Page 97 of Taken With Trouble

“What?” The Boss grumbles.

“I was… uh, wondering if I could have her?”

“Excuse me?”

My brain goes blank. What did he say? He wants tohaveme?

I’d prefer the bullet.

The boss raises a brow. “Lonely?”

Sebastian shrugs. “Mother has been bugging me for grandbabies.”

I’m going to be sick.

“Fine,” The Boss says and lowers his gun a touch. “Take her and see that she never leaves your home.”

Sebastian tries to grab my arm, but I pull away. “I’d rather you kill me.”

The Boss purses his lips. “I can sympathize with his plight. So, either you go with him, or Liam dies.” He aims the gun at Liam now.

“You won’t kill your own son,” I say through gritted teeth, hoping to call his bluff.

“Won’t I? I kidnapped my own father.”

My heart slows to a crawl, and I’m pretty sure I’m not going to survive this. Either way.

“Don’t go with him,” Liam whispers. “I’ll gladly die for you.”

The Boss laughs then clicks the gun, bringing it closer to Liam. “What’s it going to be?”

I swallow the thick lump in my throat. Liam was willing to walk into fire to save me. This time, it’s my turn. My chest feels heavy, like it’s trying to crush my heart, but I force the words out. “I’ll go with Sebastian.”

The Boss smiles. “Good. Get out of here. And keep an eye on her, Sebastian. I feel she’ll give you a run for your money.”

Sebastian yanks me out of the room. My will to fight has died… along with my hope for the future.

Sebastian was right. There was no other choice.

I pinch my eyes closed. This can’t be the end. I know one hundred and eighteen ways to kill a man. One day I’ll get to use them. I will get away from him, if it’s the last thing I do.

I look at Liam one more time as I leave. His expression mirrors mine, and I know in this moment something I’ve hesitated to believe.

He loves me. And I love him.

Chapter 43

Liam

The door shuts behindSerena, and I rush at my father—the pitiful excuse of a man—all the while praying Caleb catches Serena on the way out.

“Whoa.” He holds up the gun, stopping me in my tracks, though I don’t know why. My heart ceased beating thirty seconds ago when the woman I loved left with a man who will hurt and abuse her. “I could have used that kind of energy from you years ago. I don’t want to kill you, but if you come at me again, I will. It would be a shame, too. Your mother would miss you.”

I seriously doubt that. “Why did you kill those men?”

He purses his lips. “What men?”

“The ones on the video. They were men with families. Good men.”