Page 49 of Detective for the Debutante (SAFE Haven Security #3)

“At the charity event. I made sure Charlie’s cousin was busy with other plans.

Which meant he had to take you. I made sure the opportunity to meet Project Justice was too good for you to pass up.

It was a no-fail situation. I even spoke about you to all those people in that room, saying how happy I was Charlie had found someone again.

You were his girlfriend. But then you had to practically fuck the detective by the bathrooms. Kenneth saw you.

And your actions made me a laughingstock.

I knew then no one would believe me if they saw the two of you together. Not after that.”

“You tried to manipulate your son. And me. You can’t make people do what you want.”

Where the comment comes from, I have no idea. But it’s like my backbone finally joins the fight.

Something that enrages Mr. Vanderweel.

“It’s your fault!” he screams and takes a step toward me, raising his hand.

I shrink back against the car, sidestepping him, but have nowhere to run since Ellis and Kenneth close ranks.

“You promised,” Ellis whines.

Mr. Vanderweel stops, lowering his arm as his attention shifts back to the short, dirty man next to him.

What did he promise?

Mr. Vanderweel rolls his eyes, but nods toward the office upstairs before stepping back.

“Fifteen minutes,” he says.

Ellis and Kenneth both shift their focus to me. The evil burning in both their gazes has my stomach roiling.

I don’t need to ask what he promised. Not anymore.

Ellis looks at me, licking his lips as he reaches for my arm, confirming my biggest fear.

Oh, fuck no.

I react on instinct, muscle memory taking over as I connect the punch, the satisfying crunch of bone followed by Ellis’s roar.

“Fuck, she broke my fucking nose,” he moans into his hands.

Blood pours between his fingers, hatred overcoming the lecherous gaze he’s had on me all night. I rush past, heading for the door, but Kenneth snaps an arm out, snatching me by the hair. I struggle against his grip, trying to hit his instep with my heel.

“You fucking bitch.” Ellis is in my face and I freeze, his backhand making my ears ring long enough for Kenneth to drag me over to the stairs.

Panic creates an adrenaline rush, overriding the dull ache in my head.

“No!” My scream echoes off the empty metal walls, and I fight every step they climb, Kenneth dragging me while Ellis follows behind, still cussing about me breaking his nose.

“Don’t do this, Kenneth. Please,” I tell him, on the verge of begging as I tug at each finger where it grips my wrist.

I know what waits for me in that dingy office.

I’d rather die.

But I don’t intend for either thing to happen.

I’m going to figure this out. I have no choice.

My time is up.

“Hurry the fuck up.” Ellis shoves Kenneth and we nearly trip up the stairs.

“Chill the fuck out,” Kenneth says, looking over his shoulder at Ellis.

“He only gave me fifteen minutes.”

“If I’m dragging her up here, you have to share.”

Kenneth’s statement causes the blood to freeze in my veins.

“What? That’s not fucking fair,” Ellis whines.

“I’m doing the fucking work. I get a little prize out of it.”

I gag, choking on bile that rises to my throat, and struggle again.

“Shit. Stop struggling. You’re going to make us fall down the stairs,” Kenneth grumbles.

I scream, hoping someone will hear me and call the cops. Taking a breath, I get ready to scream again, but Kenneth’s hand clamps on my mouth.

“Stop your fucking screaming or Chaz is going to speed up what he wants to do with you,” Kenneth hisses in my ear.

Somehow I’d rather face that than what Kenneth and Ellis have planned.

I fight against the grip Kenneth has over my mouth, my vision growing blurry at the edges as the oxygen ebbs.

I can’t pass out. I fight the darkness, my lungs burning, vision turning fuzzy until Kenneth finally releases me.

Sweet oxygen fills my lungs, and I gulp in the musty smell of the old building.

We reach the top of the stairs and I trip over the final stair, dropping to the landing in front of the door. My hip takes the brunt of my fall and I cry out.

“Ten minutes!” Mr. Vanderweel yells from next to his SUV.

“No more funny business, bitch.” Ellis leans over, mouth and teeth covered with drying blood. “I get to have my fun now.”

I fight to my feet, dizzy from adrenaline and pain.

I refuse to let him look down on me. He may want to bully me, but I refuse to be the victim any more than I already have been.

There’s a loud crash at the steel garage door and both Kenneth and Ellis look back, giving me the distraction I desperately need.

I take advantage, pushing toward Ellis until he rocks back on the top step, surprised by the attack.

Time slows down as he reaches for my arms to pull me with him, but I manage to evade his grasping fingers.

“You fucking?—”

His words end on a scream as he falls the rest of the way, every thud as he hits the stairs ricocheting around us, making each sound much worse, and dragging out the dramatic fall.

But what feels like minutes is over in a few breaths.

Ellis lands awkwardly at the bottom, his lifeless eyes and body position confirmation that he isn’t a threat anymore.

Slamming my eyes shut, I shake my head, the reality of what I just did sinking in.

I sink my teeth into my lip, my eyes filling with tears.

I killed him. I took his life. I’m a murderer.

Just like Mr. Vanderweel.