Chapter 6 Olivia #2
I put my hands on my brother’s chair, needing it to remain standing and to stop the way they’re trembling.
That’s the last thing I need Blade to notice.
“My brother asked for my help, and I just did what I needed to do. If you want to be mad at someone, look in the mirror. You made it ridiculously easy to do everything I needed to do.”
“I’m going to kill you.”
“You can try,” I answer.
“You know what, sister of mine?” Douglas asks, somehow sounding even more unhinged.
I turn to look at him, feeling a knot of tension form in the pit of my stomach. “What?” I ask, although this time my words don’t sound as calm. This is off-script, and I know better than anyone what happens when Douglas suddenly changes carefully laid-out plans.
“Fitch? Do it,” Douglas orders, and my heart kicks into overdrive. Fitch walks over to Blade. He places a foot on Blade’s back as the men who were holding him down on the ground step back. Then he leans over and offers Blade a gun.
“What the fuck are you doing?” Blade asks, sounding confused.
I, on the other hand, know exactly what my brother is doing.
It wasn’t freedom he was offering me at all.
He wants Blade to kill me. The bastard is getting the last laugh.
What he doesn’t realize is that I welcome death.
If there’s any justice, it will be a quick death, and I can find Bear once more.
Maybe we will get the life we should have down here, in the afterlife.
I smile, knowing for the first time in a long time I will be free.
“There’s one bullet in the chamber, Blade. You get to choose. You can end your own pathetic life, or you can kill Olivia. The choice is yours, but you should choose wisely,” Douglas tells him, his voice a mixture of glee and self-righteousness.
Blade takes the gun, staring at it like he can’t believe it.
He does something with the gun. I imagine checking to see if there’s a bullet in it.
I don’t doubt that there is. My brother is a bastard, and it’s his way—to make me think I’m going to be free and then have me killed.
I’m okay with it. I know death is the only true way I’ll ever escape Douglas.
Honestly, at this point, it can’t happen soon enough.
From the sinister look on Blade’s swollen face, he discovered I’m right.
I step away from the chair to give him a better target.
“Do it. Shoot me if you’ve got the balls,” I snap, tired of it all.
I don’t want him to chicken out at the last minute.
I’ve learned to use a man’s anger. Blade will react quicker and without thought when he’s angry.
I watch as he aims the gun. It’s a little off-center, but it should do the trick.
If I don’t die right away, the pain might be bad, but nothing could compare to what I’ve already lived through.
When Blade still doesn’t shoot, I get impatient.
“Just do it!” I cry. Blade lets out a cold, bitter chuckle.
Any other time it would freeze the blood thrumming through my body.
“Oh, I’m going to kill you, bitch. I’ll make you beg for death, but first I’m going to watch you cry over your fucking brother.”
Suddenly he moves the gun with precision accuracy and aims it at Douglas. I see my chance for escape leaving me. “No,” I cry, moving so I can jump in front of Douglas. I can’t live like this anymore. I need out …
I make it, but I don’t feel pain. I don’t hear the powerful boom of the gun going off. I hadn’t even realized my eyes were closed until I hear my brother’s sick laughter. Fitch pulls me away, and I look to see Blade tossing the gun to the ground.
“A dummy round. You’re just too easy. Did you really think I’d give you the chance to shoot me?
Fucking pussy. You deserve to rot in prison.
I’m going to have my men take you back. Don’t worry.
Officer Issacs is waiting on you. He’s going to take great joy in punishing you.
I’m sure you’ll enjoy every minute of it. ”
“You son of a bitch. Are you too scared to face me one on one? Get your fucking ass down here and face me like the man that you pretend to be!” Blade screams. From my peripheral vision, I see Douglas motion to one of his men.
In the next few seconds, the guy takes a baseball bat to Blade’s head.
Blade goes out like a light. I don’t even flinch.
“Fitch, take the whore back to Lucky’s room. If he doesn’t want her, call Demon,” Douglas growls.
“You said I’d get my freedom. I did everything you told me to do,” I tell him. I’m not above begging at this point.
“And you will,” he says again, his voice soft like he’s talking to a favorite pet—a dog that worships him and he trains to accept the evil he doles out for just a pat on the head and scraps from his table. “Eventually,” he adds with a sinister look that instantly sends chills through me.
Fitch pulls me away from my brother and I stiffen my back and walk out easily, with my head held up. I don’t want him to think he’s broken me. He hasn’t.
End Flashback
If only I had known what was waiting for me …