27.
G od, I might fucking lose her. She’s mere steps away from me, but the possibility that I might not make it to her in time is blinding me with fear.
I’m aware of every drop of sweat as it trickles down the back of my neck.
The light trembling in my hands may not be noticeable to others, but to me, it’s a distraction too cumbersome to ignore.
My heartbeat thrums in my chest, causing its echoes to ring so fucking loudly in my ears.
And then there’s this stupid pressure on my throat.
It’s like a vise-gripped claw digging itself into my skin, constricting the only luxury I can currently afford: to breathe without losing my focus.
“Let’s not be dramatic about this, huh, Fred?” I tell the old cunt. “A knife? Seriously? That’s a step too far if you ask me.”
He has the audacity to chuckle, and that subtle movement causes Cignette to stiffen. He’s put the blade too close to her skin. Fucking too close.
“Well, that’s upsetting, because I think it’s a step in the right direction,” he says to me. “A life for a life and all that.”
“A life for a sorry excuse of one, you mean,” I clarify. “Play fair, asshole; if you want revenge, come and get some of it from me .”
He scoffs. “And give you the undeserving satisfaction of gutting me like a pig? I don’t think so.
Besides, this just shows that you’re not special, Dorran Ledger .
Anyone can hold a knife to a person’s throat and call themselves a killer.
You are, after all, dispensable, and so is your pretty little fuck toy.
” He snakes an arm around Cigs’ waist and holds her tighter against his frame, and a shot of fiery rage burns through every fiber of my being when Cignette sucks in a breath and closes her eyes as tears fall down her bruised face.
I grind my teeth together as I glare at him.
“Seems cowardly to admit that you’re scared of me,” I state.
“And I don’t think you need me to explain to you what that means, Fred.
” I glance at the guards surrounding him, then smirk and arch a brow at him.
“It also questions the significance of your present security, but that’s beside the point.
I may be replaceable, but if I’ve instilled uncertainty in your mind – or fear, for that matter – then I’m assuming my reputation has, in some way, preceded me. ”
Fredrick’s expression contorts into a menacing scowl as he lets go of Cignette’s waist and moves his knife away from her throat, pointing it forward – at me. “This arrogance of yours…it’ll cost you someday, and cost you good.”
Cignette looks between me and the knife, and I can see that she’s contemplating whether to run to me, or to snatch the weapon from Fredrick.
I bring my right hand to my thigh and tap it once, making sure to keep my attention divided between Fredrick, the guards, and Cigs.
She lets go of a breath and swallows, and then, in a split second, decides not to go for the knife.
She runs forward – a sign of struggle etched clearly on her face – but only gets as far as an arm’s length of Fredrick before the bastard realizes his error and pulls her back to him.
With his fingers in her hair, he yanks her against him yet again, and laughs when she grunts in evident pain.
“Stupid,” he hisses against her temple, bringing the knife to her neck again, but this time, he places its needle-like tip against her jugular. “So fucking stupid, aren’t you?”
“Did you think I’d simply stand here listening to your arid fucking bullshit all night?” she hisses.
Despite the graveness of the situation, I find my lips quirking up in a slight smirk.
“That’s enough, Fred,” comes Aras’s voice from next to me.
“Let Cignette go and leave my premises before I’m forced to take brute actions against you.
We’ve already established that our agreement is now annulled, which means you’re no longer my guest. I’d suggest you take your entourage and go home, because it’s been a long night, and frankly, I’m sick of hearing you talk. ”
“And forget about my son’s murder ?” Fredrick grits out, then laughs like the fucking madman that he is. “What do you take me for, a clown?”
“Yes, actually,” I say. “Especially since you’ve yet to prove yourself otherwise by letting go of my girlfriend and getting the hell outta here.”
His top lip curls as he sneers my way, but as he studies me, his face begins to relax, right before a sinister, too-wide smile mars it again.
“I’ll leave,” he starts, darting his eyes between Aras and I.
“I’ll leave, I promise I will. But first, you …
” He points his knife at me again, making sure to keep his hold on Cigs secure.
“You are going to get down on your goddamn knees for me, and while you’re at it, you’re going to beg me to spare your little bitch. ”
“Call her that again, and I’ll cut you open limb to fucking limb, you privileged motherfucker,” I warn, fisting my hands by my sides when the immediate urge to draw my switchblade takes over.
Fredrick, of course, is spurred by my words instead of feeling threatened by them. He grins, and is about to do exactly what I’ve asked him not to, when Safiya takes half a step forward, making him stop before he can utter a single word.
“ Behave yourself, Fred, because I can very vividly see your inner cunt on display right now,” she hisses.
“I’m going to ask you to stay out of this, Safiya,” he tells her. “My respect for your family runs deep, and despite your recent acquaintance with this lot, I’m willing to keep you on the sidelines, but only because your sister is a woman of honor.”
Safiya looks sideways and spits on the ground, then lifts a brow at him. “I didn’t take you for a patriot, Fred . Showing sudden loyalty towards my sister won’t gain you a new alliance, I hope you know that.”
He laughs. “Naila is a leader. She understands the complications and necessities that come with handling lea–”
“And there you go, proving my point of putting your inner cunt on display for us all.”
“I wonder where your parents went wrong with you,” he jabs, in hopes of possibly throwing Safiya off her game.
She, however, snorts and shakes her head at him. “As expected, juvenile.”
He looks like he wants to say something, but chooses instead to once again bring his attention to me.
Dragging his knife along the column of Cigs’ neck – the blade winking dangerously under the moonlight – he looks smug as he asks, “So, Dorran. Are you going to kneel now, or should I cut open your lovely girlfriend for everyone to see?”