Page 48 of Wicked Truths

That doesn’t sound like the woman he’s making her out to be. The one that orchestrated her fake death. The one shacked up with our family’s biggest rival.

Jax raises the gun to my chest. A soft click fills the air as he cocks it.

I hold up my hands. “Wait, if my mom is alive and in New York with your father, why are you here? Why aren’t you in New York living your life?”

“To finish out the plan.”

“What plan?” I ask to keep the conversation going. If I want a chance to fight to stay alive, then I need to catch him off guard.

“To kill your family.”

“We aren’t a threat to your family down here. If Mom wants to forget about us, then so be it, but the least she can do after tricking us is to let us try to be happy without her.”

“Well, then, let’s call this a personal vendetta. Me against your family.”

“What do you have against my family? You were also a child when the accident happened and we moved away. What did my family ever do to you?”

“Are you really this fucking stupid or just naïve?”

“Well, let’s see. I have no fucking clue what you are talking about. My brother and father keep me at an arm’s distance at all times, and have my whole life. I had to sneak here just to find out what was going on, so yeah, I guess I’m just naïve.”

My blood pounds through my veins as anger builds in my chest.

All of this was avoidable, if my father and brother trusted me enough to be involved.

“I guess you’re going to die in the dark because I’m running out of time and patience.”

With the conversation over, there’s only one tactic left to try, and that’s begging. “Please, Jax, don’t do this.”

“I have no choice.”

“Yes, you do. We all have a choice. You don’t have to continue my mother’s plans. You don’t have to resort to violence, especially since I never did anything to hurt you.”

I see the change in his eyes as his hardenedexpression softens. He glances behind him as if he’s considering walking away.

This is my opportunity. My one chance at escaping.

I let out a loud, blood-curdling scream, and I swing my arm and straighten my hand to chop his wrist.

The gun falls to the ground as he lets out a yelp. “Fucking bitch!”

I kick the gun away in the direction of the front gate. I push past him, knocking him into the side of the building, as I run toward my freedom. My family.

But I’m not quick enough.

He wraps his hand around my arm and pulls me back toward him.

I punch, kick, and fight as hard as I can because I refuse to die without putting up a fight. I have too much to lose to give up now.

If Mom is really still alive, then I have to see it with my own eyes. I need answers. I need to know the truth.

Digging my nails into Jax’s arms, he yells out in pain and lets go of my arm.

Time seems to slow as I sprint toward the front of the building. My lungs ache, needing more air than I can breathe in.

I just need to make it to the back of the building where they are unloading the shipment, then I’ll be safe.

Jax barrels into me from behind, knocking me to the hard ground.