Page 115 of Ruthless Chaos

They can’t be trying to…

“Let go of her!” My voice rips from me in a panicked shout.

They still, turning to face me. Allie doesn’t even seem to realize what’s going on—her body is limp, her eyes still squeezed shut. She’s mumbling something to herself, but I can’t tell what.

I don’t hit women, but I’ll make an exception for Cassidy and Liz today.

As I approach them, Liz skitters away toward the stage, like the coward she is.

But Cassidy is bolder.

She drops the broomstick and steps towards me, her arms crossed.

“Are you sure about this path you’re on?” she asks, jabbing a thumb in Allie’s direction. “You’re making all these stupid decisions for that fucking mongrel. Don’t you see that you’re making a mistake?”

I’m fucking tired of her yapping.

“I’ve warned you about calling her anything but her name,” I say, grabbing Cassidy by the ponytail. She yelps in pain. I arch her head back so she’s looking up at me and shove my gun in her mouth. Cassidy’s eyes widen, and she claws at my hand. “I’ve been telling you to leave me alone for years. You can annoy me all you want, but I will not tolerate you doing this sort of shit to Allie.”

I push the gun deeper until I feel the resistance at the back of her throat. Tears bead in the corner of her eyes, her stone-cold facade coming undone.

“I will kill for what’s mine,” I say. “You might think this fucking place protects you, Cassidy, but if you touch Allie again, I will deliver your head to your mother’s doorstep. Do you understand?”

She’s frozen by fear, staring into my eyes.

I jiggle my finger on the trigger. She whimpers.

I want her to know I mean every word . That I hate her with every fiber of my existence, and I justwanther to give me an opportunity to kill her.

She nods stiffly.

After a few heartbeats, I put the gun away and let go of her hair. She crumples to the floor, dry heaving.

I resist the urge to kick her head.

“I’ll have the money wired in the morning,” I huff, walking away.

“Wait,” Cassidy rasps.

I pause and pin her prone frame with a harsh look.

“We had rooms prepared for the auction winners to use.”

I still don’t see where she’s going with this. “And?”

“You can use one to help her calm down,” she says, and produces a key from a pocket in her weird-looking dress. “Take the stairs at the front. The number’s on the fob.”

I take the key.

Allie seems lost in her mind. I don’t even think she’s realized I’m here, or that I’m the one who bought her. She doesn’t know yet that she has nothing to worry about.

I kneel beside her.

“Allie,” I say softly, but she doesn’t respond. She’s shaking so much, almost like she’s having a seizure. My chest tightens, and I try to put a hand on her shoulder, but she flinches away. “Allie, it’s me. Alexander. I’m here.”

She looks up, and her big, hazel eyes have a faraway look to them.

“Alex?” she mutters, and I nod.