Page 45 of Before the Fall
Of course, the gun he keeps waving around is going to make our ability to run faster than his fat ass a moot point. Something about the way I say that in my head makes me smile. I sounded like Jaxon there for a brief moment. His cockiness might be rubbing off on me.
God, please give me the chance to see him again and tell him that.
“So, if I’m any judge of my brother and my nephew, they’re going to come in here shooting the place to shit once they figure out how to breach the gates. Both of them aren’t thinking clearly, though, which puts them at a disadvantage. You ladies are going to get to watch the whole thing on that monitor over there,” Victor says with a smile as he points his gun toward the far wall.
“Why are you doing this?” I finally ask, unable to take the stress of being tied up and held by this madman anymore. “These are your family members. Why do you want to hurt them or hurt anyone they love?”
For a long moment, he just stares at me like before, and I’m immediately sure I’ve made a mistake by opening my mouth. I wait for him to walk over to me again and do something to me like he did to Kaia, but he doesn’t move.
He just sits there with his legs swinging off the end of that table studying me. I’m like some butterfly under glass he can’t seem to figure out.
Pointing his gun at me, he smiles and says, “Yes, they are my family. Not much good it’s ever done me, but yes, we’re family. My brother has worked against me ever since he was old enough to try to become our father’s favorite. As for your boy Jaxon, he’s my other brother’s son but I treated him like he was my own. I gave that boy everything he could ever want.”
Something in his voice sounds almost nostalgic, so I take a chance and say, “You sound like you cared about them at one point. Don’t you think you could again? It’s not like you can get a brother or nephew back once they’re gone.”
His eyes grow big, and I know in mere seconds that was a mistake. “I loved them! Ungrateful bastards! I loved them and made sure their lives were the best. They got everything they wanted from me, and now they plan on killing me! And why? Because I don’t want to ruin the Varens name by being kindler and gentler. I’m a fucking businessman, for Christ’s sake! Kindness can go fuck itself. I loan money, and I expect it paid back the way it’s agreed upon. Those two think people should be given second chances. Fuck second chances! The world doesn’t give second chances, so why should I? Ryker’s gotten squeamish since he met this bitch and doesn’t want to traffic women or drugs. What the fuck are we supposed to make money on then? What the fuck are we now if we aren’t the family we’ve always been?”
He stops and jumps down off the table again, waving his gun even more erratically now. “I see what you’re doing, you know. You think if you get me talking you’ll distract me from what I plan to do. Well, it’s not going to work, little girl.”
“No, no. That’s not it at all. I was just hoping you would reconsider killing people I care about.”
Throwing his head back in laughter, he says, “Maybe I should just kill you two.”
“No! That’s not what I meant. I just meant that you care about Jaxon and Ryker. Maybe you don’t have to kill them or us. Maybe we could all just keep living.”
I hear myself and wish I sounded stronger and less naïve, but I’m desperately trying to keep this man from killing Kaia and me while hoping he won’t be able to do anything to Jaxon and Ryker. I don’t know what to do to convince this man not to hurt any of us.
“You are an interesting creature. I’ll give you that. This one over here is the same old same old, but not you. I’m thinking I’m curious enough to know what makes you tick that I may let you live. You probably won’t like what I’m going to do to you as you live, but you know you can’t have everything in life.”
Sensing I might have a chance to at least help Kaia, I seize on Victor’s interest in me. “Then why not let Kaia go if you don’t care about her?”
He leans down in front of me and gets in my face so I can’t look away and says, “I didn’t say I cared about you. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves now.”
Up close, he’s absolutely horrific looking and smells like something deep fried. Unlike Jaxon and Ryker, he got none of his family’s good looks. His eyes are too close together and a strange shade of brownish green that reminds me of something you’d find in a baby’s diaper. Because he’s overweight, his face is unnaturally full, as if he’s hoarding food in his cheeks. Patches of hair dot his jawline making it look like he can’t grow a beard too.
And as if all of that isn’t bad enough, he smells like he’s full of freshly deep-fried carnival food. I have to fight the urge to throw up with each second that passes and he’s still right in my face.
“I know you don’t care,” I squeak out, “but if I’m the only one who interests you, send Kaia home. It might make your brother not want to come here and exact his revenge. That’s one less person to deal with, and I know for sure that he never wanted to kill you.”
Victor listens to me as I hurriedly say what I hope will convince him to free Kaia. I know that will likely mean I don’t get out of here without something unspeakable happening to me, but at least Maxim will have his mother back.
Mostly, I’m hoping Jaxon will get here before anything really terrible happens with Victor.
Beside me, Kaia gasps in horror as I bargain for her release. “No, Tia! Don’t give this man anything!”
In a flash, Victor slaps her hard across the face with the back of his hand. “Nobody asked your opinion, bitch!”
I watch in horror as she falls over in her chair, her head slamming off the floor. “Please, don’t! I’ll do anything. Just don’t hurt her. Let her go. You don’t like having her here. Let her go. I promise to do whatever you want. Please!”
My begging seems to appeal to him, and he nods like he’s considering my suggestion. God, I hope he lets her go. That little boy with the big brown eyes who sat with me at breakfast this morning singing his ABCs deserves to grow up with his mother by his side.
Turning toward the other man standing on the side of the room, he says, “Take her out and leave her by the gate. My brother can pick her up when he gets here.”
My hopes soar until the other man asks, “Can I do whatever I want with her first?”
Unable to keep my mouth shut, I cry out, “No! Don’t hurt her!”
Victor’s amused by my plea and shrugs as he laughs at me. “Make sure she doesn’t have any marks on her if you do.”