Lucius (Acquisition Series #4) - Celia Aaron Page 0,71

you right off the bat will show the others I’m the real deal.”

“After what you pulled, they aren’t going to back you.”

“You sure about that?” He puts one finger down.

I feel the searing pain in my leg before I hear the crack of the gun. “Fuck!” I drop to one knee, my left calf on fire.

He shakes his head. “The famous Lucius Vinemont. Look at you now. Not so tough without your brothers, are you?”

“I’m plenty tough, asshole. Come closer and find out.” I keep my gun aimed at him.

“Honestly, I should thank you. Your family broke all the rules. You were the forerunners for me. I did the same and took my place as Sovereign. I have the backing of the most important society members, and the ones who don’t want to go along?” He shrugs. “They’ll get buried in a mass grave right beside you and your family.”

“If you think you have any chance against my family, you’re going to be sorely disappointed.” I grit my teeth against the pain and get back to my feet.

“I don’t think so. It was so easy to get Evie. She’s here, you know? Upstairs in a bedroom, waiting for me to put a baby in her.”

“Not going to happen.” I aim for his face.

Another bullet rips through me, this time through my right arm. I pull the trigger as my aim falters. I drop the gun, then start to reach for my blade with my left hand, but I stop. And wait.

He ducks, then rises again, untouched. “Almost got me that time. But I’m afraid you’re done. And I’m wasting time when I could be balls-deep in your slut. Don’t worry, I’ll marry her, make an honest woman of her. But she’ll never leave this house again. You were smart to be with her all these past weeks. I couldn’t find a moment to slide in and take her away. Until this morning. Perfect opportunity. And now she’s home for good.”

“You’ll never break her.” I’m slowly moving my left hand toward my belt.

“Wrong. I’m about to break her right now. Like I said, she’s spread wide, waiting for me to fuck her. She’ll be begging me to come on her face before the night is through.” He shrugs. “All right, that’s enough. It’s time for you to go.” He pulls a gun from behind him. “Once you’re done, I’ll fuck Evie, then head out and kill the rest of the Vinemont rats. You know …” He pauses and waves his gun to the side. “I’ve been thinking of taking trophies. Ears maybe? The children’s will be really cute all strung up on my headboard like a garland on a Christmas tree. Evie will love it.”

Blinding, acid wrath boils up inside me. I can’t win this. I know that. Not with a sniper in the trees behind me and this fucking Frankenstein dickhead in front. But I’m not going down alone. I’m taking this asshole with me if it’s the last thing I do.

“Nothing to say? No sarcastic last words?” He sneers.

“Nothing you’d understand, you goddamn brick.”

“I’ll give your regards to Evie. I’m sure she’ll—”

I lunge right as he tries to give his stupid goodbye taunt.

He fires, the bullet hitting my chest as I stab up as hard as I can with my blade. The blast knocks me back a pace, the bloody knife still in my hand as I fight through the pain and rush him again. I have to stay close or his sniper will tag me, and I have to do as much damage as I can before that happens. I stab and stab, using all my strength to pierce every fucking organ I can find.

He grunts, his body taking the hits as he brings the gun up again. Another slug pounds into my back. His sniper clearly doesn’t give a shit about friendly fire, but I have to stop attacking Charles and use my left hand to grab his wrist.

“You’re still going to lose.” He fires, the sound deafening so close to my ear. Then he fires again and again, trying his damndest to shoot me in the head. I keep the gun aimed just over my shoulder as I push against his beefy arm with all the strength I have. When the action starts to click instead of firing, I let his arm go, then drop to my ass, keeping my back to the fountain.

His sniper can’t reach me here, and I’m able to pick up the