Page 50 of Claim

“Yep.” I glanced at the watch on my wrist. “We have no more than thirty minutes before jackass, and his hookers arrive. I want him to see my handiwork.”

“What are you about to do?”

“Show you what happens when an abusive asshole gets served some justice.”

We arrived in the opulent foyer of Keith’s apartment and, without knowing where I was going, decided to head left. I’d once heard the prick mention he liked the natural light on the left side of his apartment in the mornings and how he loved it, said it’s where he did his best work.

“Bingo,” I murmured to myself.

Unbuttoning my jacket, I shrugged it off and tossed it to Lizzy.

“You stay right there. I don’t want you to be part of this.”

Lizzy’s attention turned to the design studio filled with fabrics, mannequins, and various garments in stages of completion. I dug into my pocket and pulled out a switchblade, flipping it open.

I loved this thing. Lucian had given it to me. I never really thought to use it until recently.

“Sophia, don’t do anything rash.”

“Lizzy, I told you this wasn’t your scene. Now deal. I’m paying this asshole back for all the women he’s hurt.”

Opening the door to the studio, I began my assault on every piece of fabric I could grab, slicing and tearing. I shredded designs and sketches. I destroyed sets ready for upcoming shows. I wanted this bastard to suffer. I wanted him to pay for all the hurt he’d caused to girls like Alice and me.

I hate him. Now he’d know he wouldn’t get away with it.

Grabbing a piece of paper, I wrote a note so he’d understand why this happened.

Touch anyone without consent again, and things will only get worse.

Lizzy banged on the glass door and shouted, “You’ve been in there too long. We have to go.”

I checked the clock on the wall and cringed.

Fuck. I’d been in here nearly thirty minutes.

I scanned around me, making sure I hadn’t left anything to link back to me. Then I rushed out.

“Let’s go. We need to stop at a different floor and take the stairs.”

“What do you mean?” The panic on Lizzy’s face matched the worry now creeping up inside me.

“I went over time. We had thirty minutes before Keith’s team would arrive to set up for his sex party. We have to go.”

The elevator started moving before we reached it, and my stomach dropped. Searching around, I looked for the stairwell.

“I hope you’re ready for some exercise.” I pulled off my heels, and Lizzy followed my actions.

We made it to the emergency stairs. Using the security code, I unlocked it and made our way down to the main lobby. I’d barely set my hand on the door when I heard shouts about vandalism and to call security.

Breathing heavily, Lizzy and I pressed our backs to the wall.

“I don’t think we should go through there,” Lizzy advised. “We need to find a better way. What about the parking deck?”

“Let’s go down a few more floors.”

“Isn’t there anyone you can call?”

I thought about it as we took another flight of stairs down.

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