Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 106292 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 531(@200wpm)___ 425(@250wpm)___ 354(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106292 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 531(@200wpm)___ 425(@250wpm)___ 354(@300wpm)
“Just put a fucking bullet between my eyes. I’m not saying a fucking word.”
“Go ahead. The gun is in your hand.”
Joe freezes, and it’s abundantly clear that he doesn’t have the balls to turn the gun on himself, something each one of us would have been more than capable of if it meant protecting our loyalties. Though none of us would be dumb enough to put ourselves in this position.
Sawyer scoffs. “Let me guess, you were approached by someone within Empire’s ranks, presumably one of The Circle members. They told you what blood really runs through Oakley’s veins, and you thought all those years of loyal servitude to the DeVil name was a waste. You wanted to right those wrongs and save Oakley from our clutches. Only that’s not what you were tasked with, is it? You were ordered to end her life, but you didn’t have the balls to do it.”
“She’s dead. Forget about the girl,” Joe spits, turning his gaze to Zade. “Your reign is over before it even begins.”
Zade shakes his head. “But she’s not though, is she? You forget just how well I know you, Joe. You don’t have what it takes to end an innocent life. That’s why you’ve never been promoted within the ranks of Empire. You’re weak. Disposable. You hold no value, and my father knew it.”
Joe’s hand itches on the gun, but Zade continues toward him, knowing just how right he is. Joe can’t pull that trigger. Zade pulls his own gun, not fucking around as he presses it right to Joe’s temple.
Joe falters, his eyes widening with fear, knowing just how callous Zade can be. If he doesn’t get what he wants, he will do exactly what Joe can’t. Hell, the fucker’s just lucky that Zade isn’t in the mood to play games tonight. We could have dragged this out for hours, but instead, Zade is willing to end him with a single bullet out of respect for the years of mentorship. “Where is she, Joe?”
“I told you, she’s dead,” he says. “I slit her throat. Pressed my blade up against her creamy skin and ended her life in seconds. She didn’t even scream, just begged me to end it before you could get your hands on her.”
Zade scoffs, not believing him for one second. “Did it get you hard like it does for me?” he questions, pressing the gun harder to his temple.
“Empire can do so much better than the likes of you.”
“No,” Zade says. “They can’t. I am exactly what Empire needs, and that throne is my birthright. Understand me, Joe. I will take it whether I have Oakley’s heart or not, even if I have to burn it to the ground to get there.”
“It’s not your birthright,” Joe rumbles, flinching away from the gun. “It never was.”
“Perhaps,” he says with a slight shrug. “It’s a shame you won’t be around to tell anybody though. Now, let’s get down to it. Tell me where she is, and I’ll let you die quickly. Refuse me, and I will ensure that you bleed out for hours. It will be cold and painful. Not the way I was hoping to do this. But I suppose I don’t have anywhere else I need to be. No thanks to you.”
Joe scoffs, a cocky smirk settling over his face, as if finally coming to terms with his fate and accepting what will be. Sawyer inches to the right, knowing damn well he’s in the line of fire and will get splattered from head to toe with Joe’s brains. “I’m not telling you shit, kid. You can’t have her. I’ve hidden her so deep, not even you or your precious Circle will find her. Accept it, Zade. You’re done, and when the time is right, Oakley is going to rise as the new head of Empire. Right where she should have always been.”
A pang of guilt fires through my chest, realizing that all along, Joe has had Oakley’s best interests at heart—or at least, had Empire’s interests at heart. I’m sure Oakley would never want anything to do with Empire, but as he mentioned, it’s her birthright. If nature had run its course without Lawson’s intervention, her father would have ruled over us, and she would have claimed power upon his death. But as it is, Joe betrayed the DeVil legacy, and despite his intentions of trying to keep the pure Empire blood in power, he directly stepped against Zade. It will cost him his life—no matter what.
“Come on, Joe. You know damn well I’m not done until I say I’m done, and I’m only just getting started. Last chance, old man. Tell me where the girl is and I will make this quick.”
“Fuck you, Zade.”
“Wrong answer.”
BANG!
The bullet plunges through Joe’s chest and he cries out in agony as I suck in a breath through my teeth, knowing just how fucking bad that must hurt. Judging by where Zade’s standing, the angle of the bullet, and the way Joe gasps for air, Zade’s punctured Joe’s lung—a slow, painful way to go.