Chapter 75

GRACIE

"What did you do! " he screamed,  his face contorted with raw fury.

The phone was flung from my hands before I could even utter a word to Hayden, it was sent flying against the nearest wall with a loud crash.

He backhanded her hard twice across the face,  she fell gracelessly to the hard floor, a whimper escaping her lips.

The harsh mark of an ugly bruise was beginning to form below her left eye,  there was a blood stain running down her nostrils.

He kicked her repeatedly like a ragdoll,  earning a scream from me.

"Stop it! "

I fought against the binds on my foot in futility.

He turned towards me at that moment,  his lips curved in an evil snarl.

I couldn't begin to fathom how cruel he could be, he could even do this to his daughter, he would even do worse to me. But she fell into this situation all because of me. It was all because I had convinced her to help me.

"I made a mistake f..father, I shouldn't have d..done it t.. " her words and pleas were cut off by another harsh kick to her abdomen,  enacting a cry from her lips.

"Do you think I'm fucking stupid! You've made too many mistakes,  you'll have to learn " his voice was laced with venom as he stared down at her in hate.

"Take her away! you know what to do with bad girls like her " he barked out the sharp order to his men.

For the first time, I saw real fear in her widened gaze.

No,  it was a lot more than that.  It was raw terror,  but she didn't plead for his mercy, her body trembled but her lips were glued shut,  maybe it was because she knew that it would be useless.

What kind of a father was he? My mind drifted to my father, Matteo for a moment, they wouldn't even hesitate their children for their sick reasons.

"No! Let her go! " I screamed when the bulky guard I recognized from earlier began to drag her away roughly,  he had been the same person who snatched Hazel from me.

"Let her go! Why don't you all pick someone your size !" I yelled dragging their attention towards me.

I didn't know where my courage came from.

No,  I knew exactly where it came from.

It was borne out of fear.

Fear that I'll never hold Hazel in my arms again.

Fear that I'll never feel his intense possessive gaze on me as he proclaimed his love while he claimed me again and again.

Fear that Melissa would die and it would be all because of me.

Robert's attention snapped towards me then, he looked even more furious than ever.

"Do not test my patience girl! I assure you that I won't hesitate to hurt you..... Since I can't kill you just yet,  your little girl would be enough for that "

He even had the guts to smile while my insides pummeled with fury.

"Where is she?  If you hurt her,  I swear you'll regret it! " I seethed

"You are in no situation to do anything,  and unlike my good daughter, I'm not afraid to hurt you or... " He trailed off,  his gaze directed towards Melissa,  the bulky man shoved her around roughly as he waited for the last command of his boss.

"She's usually quite obedient unless when it comes to you,  this is why I have no choice but to show her once again what happens when little girls don't listen to daddy "

The way he said those words made my skin crawl, I wanted to help her but I couldn't think of anything.

"You are a coward,  you need three of your men for two girls like us,  not to mention that I'm even tied up, are you a man down there,  or maybe you've developed a pussy after abusing women for so long! " I spat with all the hate and frustration I felt inside.

If I thought he was angry before,  then words couldn't explain his expression right now,  his face was blotted red in rage, I knew I had somehow hit a nerve.

I saw his fist raised before he delivered a punch to my face,  knocking the wind out of me. My vision was hazy for a moment,  I saw him withdrawing something from his back pocket.

A gun.

"Leave!! " he thundered.

I was confused for a moment before I realized that he was talking to his men and not to me.

"Boss but y.... "

"Get the hell out! All of you... And she stays, I'll handle them myself. " he barked motioning towards his daughter,  the men didn't utter a word as they withdrew,  allowing her to fall limply to the floor.

Call it a stroke of luck,  but did he just order his men to leave?

Or maybe he knew he could handle us all by himself,  all though he looked past middle-aged,  but my aching jaw told me the strength of his fists,  I wouldn't underestimate him.

He gripped my hurtful chin hard, inflicting more damage,  I hated the sound of pain that escaped my lips.

"You not only look like her,  but you also don't know when to keep quiet like a good fucking bitch! I would have gotten to you sooner,  but that damn cop tried to ruin my plan "

Who was he talking about?

My brain slowly worked out the answer to my question.

Oh god!

Shawn?

He had killed Shawn?

My gaze flew to his sharply to meet his sadistic smile.

"You killed him,  why! " I choked out,  I had blamed Hayden for it,  oh god!  I had been wrong.

"He found our things he shouldn't have,  about my past,  I stopped him just in time, he would have ruined everything "

My knees trembled slightly,  in one way or the other Shawn had still died because of me,   his murderer was right here in front of me, but I was still helpless to do anything.

My skin crawled,  I felt the urge to throw up when he reached out a thumb to caress my face, down to my shoulders, his leering gaze made me all the more uncomfortable and disgusted.

"Get your hands off me!  He'll find you,  and he'll make you pay dearly for all the scars you've left on me! " I snarled out the words,  wiggling away from his repulsive touch.

He laughed in my face,  showcasing his crooked yellow teeth.

"I won't make that mistake twice,"

Twice?

What was he talking about? I had to stall a little more,  maybe a miracle might just happen,  I have to give ourselves as much time as I could.

"Why do you want to kill them so much? he considers you a friend, why did you say twice? You've tried to harm them before "

He chuckled aloud as if he found something amusing in my questions.

"You're quite naive aren't you? Who else do you think your bastard of a father worked for? Too bad that sleazeball couldn't achieve anything !"

I wasn't prepared for his answer,  not for the shock that rendered me speechless.

Matteo?  Worked for him?

He knew Matteo.

It would make sense. He had been the brain behind everything.

"That bastard Mcandrews does not care for anybody but himself, he stole everything,  my position, power, and even... " his hate-filled words trailed off,  I wondered what he had been about to say.

"Abducting me won't get you what you want!  You'll fail like the last time! "

"I said earlier that I have so many plans for you,  I don't plan on using you as bait!  You are here for my pleasure,  and to replace her,  it's been a long time "

Her?  Who was he talking about?

This time when he tried to touch me,  I couldn't control my instant reaction,  I acted quickly,  knocking the gun off his hands using the element of surprise,  but I still didn't get far before his hand caught on to my foot pulling me towards him.

From the corner of my eyes, I saw a movement,  it was Melissa.  I have almost forgotten her presence.

She was slowly moving towards the forsaken gun laying on the ground.

My heart pounded frantically as I averted my gaze,  I have to find a way to keep him preoccupied until she could reach towards it.

"You were incompetent to achieve anything, you deserve nothing but to rot in the deepest portion of hell !"

He struck my face hard, gripping my hair in a tight fist.

"Shut up!  "

"You are a failure! That's why you can never achieve all that he has, you failed years ago and you'll be a complete sick bastard until you're dead! And you'll die for sure! "

His face bloated with fury, his movements were quick,  next he was choking me,  a pocket knife pressed against my neck.

"I'll kill you, you little whore!" spittle flew from his mouth as the pressure on my neck increased.

From the corner of my eyes I saw her fingers clenched around the gun, she approached us stealthily to press the barrel to his temple.

"Drop the knife and let her go! " her voice shook,  but at the same time clear with a warning.

Shock and disbelief etched on his face.

"Ungrateful bitch,  what are you doing! " He still had that confidence lacing his voice like he was sure she wouldn't be able to pull the trigger on him.

"I won't let you kill me because you are going to die first!" her voice trembled,  but her fingers were firm and steady.

He must have seen the loathe and determination in her gaze,  the knife slowly slipped from his hands and fell on the floor with a clang. I could breathe once again.

I couldn't help the admiration I felt for her courage.

She wasn't in any way a broken doll, even though the abuse was perhaps all she has ever known.

"Keep that down girl!  This is your last and only warning! "

She laughed aloud,  her expression going a little crazed.

"I only want to survive longer, that's all I've been doing,  I don't want to die like her!  That's why you are going have to die "

"I'm your father, I raised you! You can't kill me, besides you'll never find the little girl if you do! " he spoke,  seeming confident.

"Don't worry father,  I found where you kept her and she's safe, far away from you! "

I stared at her unable to conceal my surprise,  she already planned to help me from the beginning?

But why? Why was she so keen on helping me?

Her fingers tightened around the trigger,  Then she pulled

Nothing happened.

A train of curses escaped her mouth as she tried repeatedly,  but nothing.

The gun hadn't been loaded!

Roberts didn't wait,  he lunged towards her, he was strong and agile for his age.

The murderous intention is clear in his gaze as his fingers tightened around her neck,  choking the life out of her.

"I'll kill you!  I'll kill you! " he chanted, his expression crazed and psychotic.  His fingers tightened to increase the pressure around her neck. She struggled,  but it was no use, he was too strong for her fragile stature. Her face was gradually turning paperwhite.

He was going to kill her.

The thought sent my blood thrumming and my heart racing.

I have to stop him.

But how?

My gaze fell on the pocket knife which he had once held to my throat, without giving it a second thought, I crawled my way towards it, clasping it around my fingers.

My fingers trembled,  I have to do this,  so many lives are counting on me.

Hazel... Shawn,  Hayden....and me.

I'll do this for this strong woman who gave her all to protect me,  with a strengthened resolve I tightened my fingers around it.

He was so immersed that he didn't hear me approach.

"You wanted to save your sister,  why don't you die first bitch! "

Wait...

What?

*******

???

Thoughts?