Page 84 of Targeted By Desire

“Why? How? He was your best friend - practically your brother!”

“He wasn’t my brother,” he said with a scoff. “Brothers are loyal; they don’t turn on each other.”

“You turned on him!”

“I did not,” he replied firmly. “I offered him another option. It didn’t need to end the way it did. If he’d just accepted the money and kept his mouth shut, he’d still be here.”

“At what cost? His integrity?”

“A small price to pay in exchange for staying in his daughter’s life.”

I quieted, his words yet another slice through my wounded heart.

“Simone,” he said, softening his voice as he walked closer to me. “I’m sorry you had to find out like this. But, you must understand, this is bigger than me. If it hadn’t been me…”

I dodged the hand he tried to put on my shoulder. “What? You would’ve given him to those brutes?”

“I showed him mercy. They wouldn’t have. I promise he felt no pain in the end.”

I shook my head, unable to believe what I was hearing. “And what did you get in return? A raise? A promotion? Fast-track to the top of command?”

“Simone,” he said, raising his hand again.

I rose from my seat on the bed. “How much was your best friend’s life worth?”

My words must’ve hit a nerve. The patience in his eyes disappeared, and a livid stare conquered his face. His hand grabbed my neck as he lunged forward, and he shoved my body back against the wall. His fingers dug into my throat as he spoke, cutting off more of my air with every word. “Listen here, you little brat, you will not question my decisions. Matter of fact, if you know what’s good for you, you will never speak of this conversation ever again. I don’t want you to end up like your father.”

“It's too late for that,” I choked, finding my voice through the pain. I flung my knee up, hitting him straight in his ribs. He grunted at the first blow and released me by the second. I grabbed the lamp off the nightstand and slammed it against his head.

As he stumbled onto the floor, I swiped up my father’s letters and the jewelry, stuffed them in my bag and ran towards the door.

I sped down the hall towards the stairwell, ignoring Logan’s calls echoing behind me.

The two agents he assigned were standing in the living room doorway when I reached the end of the steps, their brows pinched together at the commotion. One look at the expression on my face, and no doubt the buzzing in their earpieces, and their confusion transformed into malice.

I swore under my breath as I turned on my heel, racing down the hall towards the back door. I damn near pushed it off the hinges as I pushed it open.

Their footsteps boomed on the wooden floors behind me, practically in sync with my rapid heartbeat slamming through my eardrums.

I ran around the side of the house towards the driveway. Knowing I wouldn’t get far on foot, I climbed into the car Logan drove us here in and prayed that the spare key he gave me worked for it.

My chest fell in relief at the hum of the engine. Ignoring the three men storming towards the car, I threw my arm over the passenger seat and sped backwards onto the street. The tires screeched against the concrete as I made a hard turn and put the car in drive.

I pressed the gas pedal to the floor, catapulting down the road.

I didn’t know where I was going. Didn’t know if there was anywhere to go.

All I knew was I needed to get far away from here.

I zoomed through the quiet, empty streets, searching for back roads to disappear within.

A glimpse of black flashed in my rearview mirror, and I looked up to see the other black SUV behind me.

I applied more pressure to the gas, trying to put more distance between our cars.

Something long and black poked out of the windows. Two hands grasped, pointing it straight at the car.

I harshly tugged the car to the right as a rain of bullets poured out of the gun’s mouth. But, as I moved, so did their aim.