I watched in horror as Dad drew his gun, aiming for Arnold, when a shot rang out and he fell to the ground. I yelped as Isaac fired four more rounds into Dad’s chest, the sound ricocheting around the warehouse walls. Blood pooled around him and his empty eyes were wide.
It gave me a bit of comfort knowing that for a split second, Dad knew he’d been double-crossed.
“Thank god we’re done with him. What a fucking diva,” Arnold scoffed. The zip tie bit into my skin as I continued my attempt to maneuver a hand out. “We got the information on the Moretti’s business that we needed, got the pipeline for girls under our control, and now we continue our plans.”
“You don’t think Dominguez will be mad we took him out?”
“Of course not. Pay Dominguez enough and he doesn’t give a fuck who he’s working with. He just wants the pussy. We control all of Castle Grove, he controls Fremontfor now. It’s going according to plan.” Arnold’s smile was straight-up psychotic. He was proud of himself for being the mastermind behind this. He turned to me and licked his lips. “What do you think, little flower?”
My stomach dropped at the nickname he called methat night. I swallowed before slipping my mask on. “I think you’ve made a mess of things.”
“That’s why I’m cleaning up,” he said as he sauntered over to me. My heart threatened to stop as he got closer, eyeing me up like his prey. “Soon this city will be rid of all the trash. Tonight, we will take out Gio and his clan, planting evidence pointing to the Sinners. Isaac will arrest every single one of them. I thought you’d be happy I took out your old man. You should show me how grateful you are.”
His sly smirk had bile rising in my throat and my stomach doing cartwheels.
It wasn’t a terrible plan–I mean, if you’re a fucking psychopath. Take out the Morettis and pin it on the Sinners. He’d used Dad to gain access to the girls he was selling–and probably for access to me–because the monster enjoyed tormenting me. And then he would have his brother arrest anyone left over. Tie up all the loose ends.
“I wanted to take him out.”
“I’m sorry, little flower. There will be plenty more where he came from. I know you have an insatiable thirst for blood and I have every intention of using your cravings to my advantage.”
“Why do you want me? I thought you only liked raping minors.”
Arnold leaned down so we were face to face. His eyes flicked to my chest and he licked his lips again, sending bile up my throat. “Because you’re mine. Always have been, always will be. I picked you for a reason and we’re going to have a wonderful life together ruling this town.”
He was as delusional as his daughter.
“Arnie, I think they followed us,” Isaac said, his voice shaking with fear.
Arnold stood to full height and let out an annoyed sigh. “No one fucking followed us, Isaac. You’re just as bad as the dead idiot on the floor. We’ve got guards outside for a reason. We’ll wait them out for the night and by tomorrow, all our problems will be dead. Let’s have some fun with my pet.”
My stomach soured as he turned back to me, that wicked glint in his eyes.
He pulled a knife from his pocket and sliced the plastic tie that held my wrists together. As he reached for the ties on the back of my dress, ready to strip me down, the sound of gunshots rang from outside.
Shots popped and men yelled as the door flew open, knocking Isaac back. He aimed his gun at the people breaching the building, but he was blasted away, his body filling with bullet holes as the sounds echoed around the room.
He rested lifelessly on the ground beside Dad, blood oozing from the multiple holes that riddled his corpse.
Arnold grabbed my arms and yanked me up to make an escape. I dragged my feet, scraping my heels against the rough floor as men dressed in black trickled through the door, surrounding us with weapons drawn.
A twisted feeling unfurled as I realized they were all here for me and Arnold wouldn’t be escaping.
“Look at you. You thought you could play my club?” Eli asked with a smile.
More men continued to filter in, and I realized it was more than just the Savage Sinners. Some of Gio’s men were here, as were some of Dominguez’s. They all showed up for me–just like they said they would.
“Don’t come any closer,” Arnold shouted and he held me against his body, slowly backing away from the main door. His rancid breath floated around me, making me cringe.
He pulled his gun from his waistband, pressing the barrel against my temple.
“Put the fucking gun down, Arlington,” Eli growled. Bash and Kane were next to him, both with their guns trained on Arnold’s sweaty head.
“It’s politics, Eli. You know how shit can be. With Dante out of the picture, I could use a partner in this town. What do you say?” Arnold asked, eyes wide and looking around at all the weapons pointed at us. He wouldn’t be talking himself out of this.
“Work with you? You’re a traitor. Do you know what we do to traitors, Arnold? We’ll take good care of you at the clubhouse.”
“I’ll blow her fucking brains out if you come any closer!”