Chapter 23
SABLE
How was my hand not trembling like crazy? Hell, I didn't know. I had a loaded weapon pointed at my own father.
Forrest, Leif, and Woody pulled out guns of their own, one toward Conrad and Silas, the others toward the rest of the people gathered in the room. Noah and Urban exchanged glances before moving to stand behind Benjamin's loyal goons.
"I told you being a bodyguard was safer," I said to Silas.
"Put down the gun, sweetheart," Dad said. "If you're not careful, you're going to get someone hurt."
"That's the idea, Daddy," I said with mock sweetness. "The thing is, that person isn't going to be me." Even if I didn't survive the next half hour, I wasn't going to let anyone hurt me ever again.
He scoffed. "Please, you have no idea how to use a gun."
"I thought he was intelligent," Woody said. "He's not even smart enough to know not to antagonize somebody with a weapon in their hands." I didn't need to look at him to know he was rolling his eyes. An epic eye roll, I bet.
Dad, or should I say, Benjamin, ignored him.
"Give me the gun, Sable," he said, holding out his hand.
Forrest and Leif both stiffened, but neither moved.
"There's no need for this nonsense," Benjamin continued. "Put it down. Be a good girl and I'll take you out for a nice dinner." He could have been scolding five-year-old me for not wearing the right shoes, or having a dab of chocolate on my dress.
There was more though. I saw something in his eyes I'd never seen before; fear.
For the first time, it dawned on him he might not walk away from this in one piece, or with his reputation intact.
What did he care more about, though? His life or his reputation?
Honestly, I wasn't sure. I suspected it might be the latter. Without his reputation, who was he?
"Why would I want to have a nice dinner with you?" I asked. "You were going to sell me to one of these men. Sell me like I was a doll or a piece of furniture. You know what they would have done to me?"
When he didn't say anything, I continued.
"They would have raped me, the same way Wolfgang used to. They would have used me until I was broken. How can you stand there and pretend nothing was wrong? Why did you never care about me?" I hated that my voice rose on the last few words. I didn't owe him any of my deepest, biggest feelings.
"Of course I care about you," he insisted. "These men would have taken care of you. All of this—" he raised his hand, indicating around the room "—would have taken care of your mother and I too."
I was confused for a moment before I understood what he was saying. "You needed the money?"
"You know your mother's taste. If it wasn't for this, we'd have to file for bankruptcy. So you see, I'm doing this for all of us. You wouldn't want the embarrassment of your parents living on the street, would you?"
That question was rhetorical, right? Okay, I suppose not.
I lowered the gun a little. "The thing is," I said slowly, "I wouldn't have let you live on the streets. I would have helped you. All you had to do was ask. Instead of asking, you decided to do… this."
He swallowed audibly. "I made a mistake, sweetie." He was desperate now. "You're right, I should have come to you and asked. My pride stopped me. No one wants to appear fragile in front of their children. You'd agree, wouldn't you, Judge Cross? You have children the same age as Sable."
"My sons would prefer I be a decent human being," Forrest said coldly. "I'd never be too proud to ask either of them for help. That's what happens when you have a good relationship with the people you're related to. I'd never dream of selling either of them."
I'd met them; they wouldn't allow it either.
"They wouldn't sell you, would they?" Leif said jokingly.
Forrest snorted. "Absolutely not."
Leif chuckled.
"There seems to be some sort of misunderstanding here," Gregor Quinn said. "Weren't we bidding on this apartment?"
He also looked a little desperate, but for some reason, he seemed to think he was going to make it out alive.
Men like him always did. This would be a ripple on the pond of his existence.
If anyone here tried to go to the press about it, they'd have no proof.
Or he'd have something on them. He'd bury them before they buried him.
"This place is not worth thirteen million dollars," Leif said scathingly. "I mean, it's nice and all, but let's be realistic here." He aimed his gun at Quinn's head.
Quinn's hands shot up the either side of his face. "You're making a serious mistake pointing that at me."
Leif cocked his head, thinking about that for a moment. "See, I don't think so. I think this is exactly where it needs to be aimed." To Forrest, he asked, "What are we going to do with them?"
"Technically, we did nothing but have an interesting conversation," Imogen said, "In a court of law, we wouldn't be convicted of anything."
"That's the problem," Forrest said. "You're right, a court of law wouldn't convict you. Unfortunately for you, we're not in a court of law, and I don't have to obey the rules here."
"If you try anything, I'll destroy your career," Aaron hissed.
Forrest rolled his eyes. "I didn't know you were a comedian, Aaron. You won't be ruining anyone's career. Especially not mine."
"I'll testify against Gregor," Aaron said quickly. "And Imogen. This was their idea. Benjamin too. I was invited at the last minute. Didn't know what I was getting into."
"He knew exactly what he was getting into," I said, without looking away from my father.
"I thought he might," Forrest agreed.
"This is becoming ridiculous," Benjamin snapped. "Sable, give me the fucking gun. You and these clowns can walk out of here. We never have to see each other again."
"And if you end up on the streets?" I asked sweetly.
He flinched. His chance at saving his lifestyle was slipping right through his fingers, and all he could do was watch.
"You said you'd help me," he said, taking half a step toward me. "If you could give your mother and me some money, we could get ourselves out of trouble, sell a couple of our properties. Be a good girl and forward us a few million."
Something in his tone was off, something that suggested he wouldn't take my money.
No, it wasn't that. He knew I wouldn't give him any now. He wasn't giving up on this plan. He was sure his friends could bail him out, using me as payment.
I knew then who sent the goons to Forrest's penthouse. It wasn't Quinn who believed he owned me, it was my father.
He lunged towards me, making a grab for the gun.
Without thinking, I squeezed the trigger, firing straight into his chest.
I cried out at the recoil.
The bullet hit him right above his heart, a spray of blood gushing. He staggered back, hand pressed over the wound, eyes wide, before he sank to his knees, then to the floor with a thud.
The smell of the gun and blood flooded my nostrils. My stomach twisted.
Someone grabbed onto me before I sank to the floor myself.
Another gunshot rang out. Then another. And another.
I curled up, my arms around myself. Strong arms surrounded me.
"I've got you," Woody said in my ear. "It's okay, I've got you."
I sat there with my eyes closed until the room fell into silence. When I finally opened them, Forrest and Leif were putting away their guns.
Noah seemed to be nursing a bullet wound in his shoulder, but Urban was helping to stem the flow of blood.
Everyone else lay dead, including the celebrant who had a gun in his own hand.
"He tried to shoot you after you shot your father," Woody said. "Don't worry, Leif killed him."
"That's not going to add to the tally," I joked weakly. "But I forgive you for everything."
He snorted. "Good, because I don't give a fuck about the tally. I only give a fuck about you. I'm an asshole, and I should have said this sooner, but I'm going to say it now. I love you."
"I love you too," I said, my voice shaky. I should have said it before now as well, but better late than never.
He turned my face to his and pressed his lips to mine. It was brief, just a brush, but it was enough for now. Exactly what I needed while I was sitting with flecks of my father's blood on me.
"I'll call the clean-up crew," Leif said, "We're gonna need some help with these." He crouched beside me. "Are you okay?"
"I will be," I said, giving him a quick kiss. Again, just a brush, but it meant more to me than a passionate kiss would have. I could feel the love in the brief touch.
They both helped me to my feet.
"Someone is going to have to explain this to my mother." She was going to be devastated that…her cash cow was gone. She might miss my father for a little while, but mostly she'd miss the money, the lifestyle, the prestige.
So, anyway…
"We'll take care of it," Forrest assured me.
"We'll take care of everything," Leif agreed.
I took a long last look at my father. He lay with his eyes half-open. Eyes the same color as mine, staring lifeless at the ceiling.
Should I feel guilty for taking his life? A little part of me was, but mostly I was relieved. If I hadn't taken his, he would have taken mine. I wouldn't have died for a long, long time. Not on the outside. If I had to live that life over again though? I would have died on the inside.
Now I got to live with my three incredible men. I could make a whole new life.
It was going to be incredible.