46. Carter #2
In an instant, I’m reminded of the sheath strapped to my leg, and I can’t help the smug smile crossing my lips, knowing that we have a loophole – a way out of this mess.
Somehow, my father must’ve forgotten the daughter he raised, because he didn’t even bother to search me for weapons.
Slowly, I move my hand toward my thigh, Tyson’s eyes immediately following the movement, clueing him into the silent conversation between Jasper and I.
“Mr. Kelly, I have all the money in the world. I’m a dying man, who’s only wish is to have his legacy carried on.
Vincent understands what it means to honor the Cassini bloodline, and has no problem continuing it.
” My father coldly states, still enjoying the predicament we’re trapped in, but the longer Tyson has my father distracted, the better it’ll be when I catch him by surprise.
“Oh, you mean the son-in-law we mutilated last night? I’m sorry, Sir, but I don’t think Vincent will be procreating any time soon, let alone breathing that free air you speak so highly of,” Tyson taunts, allowing me another few seconds to get a firm grip on the blade, my fingers tightening around the handle as I manually control my breathing.
“Wait, this is about your fucking bloodline? No matter who Carter decides to have children with, your blood will be just fine,” Jasper adds, the disdain in his voice shocking me, but I keep my focus on the knife in my hands, not falling into any man’s trap before I end this for good.
“Cassini’s are bred with the Don’s children, that’s how we keep the family legacy as just that – family.” My father tightens his arm around my neck, the corners of my vision going black, but it’s a possessive hold, not one of fear, and I know that if I stay calm, I still have the upper hand.
“I thought I was fucked in the head,” Jasper mutters, but I can’t wrap my head around their words, my brain struggling to come to terms with what it is I think they’re saying.
If Jasper thinks something is awful, even worse than what occurs in his mind, then it must be horrendous, but I’m struggling to catch up, the lack of oxygen dulling my usual sharpness.
All at once, it hits me like a freight train, especially with the mention of a very dead Vincent, and as much as I want to face my father, to read his mind with my own, I keep up the facade, a thick wave of disgust flowing through my entire body.
“You want me to … have your children? That’s what this is all about? That’s never going to fucking happen!” I cry, unable to keep the words from flowing, still needing the answers to these alarming questions, even if I’m being held at gunpoint with little chance of escape.
“Vincent understands the risks and sacrifices we make in order to keep this Family at its strongest. You may think I was being harsh, giving your hand to his, but I made sure you’d be taken care of, Carter.
I’m not a monster.” He coldly replies in my ear, his grip loosening only slightly, but I’m able to inhale a full breath of air as I unleash my anger on the one person who was supposed to protect me, not turn my body into his own breeding grounds.
“You’re not a monster? What was he supposed to do, inject me with a fucking turkey baster? Daddy, what happened to you?” I drop my head in utter disbelief, unaware that our face off would lead to something so sinister, I’d be at risk of losing my lunch.
“Your mother was a weak woman, she couldn’t handle the Cassini blood growing inside of her, the destiny you were given, but I know I didn’t raise you to be like her. This is your legacy, Carter, our legacy. Where’s the girl of steel I molded you into?”
He avoids my questions, bringing my mother into this as a weapon to hurt me, but I’ve heard enough of his disgusting reasons for wanting me all to himself, and as I shake off the sadness, I channel the beast that lives within my soul, using every ounce of power I harness in my body to make the only move I have that’ll save our lives.
“She stopped taking orders from you.” With a flick of my wrist, I put all my strength into the thrust, forcing the blade into his thigh, slicing through the artery as he cries out, doubling over and giving me just enough slack to slip from his grasp.
He staggers back, his hands struggling to cover the wound, the blood cascading over his skin like a rush of rolling water at high tide, and normally, I’d be mesmerized by the crimson red waterfall gushing from sliced open flesh, but I can only stare in disgust as my father, the once powerful Don, succumbs to the fatal injury delivered at my hands.
“Carter, please,” he begs, coughing as thick ropes of dust enter his nasal passages, but I only spit at his dying body in response, not interested in hearing his voice for the rest of my days.
“You never deserved a daughter like Carter. Rot in hell, you bastard,” Jasper says slowly, cocking his gun and aiming at my father’s forehead, but I shut my eyes, not wanting to witness the moment a bullet enters his skull.
I’ve seen enough today.
My mission is complete, my freedom has been earned, but it doesn’t feel like the victory I thought it’d be.
Just as the gunshot rings through the air, a voice cuts through the echo, the ricochet bullet flowing through the empty desert winds, but when I look up, all I see is another battle that I don’t think I can win.