We were leaving in the morning, and everything’s packed up. Sydney was conforming, and I had one day left to appear with her in the Caribbean for the buyer to see her.

My flight was scheduled, and even though I thought I’d have Graves and Everett out of her head, I could still work it out of her once we arrived. Besides, I was sure last night’s beating and mental game inside and outside might have done the trick.

Bringing her inside was like dragging in a soaked dead body. She was heavy in my hands, and since I hosed her off before chaining her to the stairs, her hair had ice crystals in it. Her skin was pale, and teeth were chattering. She looked defeated, and I just about threw my hands up in victory. Just about.

She was saying something under her breath. Or maybe that was all she could muster for full strength at the moment. As I got closer though, I heard it. Loud and fucking clear.

“Anth-ony, C-col-in,” she chattered.

Anger seared hot through my veins, and I grabbed her by her neck and threw her down. I had packed all the whips, so all I had was my own belt. I tore it from my pants and began beating her with it uncontrollably. She curled up in a ball on the floor as I rained force down on her. Blood became apparent, and then I was seized with more anger. I had cut her up pretty bad. It would take fucking weeks, maybe a month for these marks to heal. It only made me beat her harder. I only stopped when I grew tired.

Everett should see this. Fucking gorgeous. Realizing that I had gone through my supply of phones, I grabbed Sydney’s. I powered the thing on, snapped a few photos and sent them to Everett. Fuck him!

As my luck would have it, I had to endure the fucking sick display of him smiling as I selected his name from Sydney’s phone and hit send. Fucking Everett. I quickly shut the phone off and chained her back up.

I stood up and looked at her cell phone.

Fuck, I used her phone.

I quickly thought. Chances were that it’s ok. In the back of my head, as I finished packing up the last few bits, I still worried.

I sat on the couch thinking about Johnny. His surgery was scheduled for the end of the month, and I’d be back barely in time. While I was thinking of my brother, I heard a car coming down the snowy road.

What the fuck?

I put my gun in the waistband of the back of my pants and cautiously walked out on the porch, ready to turn anyone around. I waited as the headlights drew closer, revealing the vehicle. I was expecting a stranger who had turned down the wrong path, or even the police possibly. But I wasn’t expecting to see Colin fucking Everett’s goddamn Range Rover.

I took off in a sprint to the thick woods. Behind me, I heard four car doors shut. I knew for sure Colin, Anthony, and Matt were back there. Blake was possibly the fourth.

Fucking think!

I knew the woods as I had been out for walks multiple times during the days. Sydney was most likely a lost cause now. Tammie was gone, but my brother would have the beneficiary money.

He would be okay.

My time most likely was limited. Even if I escaped the woods, it wouldn’t be long before I was caught, and I couldn’t make my brothers watch me go down.

I ducked behind a thick tree to catch my breath and think. And then I heard the voice that still to this fucking day made my heart jump.

“Paul! You fucking coward!”

Anthony.

Goddammit.

I never had him. I chased him for so long, and Blake was right, I’d never have him. I reached into my pocket for the knife and quietly opened it. If I couldn’t have him, no one was going to have him.

Certainly not Colin fucking Everett.

When Anthony got close, I reached out and stabbed him.

“Fuck!” he grunted.

I hurt him! I fucking caused him pain!

I stood there staring at Anthony as he reached for his side. He pulled the knife out and knocked me to the ground.

Wake up! This is your one and only chance with him! This is your last shot!

Punches were thrown, and we both fought for footing on the slick, snowy ground.

Come on, Graves! Give me all your fire and rage!

I punched Anthony in the side where I had stabbed him and watched him buckle. I tackled him, and as I had his body against mine on the ground, everything came to life in me. It lasted for a moment until he knocked me off of him.

“You’re going to regret touching a hair on her head, you fucking asshole!” he swore at me.

He made me laugh. God, I’d been waiting for decades for this.

“Let’s go, Graves. I’m dying to see what you’re really made of,” I challenged.

I saw the fire and fury as he charged at me.

“Come on, Graves! Show me the fire that you hide from everyone! Show me your darkness! I know it’s in you! I saw it the day you walked into Irons!”

We punched and hurled each other around and eventually went to the damp ground again.

“I could have helped you! I wanted to help you after your dad died!”

I had him pinned under me now and sat over him just below his waist. I was going to feel this fucking guy if it’s the last thing I do.

“Hey!” Blake yelled.

Fucking Blake. Always around to bail this fucking guy out. Not this time. I pulled the gun out and aimed at Blake.

“Stop right there, Blake. You can fucking watch. Everyone is so goddamn obsessed with fucking Anthony Graves. Literally. I’ve been dying to see what all the fuss is over!”

“Paul, this ends now,” Blake yelled.

“It never had to start Blake! Fucking Everett just wouldn’t let me play once! He embarrassed me in front of other Masters and subs! And that fucking cunt never fully got them out of her mind! I broke her down to nothing, and when I had her right where I wanted her, she said this prick’s name! Fucking Anthony Graves!”

I punched Anthony’s stomach and pressed harder on his side when I saw the blood come out of his mouth. He squirmed under me, and it felt so good. His pants were undone, and I ran my hand along his abdomen and then up to his chest, gripping and squeezing as I went.

“Stop, Paul!” Blake yelled again.

I took my eyes off Anthony for a second, and he took advantage, hitting me hard in the face with packed snow. I brushed it off and regained control. I punched Anthony in the face and then shot him in the upper chest.

He wailed in pain and began writhing around under me.

“You’re making it so hard for me to be hard on you, Anthony,” I said as I continued to grab at him. “But I’m trying my best. But deep down I’m burning inside…just like you.”

“I’m nothing like you, Paul,” Anthony wheezed out at me as blood seeped from his mouth.

As I glared at him, I heard a gun and then felt the pain in my back. Had I been shot? Who? Startled, I dropped the gun and felt everything moving slowly as we scrambled for it.

I looked down and saw his gray eyes disappear as the barrel of my gun appeared and was pointed at me.