Chapter 49

Kelly

“No,” I cried, as they sunk the blade into Hunter’s shoulder.

I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. He was down on his knees, bleeding, with two gigantic men holding him there. They were actually holding him there. He couldn’t move and I realized in that moment that I had never felt fear in my entire life like I was feeling just then. True and hopeless fear.

“Well, Hunter. I must say, boy, I knew she would have to be something else to reign you in, but that is a grade-A piece of pussy you found yourself. No wonder you wanted to hunker down here for a while. Do the pretend family thing. Bravo, kid. Bravo.”

I looked over to see who was saying these things about me and saw an old, bloated man with a knife to Lucas’s throat.

“Luke,” I cried. “Luke. Are you okay? Why are you doing this? Why?”

I tried to fight free, but there was no escaping the huge arms that were holding onto me. I just watched my legs flail in the air as my screams went silent and I fell limp.

“God damn you,” I cried. “Why are you doing this? Why are you?” I trailed off and closed my eyes, just hoping this would all go away. But it didn’t. I opened my eyes on the same horror. Lucas with a knife to his throat, Hunter beaten and bloodied in front of me, and nothing I could do. What could I do?

“Oh, easy now, little lady, did Hunter not tell you we were coming?”

The man holding Luke looked over at Hunter, shaking his head in disapproval.

“Hunter, I’m upset. Did you not tell your girlfriend that your old man was coming for a visit?”

I could see the fire in Hunter’s eyes as he stared back. I could see the hatred pouring out of him. This was his father. The time had come. I couldn’t believe that everything he had talked about was actually coming true. I was so caught up in the bliss of being with him that the reality of who he was had barely had a chance to sink in. That all changed now. Now, I was staring at all the evil in Hunter’s life as he, Luke, and I were held there, helpless.

“How the fuck did you find us, pop?” Hunter finally said, as he lifted his head so his nose was toward the sky. He wasn’t going down yet, but I had no idea how long he could last, how long we could last.

Hunter’s father chuckled as he held the knife to Lucas’s neck.

“Come on, Hunter. Give me some credit here. I do run a hell of a business, you know? I did it long before you ever arrived, and I’ll do it long after I dispose of your sorry ass. We had you tracked for a while, kid. Just took me a bit to get myself organized is all.”

Hunter just stared back at him and laughed.

“You mean it took you a while to grow the balls? That’s what you mean isn’t it? You fucking coward.”

“Easy, Hunter. Don’t go running that mouth or I’ll make this slow and painful on you and your little family here.” He paused and then shook his head in sarcastic embarrassment. “What am I thinking? I forgot we had one more member of this lovely crew to bring out.”

He waved one of the men off me and motioned to the trunk of his car.

Who could he be talking about? No. Please, God, no.

Sure enough, as I felt a sick scream start in my stomach and pour out of my mouth, they pulled Grace out of the trunk.

I dropped as she was hauled out in front of Hunter like some sort of animal. He fought and he struggled and he screamed, but he couldn’t break free. Grace was bleeding and bruised. They had roughed her up. I was screaming, but I couldn’t hear a sound. I just watched while Grace wept as she was paraded out in front of us. I had never cried harder in my life. The sweetest and most innocent woman in my life had been beaten and degraded and it was all because of me.

“Kelly. Kelly, I’m so sorry dear. I didn’t know. I didn’t know.”

Grace was shaking as she was led toward me.

“Grace. Grace. Are you okay? I’m so sorry.” I turned to Hunter’s father and screamed at him. “How could you do this? What’s wrong with you? You’re a monster.”

I could see rage boiling in his eyes as he lifted the blade from Lucas’s neck and pointed it at me.

“Now, see here, cunt,” he seethed. “You little ladies can make apologies to each other and hate me all you want, but there’s one person, and one person only, to blame for this little predicament we all find ourselves in.”

He brought the blade down and aimed it at Hunter.

“If this ungrateful piece of garbage hadn’t turned his back on the only family his worthless ass ever knew, none of us would be here.” He turned his head and looked at Hunter. “So, Hunter boy. The man of the hour. How do you want this to go down? You’re going to die, that was decided the moment you took off in a car full of my money, but maybe, just maybe, I’ll show some mercy to the broads and this little punk if you beg me for your life. And, by mercy, I mean I’ll put bullets in their heads instead of letting the boys have their fun with them as you watch.”

Hunter stared back at him with all the anger inside him. I could see his chest heaving and all the muscles in his body tensing with every breath.

“I’m going to cut your fucking balls off, old man.”

As I stood there looking out on all the men and weapons scattered across the driveway, I felt like I was about to faint. This wasn’t real life. This sort of thing didn’t really happen to people.

“Hunter,” the old man laughed, “I’ve got to say, kid, the odds aren’t exactly stacked in your favor. One last chance, son, or I start by slitting this little fucker’s throat. Then I move on to the women.”

“Do what you’ve got to do, old man,” Hunter said flatly, condemning my brother to death. I couldn’t believe my ears.

“No. Please. Let him go. Hunter, what’s wrong with you? What’s wrong with all of you?” I was kicking and screaming and everything else seemed still.

“Will you control that bitch, please?” the old man shouted.

I looked over to where Hunter knelt with a blade in his shoulder and saw him staring at Lucas. They both had a calm about them and everything seemed to go quiet at once. I could see that Hunter’s breathing had slowed and Lucas had no tears streaming down his cheeks anymore.

I had no idea what was about to happen, but it was going to be a bloodbath. I just prayed we were the ones left standing after the dust settled.