Page 127 of Titan

“Get her phone,” she told one of the men who were with her.

I’d left it in my bag, as I didn’t think I’d need it. He moved away towards the door. The armchair faced it so I could see him digging through my shit and pulling it out. He brought it back over to Pippa, who walked right up to me with it.

“Unlock it.”

I shook my head. No fucking way I wanted to do anything she said. She leant closer, forcing me to meet her eyes.

“I don’t think you realise how this works. I own you. I always have even when you were off playing house at Zayn’s club. I have you back now, Theia, and you’re going to obey me. Now unlock the phone.”

I tucked my hands under my thighs. Was it fucking terrifying I had the woman who’d been responsible for my abuse in my face along with a gun? Yes, yes it was, but I wasn’t going to show her I was afraid. I wouldn’t let any of them see it. They didn’t get to terrorise me all over again. Not after the pain they’d put me through for two long years.

“Fine.” She looked up at H. “Make her.”

Before I could do a single thing, two men came forward and wrestled my arms from under my thighs, forcing me to put my hand out. One of them pressed my finger to the screen to unlock the phone. They released me and pushed me back against the armchair. The gun dug harder into my temple. Didn’t they know I’d rather die than go back with them?

“Good,” Pippa said, walking away with my phone in her possession.

She put it to her ear a moment later.

“Hello, Gilberto, I hear you’re looking for me.”

She knew. She’d fucking known Gil was getting close to finding out. That’s why she was here. It all fell into place. Pippa had deliberately gone to Devlin’s this evening. She wanted Gil to know it was her. Now she was luring him here to end it all.

“Oh, your little girlfriend? Well, she’s fine… for now, but you forget, she was mine first and I intend on taking her back.”

Pippa let out a nasty laugh at whatever Gil had said. I wanted to launch myself at her. I wanted to tear her stupid blonde hair out and smack that smug look off her face. This woman had ruined so many lives. And she was trying to do it to me all over again, along with my boyfriend.

“I’ll see you very soon.”

She hung up and threw my phone down on the sofa beside her. Then she turned to me.

“The boys have missed you, Theia. They’re very eager to get you back where you belong.”

I gritted my teeth, not wanting to rise to the bait. The gun at my temple kept me from doing anything stupid or reckless.

“Cat got your tongue? I suppose that’s normal under the circumstances. Poor baby has to go back to her prison, doesn’t she? Pity I don’t care what you want.”

“Go. Fuck. Your. Self.”

She merely laughed.

“I see you’ve become rather spirited since you left. No matter. I’m going to break you, but this time it will be worse.” Her eyes narrowed and her smile dropped. “I’m going to take away the only person you care about. He’s in my way, Theia, and I don’t take kindly to anyone interfering inmybusiness. I’m starting with him, then I’m going to get rid of his fucking brothers. Zayn has been a thorn in my side for too long, and little Enzo has to die too. Then no one will have a claim to their kingdom. It’ll bemine.”

My fingers curled around the arms of the chair. The thought of losing Gil permanently had tears welling in my eyes. Not to mention going back to that place where all they’d done was abuse me. I bit the inside of my cheek.

Do not cry in front of this woman. Do not fucking do it.

Satisfied she’d made her point to me, Pippa turned away and spoke to one of her men instead. I tuned her out and tried to work out what the fuck I was going to do. Gil was coming for me, that much I knew, but he’d only had Edric with him. The rest of the men were still mobilising. It would be two against six. I didn’t like those odds regardless of how efficient in killing I knew Gil was.

I wasn’t sure how much time passed when the front door slammed open. Edric walked in first, followed by Gil. Both of them had their guns raised, their eyes assessing the scene. The moment Gil saw me, his eyes went dark with rage. It wasn’t directed at me but seeing the way me being held at gunpoint affected him made a tear roll down my cheek.

“Well, those are a little unnecessary,” Pippa said, waving at their weapons.

“I beg to differ,” Gil said, his voice devoid of emotion. It hardly surprised me. Gil was always calm under pressure, even if this was likely testing his limits.

I couldn’t see Pippa’s face from where I was sitting, but I watched her flick her hand out. The men around her raised their own weapons, pointing them right at Edric and Gil. I flinched, and another tear split down my cheek. We were outnumbered, and I was unarmed. If Pippa carried out her threat to kill them, she’d take me back to the life I’d escaped. To the hell I’d lived in for too long. I couldn’t go back. I just fucking couldn’t. I would rather die. I’d rather fucking die.

“I swear you men never want to do anything the easy way,” Pippa said. “Do you think you can win against me?” She shook her head. “This is only going to end one way, Gil. They’re going to kill you and I’m going to take your little plaything back where she belongs. I always win in the end.”

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