Broken Trust(Devastation Duet #2) - Winter Paige Page 0,48
When he positions himself to shove inside me, I pull back my leg and kick him flatfooted in the nose. Covering his face with both hands, he stumbles back and falls to the floor, shouting.
“You fucking cunt! Don’t move!”
“Fuck that,” I mumble, running from the room, grabbing a serrated knife from the kitchen, and burst into the living room. Hitting my knees in front of Abel, I gasp at how pale he is, but I cut the zip ties from his hands and ankles then tuck the knife into the front pocket of my ripped shirt. “Come on, big guy. Time to go. I need you to stand up for me. I’m not leaving you, and I can’t carry you. You have to stand. Come on.” I pull him to stand, but he sways, unable to put pressure on his injured leg.
“Don’t fucking move, Eliana.” I freeze, seeing the pistol aimed at Abel, center mass.
“Please, he didn’t do anything. I’ll stay with you. Please, just let him go.” I beg, stepping forward, trying to position myself between Richard and Abel, knowing that he wants me too much to kill me.
“No, I’m sorry, not going to happen. I will not cave this time, Eliana. You need to be taught a lesson, and this is the perfect time. You have practically begged for a firmer hand for years. I have been too easy on you since day one, showering you with gifts and affection. If I had been tougher on you before, none of this would have happened. I really thought that when I killed Joshua in front of you, it would be enough to break your stubborn streak, but it looks like you are going to need a lot more discipline. I am really going to enjoy putting you in your place, Eliana.” He gives me a chilling grin, licking his lips.
“My mother killed Joshua, Richard. Why do you keep saying you killed him? What else have you done to us?” My voice wavers.
“Your whore of a mother-” He smiles darkly. “She hated your father with a passion that burned brighter than any love she could have ever had for you. I truly enjoyed showing her all the ways she could hurt him without him catching on. I helped her to toy with all of you. I used her hatred and desperation for vengeance to get me closer to this moment with you, all while keeping suspicions miles away from me. She was entertaining at times, but she tried to hurt you, so she had to die. It was rather nice being able to be the one to put that bullet in her back in the clearing. She talked too much. Riding over to rescue you with Andrew was one of my more impulsive decisions, but it was worth it. Speaking of your naïve father…” Richard sneers, raising the gun back up when we hear the nearing sounds of motorcycle engines. “Now, where were we?”
I step into Abel, giving him a quick shove, knowing he’s already unsteady on his feet, and he falls right before Richard pulls the trigger. One. Two.
I hit my knees with a grunt and touch my stomach, confused when I feel something wet, “What?”
“No!” Abel bellows, covering my wound with his hands. “No, no, no.”
Richard drops to my side, pulling me from an already weak Abel, and scooping me up in his arms, “Why? Why would you do that, Eliana? I love you. Why couldn’t you just listen to me? Why does everything have to be a fight with you?”
“Because, Richard, Jamesons never submit,” I spit.
“You don’t understand. I did this all for you. I love you. I know you love me, too. It didn’t have to be like this. I could have made you happy.”
“You could never have my heart, Richard. I gave it away years ago. The damn thing doesn’t even reside in my own chest anymore. You need to understand this, Richard- I will never be yours. I would rather die, but-” I spit, pulling the knife from my shirt and jamming it into the same area they stabbed Joshua. “-I’m damn sure taking you with me.” He drops me roughly to the hardwood floor with a stunned expression from the unexpected power shift.
I look him in the eyes, hissing, “You never loved me, Richard. I don’t think you’ve ever loved anyone other than yourself. Not even your own daughter. What would she think of the man you’ve become? She loved you so much,