth.

A murderer. A rapist. Human trafficker.

“You killed Rush’s father.”

“I did. Cut him piece by piece while telling him what I’d do to his wife and children.” He sighs in pleasure. “It was truly a magnificent sight to see his desperation.” He shrugs. “He deserved it. He kicked me out and sided with Lachlan.” So much hate coats my father’s name from his lips. “But I always said revenge can wait, as long as it’s done in the most painful way.”

“Rush will know about this. You won’t get away with it.”

He snaps his fingers, and all the men remove the safety on their guns, pointing them at us, while I freeze when William’s terrified scream fills the air. “Oh, they must have punched the old man. I don’t think those two butlers will survive this.”

“Rush will hurt you.” I raise my chin up, refusing to show him my fear, even though I’m horrified by what might happen to us all. “He won’t forgive you for this, and without him, all this will belong to Rafael.” If he plots to kill his nephew, then his plans are warped.

His disgusting laughter reverberates through the space, seeping coldness and dread into my every bone. “I don’t intend to harm my nephew. Not now, at least. First, he needs to kill your father, and trust me, by the time I’m done, he’ll think all this”—he swirls his finger—“was his doing. Love is a powerful weapon indeed. It’s something my brother and Lachlan taught me well.”

“Rush will know the truth.”

He motions with his head, and that’s when his men go to grab us, and I thrash in their hold but stop when one presses a gun to my nape, two men holding me down as Jade comes to me and wraps my ponytail around his hand. “Why? Because of this?” He picks up the diary and then gives it to the nearby man. “Burn it.”

“No!” I lunge after it, only to hiss in anguish when he pulls my hair so harshly it’s a wonder he didn’t rip my ponytail off. “He will never believe that my father hurt me.”

“Ah, darling. You’re so naïve.” He leans even closer. “On the other hand, if you beg me, I might spare you. But not before sampling the goods.”

Gathering saliva in my mouth, I spit at him with all my might, getting satisfaction from watching it fall down his nose.

However, my emotions are short-lived when he slaps me so hard my face turns to the side, while my cheek burns from the contact, and for a second, I think he broke my jaw, as I can’t move it.

“You stupid bitch, just like your father, thinking you’re above me.” He addresses the guards, “Take them all to the basement and make sure to hurt them in the worst ways, except Lavender.” He licks his lips. “She can just watch. But no one harms her.”

“My father will kill you.” I vow this to him, and he just laughs.

Through all my bravado, though, I hope and pray Rush or my father come here in time to stop this madness because all my knowledge might be powerless against such evil.

Only other evil can extinguish it.

That’s the last thought in my mind before something hard hits me in the back of my head, the hurt and pain so swift and severe everything goes black.

CHAPTER EIGHT

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