Page 77 of Promised

Her laugh was dark, making my insides shrink in fear. At the same time, I slid my hand into my pocket, reaching for my phone. I had to get Adam. He’d be here in a second if I were in trouble.

“I knew it was only a matter of time before you’d come running back here again.To your spot.”My lips parted in shock as she sneered at me. “Don’t look so surprised. I’ve been following you for years. Watching you run off and meet Adam. Throw away everything you’ve been given.”

“What are you talking about?” I stepped back, trying to keep the gun as far away as possible. I knew it was a wasted effort. I’d have to be miles away to be safe if she decided to pull the trigger.

I gasped as I stumbled down the hill. I threw my arms out to steady myself, but the movement shifted my phone, and it slipped from my pocket. Britney saw it and smiled as she moved close.

“The world really is unfair, isn’t it?” I whimpered as she reached out, grabbing the back of my neck and pulling me closer. My feet slipped on the slick grass, making it impossible to break her hold without falling. The harsh metal of the gun pressed into my cheek as she ran it across my face.

“You were born with everything. This pretty face. A pile of money. Talent. And then you got everything you wanted. A man who loves you. Your freedom. God really does just give some people all the luck.”

I shivered in fear as she used the gun to lift my chin. She was crazy if she thought everything was given to me. If she believed this was the life I wanted. If I could’ve chosen, I would’ve taken hers any day.

Her parents loved her. No, they didn’t have much money, but I’d trade every million my father had to get a different one. One who cared for us. Who wanted us.

“It’s not like that,” I whispered, trying to keep my voice calm as I looked for a way out.

But there was nowhere to go except through the woods. And the way her eyes burned with hatred, I knew she’d shoot me the second I tried to run.

“I’ll tell you what it’s like!” I jumped as she yelled. My heart smacked into my ribs as fear made my blood pump. “I was born with one thing. This body. And I’ve used it. The ways I’ve degraded myself so I could have a little bit of what you did. So I could have money to survive. It would make a whore like you blush.”

I wanted to feel bad for her. But I couldn’t. Not when she had a gun to my face and diamond studs in her ears. She’d always had enough to survive. She wasn’t struggling.

She was jealous. Greedy like everyone else in this life. Always wanting more. But there would never be a number that would make her feel like she’d made it.

“My father pays you for sex?” It wouldn’t surprise me. There wasn’t a single line my father hadn’t crossed.

A devious smile spread across her features. “No, for information. The sex was just to piss you and Zara off.”

Pain exploded on my cheek as she smashed the gun into my face. The force of it knocked me to the ground. My leggings tore, and a scarp on my knee started to bleed as I tried to scramble to my feet again. But the gun to my forehead stopped me. “To make you hurt. So you’d feel a little of my pain.”

“You’re fucking insane!” I screamed as my cheek throbbed. My hand flew to the wound as I stared up at her. “We never did anything to you. You were our friend.”

Her laugh echoed around the trees, mocking me. “I was never your friend. I was his spy. Always. He trusted me to take care of his problems. He gave me a purpose.”

“He’s using you!” I tasted copper as she hit me again. My teeth cut into my gums as my head hit the ground.

“You sound jealous. Do you still crave Daddy’s love?” There was so much rage in her voice as she crouched over me. The hostility pumped off her, stealing my breath.

How hadn’t I seen it before? How could I ever believe we were friends?

“Fottilo.” Fuck him.I grunted. “I never wanted his love. I just wanted to get away. You want to have my life? Take it.”

A scream ripped from my chest as she stomped her foot onto my hand. I heard bones crack as she leaned forward, pressing all her weight onto it. “See, that’s what you don’t get. Unlike you, I have to earn what I have in this life.”

“Stop!” I screamed as I felt the bones pop under her weight. Britney smiled, taking sick pleasure in the fact that she was ruining the one thing that had always given me happiness; my ability to draw.

Finally, she stood again. I sat up, cradling my hand to my chest. Bile rose in my throat as I prayed it would heal.

“Did he send you here?” My chest heaved with each breath as I stared at her. Trying to understand how she could’ve turned into this person. How the greed had gotten this bad.

So bad she’d hurt someone who’d never done anything to her just because she was ordered to. Because she could.

Except it was worse than that. I wasn’t just a job. She was taking pleasure in what she was doing. She was enjoying my pain.

“No, but he’ll be happy when you’re gone. You’ve created nothing but problems for years.” My lungs seized as she pressed the gun into my temple. “I’m sure he’ll reward me for my loyalty.”

A choked laugh left my lips. She didn’t know my father at all. He didn’t care about loyalty. He cared about power. He’d kill anyone to get it. Especially a woman who knew his secrets.

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