Page 60 of Absolution

Gideon rolled his eyes. “So I’ve been told. Each of you thinks I’m going to die. I wouldn’t be too sure of that.”

His eyes darted to Jacob. “You must be the infamous Jacob. Pierce here has told me a lot about you.”

Jacob sneered as my gaze finally locked onto the man I just now noticed in the corner. “Pierce has a big fucking mouth. Fucking Judas.”

The man in question merely shrugged as though bored. “It’s time for a changing of the guard.”

It was my turn to scoff. “You can’t be talking about Gideon here? Do you really think he’s going to be able to just waltz into town and take over an entire organization? You have to be joking. He’s nothing. Worthless.”

Gideon jumped up from his seat, tipping it over with a crash, and waved his gun wildly back and forth between Jacob and me. “You shut your fucking mouth. You have no idea how powerful I am. Who has the gun here? Who’s the one in control? Me, that’s who!”

“Actually, I also have a gun, you fucking rapist piece of shit.”

All eyes turned to Pierce, his weapon pointed straight at Gideon. I didn’t even blink when the bullet left the chamber.

Chapter 38

Gina

Slowly,the effects of the drugs wore off, and when I was lucid enough to decipher my surroundings, I’d burst into tears. I’d been sitting on Leo’s lap, dressed in his shirt, my head on his shoulder with his arms wrapped tightly around me. He’d quietly reassured me that everything was okay. Finally, I was able to stop the flow of tears. When I eventually rose off his lap, he kept me tucked into his side as though he was never going to let me go.

When my eyes scanned the room, they widened in surprise when they landed on Jacob. I jerked my head to see Pierce standing in the corner, and I turned back to Jacob.

“Wha—” I paused, completely confused.

Leo stiffened next to me when the other man approached. Jacob raised his arm just barely as though wanting to touch me, but quickly lowered it again.

“I didn’t expect to meet like this,mia cara,” he whispered softly. “I apologize if Pierce gave you a scare. It wasn’t my intent. I just needed him to make sure you were kept as safe as he could.”

I should have known Pierce wouldn’t have betrayed Jacob. Especially after he’d shared with me one night the story of his cousin—Pierce’s sister.

“How did you find me?”

He gestured in Leo’s direction, but didn’t look away from. “Your man here. He came charging into my home, demanding to know where you were.”

Now I was really confused. “I still don’t understand.”

Jacob’s expression hardened. “It would appear I, or rather did, have a traitor in my midst. Gideon had someone in my… organization. Sadly, he seems to have met with an unfortunate death.”

Organization? His words didn’t really make sense, except the last, but I guess it didn’t really matter. I was safe, and soon, Gideon would be dead as well. Jacob didn’t need to tell me what his plans were, because I already knew how he felt about rapists. After I’d confessed one night years ago what had been done to me, he’d promised me that if Gideon ever got out of prison, he’d kill him.

Seeming to read my thoughts, Leo’s question echoed them. “What are you going to do with him?”

He gestured to the man in question who sat tied to a kitchen chair with a gag in his mouth. The one I’d avoided looking at until now. The bullet wound in his leg continued slowly seeping and dripping blood down and over his shoe. My gaze latched onto Jacob’s. His smile was one of reassurance. He turned and his eyes zeroed in on Leo, his expression saying what his words didn’t.

“It’s probably best if you don’t know. Let’s just say that he’ll never hurt another person again. Ever.”

He stepped over to Gideon and patted him mockingly on the cheek while the latter thrashed and fought his bonds.

“You, Pierce, and I are going to have some fun pretty soon. Isn’t that right?”

Even though I couldn’t make out the words behind the gag, I knew he was cursing us all. I couldn’t say I was sorry either. I knew the man tied to the chair across the room was a dead man. I didn’t care if it meant I was going to hell, I prayed it was a long and painful death. Pulling out of Leo’s arms I stepped over to where both men were.

I stared down at Gideon, my eyes filled with hatred from all the heartache and destruction he’d caused. He’d been responsible for nearly destroying me.

“You didn’t beat me. No matter what you did, and no matter how hard you tried, you didn’t win. After today, you’re never going to cross my mind again. I hope you burn in hell.”

I gave a small nod to Jacob, and I knew that small gesture couldn’t convey any of the emotions I was feeling right now. Relief being the greatest. Gratitude right behind it. Having made my peace, I turned around and headed into the arms of the love of my life. I wrapped myself around him and looked up into his eyes.

---