AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"You think you're tough?" he sneers. "We'll see how long that lasts."
I'm terrified. But I won't let them see it. I force a cold smile onto my face. "You forget how I’ve been raised. I’ve seen men make weasels like you cry."
I hang there, muscles screaming in agony, as Hartley approaches me again. He pulls out a knife, the blade glinting in the dim light. My breath catches in my throat as he brings it close to my face, the cold metal barely grazing my skin.
"You know, Lana," he says, his voice eerily calm, "I've been waiting a long time for this moment."
I try to lean away from the blade, but there's nowhere to go. My chains rattle uselessly as I struggle.
"Soon, you'll disappear," Hartley continues, tracing the knife along my jawline. "Just like your brother Lazaro did."
My heart stops. "What did you do to my brother?" I demand, my voice hoarse but steady.
Hartley's lips curl into a cruel smile. "Let's just say I made sure he couldn't cause any more trouble. And now, it's your turn."
I suppose I can die happy, finally knowing what happened to Lazaro. "What did you do to him?"
He laughs. "Wouldn't you like to know? Don't worry, you'll find out soon enough. You'll be joining him shortly."
The knife moves to my throat, the sharp edge pressing against my skin. I freeze, hardly daring to breathe.
I stare into Hartley's eyes, searching for any hint of humanity, but all I see is cold hatred.
Despite the knife at my throat, I find my voice. "Why are you doing this? What did we ever do to you?"
His grip on the knife tightens, his knuckles turning white as he leans toward me, his dark eyes filled with a hate I’ve never seen before. "Your family destroyed so many lives, and you don't even care."
I swallow hard. "What are you talking about?"
"My father," he spits out, his voice shaking with rage. "He was a good man, a decorated officer. And your psychopath brother murdered him in cold blood."
I remember Henry asking me about Lazaro and a cop. My heart starts to sink that Henry knew all of this and didn’t tell me. His excuse was to protect his case, but it was really to protect his partner.
“You think Lazaro killed your father?"
Hartley's eyes flash dangerously. "I don't think, I know. And now, I'm going to make your entire family pay for what they've done."
I shake my head, wincing as the movement causes the knife to nick my skin. “Why not put him in jail?”
“Only death can rid the planet of vermin like you.”
“I don’t think he killed your father?—"
"Shut up!" Peter roars, pulling the knife away, only to slam his fist into the wall beside my head. I flinch but hold his gaze.
"Your family is a plague on this city," he snarls, returning the blade to my neck. "You think you're untouchable, that youcan do whatever you want without consequences. Well, not anymore. I'm going to destroy every last one of you."
The venom in his voice chills me to the bone. This isn't just about justice or revenge anymore. This is a vendetta, fueled by years of hatred and grief.
"You're insane," I whisper, more to myself than to him.
His lips curl into a twisted smile. "Maybe. But I'm the one holding the knife."
I stare at him, my mind reeling from his revelation. The pieces start to fall into place. Lazaro's disappearance. The calls to raid our properties. The relentless pursuit of my family. It's all connected to his father's death.
"You're a cop. You're supposed to protect people, not kidnap and torture them. What would your father, a decorated cop, think of this?" It's a risky move, but I need to keep him talking. Every minute I stay alive is another minute for someone to find me.
He launches into another tirade about my family's sins and how we're not fit to breathe the same air as him. His knife presses tighter on my neck until I’m sure he’s pierced the skin. I wince at the pinch of pain.
