Page 88 of The Stolen Dagger

I was more than eager to get Katherine away from Adrian, but I didn’t have that option if I wanted to stay on the right side of the law. I had to tread carefully.

So, as much as it killed me, I could only watch, awaiting Roman’s order, as the bead of blood cascaded down Katherine’s neck.

I didn’t have to wait long before all hell broke loose.

CHAPTER THIRTY

KATHERINE

“I’m only giving you one more chance to do the smart thing,” Roman growled, the anger unmistakable not only in his voice, but in the way his aged, clean-cut face morphed into one of unrestrained rage. “Let go of my daughter and hand over the dagger!”

As I struggled against Adrian, my wrath only rose.

I could feel the droplet of blood that dripped down my chest from where Adrian had pressed the dagger into my throat.

Every second I was at his mercy, my fear faded and was steadily replaced with anger.

Anger at Adrian for everything he’d done to me and the people I loved.

Anger at my father for his abandonment and connection with the dagger.

Anger at myself for getting caught up in this situation.

And now, my life was in the hands of my crazy ex who was having a standoff with my estranged father.

But I was sick of letting the men in my life make the decisions for me. Only I could get myself out of this mess, or at the very least, out of Adrian’s hands.

Because Adrian would sooner kill me than admit any kind of defeat, and like the arrogant snake he was, he wouldn’t make the first move.

So, I did.

Before I could overthink it, I skated over Adrian’s hand that held the dagger pointed to my throat, encircled the base of his thumb, and twisted, yanking the appendage away from me.

A sickening pop sounded, and Adrian let out a pain-filled scream. I thrust the point of my elbow back into his stomach. When he bent over, it gave me just enough room to turn in his hold and throw the heel of my palm up at his nose.

He dropped the dagger and instantly raised his hand to his injured appendage. A sense of triumph washed through me at the sight of him injured and bloody.

“Bitch,” Adrian spat and swung at me. I stumbled backward to avoid his open hand but wasn’t fast enough. His palm connected with my cheek again, and I fell to the ground from the force.

When I landed on my hands and knees, my sore shoulder gave out and an agonizing pain tore through me as the joint popped out of place for the second time in a week.

I cried out, cradling my shoulder, and rolled onto my back as my shoulder shifted back into place. I gasped, trying to breathe through the pain, but it was difficult with the stinging on my cheek, too.

“Katherine!” Drew yelled as he ran to me, but Hunter stepped between us.

“I’ve been waiting for this, pig.” Hunter closed the distance between them and swung his heavy fist into Drew’s jaw.

While Hunter was bigger, Drew was quicker. He dodged each of Hunter’s fists, placing strategic hits to Hunter’s ribs and sides as they fought.

Suddenly, four quick gunshots rang out. I ducked. The distinct sound of two bodies thudded to the ground behind me as the chaos ensued.

The two men who stood by Adrian’s SUV were now face down in the dirt.

They were dead.

“No shooting!” my father yelled. “Not with my daughter so close.”

Adrian still groaned and clutched his nose as Hunter fought Drew. That only left the last of Adrian’s men: the biggest one, Nick.