Wicked (Somerset University #2) - Ruby Vincent Page 0,88
his true feelings.”
“And Serena? Don’t forget what you did to her.”
She thrust the gun at me. “She can’t have him either! And unlike you, she’s gotten the message.”
I pulled my hand away, tacky with blood, and gazed at the crimson liquid as the pounding in my skull scrambled my thoughts.
I have to find a way out of this. Wrestle the gun from her. Run to the car. Something!
“So, you put that thong in his car to break us up,” I said, slowly getting my feet under me.
“That wasn’t about you, conceited whore. I wanted Jaxson to have something of mine. Something intimate. Special.”
“And the flipbook? Running me off the road? Am I being a conceited whore thinking that was about me?”
She smirked. “My biggest regret is not killing you that day. It was hard enough with all the barriers between us. Levi would fire me if he found out we were together, but still, I kept Jaxson close and promised myself I’d be patient until he dumped his girlfriend. When he did, I’d make him see that we could make it work in secret, and when he took over the company, all would be fine.
“I would’ve waited, but then I found out what kind of relationship you forced him into. He was unhappy with you and couldn’t say it.”
I stood, meeting her gaze. “Naturally, you decided to kill me and save Jaxson.”
“You survived like the loathsome snake you are.” She spat at my feet. “This time you won’t slither away. I overheard him this morning talking to Gwen. Saying you’re stronger than ever and he’d do anything to protect you.”
Another thrust of the gun buried the muffle between my ribs. I staggered and fell against the tree.
“I should’ve realized you’d use my warnings like the manipulative bitch you are,” she growled. “Play the damsel-in-distress and tie Jaxson to you even tighter. No more.”
The air shifted. I witnessed her shoulders square—knuckles whitening on the gun.
She was psyching herself up to do the unthinkable and I wouldn’t stand here and accept my fate. I bent my head, readying to charge.
“I’m the one who truly loves him. He’ll see that when—”
“Val?”
My muscles turned to lead. Voices? Am I hallucinating my love at the end?
“Valentina, what are you doing out here?” Rustling sounded to our right. “Are you okay...?”
Jaxson broke through the tree line. The question died on his lips.
“Bianca?”
Her snarl fled. The woman smoothed her hair back and tugged down her shirt—as if fixing herself up for him was most important.
“Bianca, what’s going on?”
“Get out of here, Jaxson.” She slashed her hand through the air. “I don’t want you to see this.”
His gaze flicked to the gun. “See this? What do you think you’re going to do?”
“Get rid of her.” She squared up, holding the gun with both hands, and training it between my eyes. “I love you. Your age. My job. None of that matters. You and I are meant to be together and we will be when she is no longer in the way.”
“You love me,” he repeated. Jaxson edged closer, looking me up and down, lingering on my bleeding forehead. “You... You sent me those gifts?”
“I knew you’d like them. I know everything about you, Jaxson. I’m the one that loves you!” She shouted it at him but snarled at me.
“You attacked Val, Serena... and Meyer, didn’t you?”
“I had no choice! I heard him threaten you. Saying he’d never let you take over the label while he was vice president. I won’t let anyone stand in the way of your dreams, Jaxson. I’ve always been there for you. I fight for you. Can’t you see that?
“This bitch wouldn’t let you go and Serena tried to steal you out from under me. I can’t do it anymore, Jaxson.” Tears spilled over her lids. “Waiting for you to leave her and see that I’m the only one for you. I’d never ask you to share,” she said. “Never.”
She seized me around the neck. I struck out, knocking the gun aside and lunged.
Bang!
“No!” Jaxson roared.
I crashed into her. Bianca quickly grabbed on and spun me, pinning me to her chest and allowing me to see the bullet hole in the bark. She pressed the gun to my head, promising where the next one would go.
“I won’t wait another day.”
Jaxson surged forward. “Bianca, stop!”
“No!” Her shrill shriek echoed through the forest. “Why won’t you let her go? She doesn’t love you!”
“I know she doesn’t,” he cried. “I’ve always known that.”