Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 66454 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66454 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
Kade picks me up swiftly and moves me behind him and onto the chair. I'm disgusted and want to do something. I have to try to help her.
I watch as Kade reaches into his waistband, but before he can pull out his gun, my body jolts with each loud sound of a gun going off. Bang! Bang!
My head whips to the side and I see Talia holding the gun, pointed right where Victor was standing. Her body is still as Victor falls lifeless to the floor. His cold dark eyes stare at the ceiling. His face is contorted, and blood bubbles from a neat hole in his throat. His dark black shirt sticks to his body as blood spills from the wound in his chest.
My eyes stay on him, until I hear the pounding of footsteps and a squeak from Talia.
Gabriel grabs Talia by her throat, stopping her from kneeling. The gun falls from her hand and hits the ground with a loud thump.
“You will not hide behind your submission, Talia.” Gabriel sounds pissed. Talia lets out a small sob and keeps her eyes on the ground.
“Get her down.” Gabriel’s low voice sends the command throughout the room. He’s not talking to Talia, but I’m not sure who the order was directed toward.
My eyes are still locked on Talia's face. She's scared. It's the first time I've seen her look unsure and upset. It's also the first time he's scolded her. And for what? Killing a man who deserves to die? Blood pools around his neck and seeps into the carpet.
Kade moves to go to Lydia, but I grip onto his leg. I don’t want him to leave me. Kade looks down at me registering my needs, and then to Master A. Master A stands and quickly moves to Lydia, unfastening the cuffs and cradles her in his arms. He shushes her and carries her out of the room.
Kade pulls me off the ground and holds me to his chest. He tries calming me, he tries keeping me from looking at Talia and Gabriel, but I turn away from him.
The only sound in the room is Talia’s soft cry. She doesn't deserve to be crying.
“Esclave, did you think I would let him get away with that? Do you think that little of me now?” His voice is low.
“No Master,” Talia replies quickly.
My heart hurts for her. I move to push away from Kade. I'm not going to watch her be punished for doing the right thing, but he digs his fingers into my hips, stopping me.
Gabriel loosens his grip on Talia's throat and cups her chin. “You will never put yourself in danger again. Do you hear me?” Gabriel’s voice is soft, but absolute.
She finally looks into his eyes and sniffles.
“Answer me, esclave.” Gabriel’s eyes dart across her face, searching for something.
“If you want something done, you will tell me. You will not make yourself a target, ever.” His voice raises with each command. “Is that clear? You will stand behind me always. Don’t you ever do that again.”
My breathing slows as I understand why he's upset. My anger wanes, and the fight in me dies.
“It's alright, angel,” Kade whispers, pulling me closer to him and petting my back.
Talia nods her head and hunches her shoulders. “Yes, Master.”
Gabriel pulls her into his arms. “Don’t you dare do that again, Talia,” he whispers in her hair and then kisses her. He rubs his hand along her back as she sniffles.
I watch as he soothes her pain and both of them relax slightly. He doesn't stop looking at her and wills her to look at him, but she buries her face into his chest.
It's quiet for a long time. I want to leave. I want to get out of here.
Kade finally breaks the silence. “She has very good aim,” he says to Gabriel.
Gabriel turns toward us and huffs a laugh. “Just because she can shoot doesn’t mean she should. I was taking care of it.”
Talia looks at the ground with a frown and wipes her eyes. “I’m sorry,” she says. She sounds so weak.
Gabriel pulls away from her and grips her shoulders. “Don't be, esclave.” He comforts her. “Try to stay behind me next time,” he says in a soft, comforting tone.
She nods her head and asks in a small voice, “Are you mad at me still?”
He shakes his head and plants a soft kiss on her lips. Gabriel whispers, “Never. I love you, esclave.”
She buries her head into his chest and whispers, “I love you, Gabriel.”
Gabriel rubs her back and looks over his shoulder at us.
I pull my eyes away from them and lower my cheek to Kade’s chest.
“I'll take her upstairs and come down to clean this up,” Kade says.
Gabriel looks back at us and then down to the dead body on the floor. “Victor was never here. We need to make sure Ricky doesn’t find out.”