Page 20 of His Paradise

“We have some guests following us. I think your little whore of a sister called in the fucking calvary.” David’s hand strikes across my face before I can flinch away, the burning sting ignites over my cheek as I fall sideways.

Grayson catches me, gritting his teeth as I stay limp in his arms. David’s words are slow to register past the throbbing in my head, and I can vaguely hear Grayson telling me to keep my head down and stay quiet. Laughter bubbles through the cloth in my mouth as I lock eyes with David.

He stares down at me as if I’ve grown a second head and I curl my lips into a grin. He reaches out and wrenches the fabric from between my teeth and I swallow hard, trying to soothe my dry mouth.

“Want to share with me what is so fucking funny?” He asks.

“Nina,” Grayson warns.

“My husband is going to cut you into pieces so small, minnows won't have to chew you.” My voice breaks and my lips cracks and I smile wider. I can see the redness crawl along his veiny, thick neck as his flash with murderous rage. David brings his foot back, kicking towards my body but never makes contact.

Grayson lurches backwards, standing suddenly as he pulls me with him. David stumbles sideways as he’s caught off guard and his rage turns to confusion.

“Who the fuck do you think you are interfering like that?” David shouts, throwing his hands up.

“If they come for Nina and you beat her to death, you’ve got no bargaining chip, boss. What if it is her husband? You didn’t fare well against them the last time you had a run in.” Grayson speaks softly, using a placating tone. David shakes his head, reaching up to tug his hair as he walks. I can see the strands between his fingers when he pulls them away and races towards the stairs with two other men hot on his heels.

The hatch slams shut behind him, the sound making my ears ache as we shift on the ocean. Grayson blows out a breath, straightening me as he looks at my cheek.

“You’re either brave, or reckless. I haven’t decided which one.” Grayson shakes his head, but I can see the empathy in his eyes. I step away from him, looking around the bright white room. The small kitchen below deck was disorienting but it was better than the bedroom I was in before. I peered at the countertop that had a row of drawers below it. One of them had to have something inside of it worth using as a weapon. Grayson leaned into my line of sight, raising a brow.

“Bringing a butter knife to a gunfight? Reckless it is.” He shakes his head as if I’m the problem. I keep my mouth shut, leaning back against the wall as I struggle to listen. The sound of the engine drowns out everything else, but even if it’s my imagination, I hear the faint rumble in the distance. Grayson leans next to me, crossing his arms and he tips his chin towards the hatch.

“Your husband is gonna slaughter every one of us, ain’t he?” Grayson asks.

“Yes, he is.”

“Good,” His one word catches me off guard and I twist to stare at him. “Each and every one of us has done something unforgivable, or stood aside while David did. Wipe us all out, it’ll be a better world.” He says, smiling as if he is relieved by the idea of it.

“You did what you had to for your daughter.”

“I did what I did because I don’t have a fucking soul, sweetheart. It’s not any deeper than that.”

“You’re a good person,” I say. Grayson scoffs as he walks past me to sit down at the bench and table that is bolted to the wall. He waves a hand, motioning to the seat across from him.

“Come sit before you fall on your face, not that it can look much worse. When shit starts to pop off, I want you under this table. I won’t let anything happen to you, Nina.” He says, and I sink down on the bench. My mind races as I try to come up with a way that we make it out of this alive, so that he can return to the daughter that he sacrificed so much for.

I betrayed my husband to protect our son, and I couldn’t judge him for doing the same. A gunshot echoes above us, the sound vibrating through the metal as we both stare at the hatch. Grayson pulls out a knife, snatching my hands in his as he swipes the blade between my wrists. The ties that bound me snap apart and he pats my hand, turning the knife to hand it to me with the hilt first.

I hold it tightly, crouching beneath the table as Grayson stands in front of me. My hands shake as I wait, listening to the sound of shouts above us of gunshots and feet slamming across the floors. Another strong wave rocks us as the door slams open and Grayson struggles to keep his footing.

“Get her the fuck up and give her to me!” David sounds frantic as he thunders towards us. Grayson’s gun clicks as he points it at David.

“You’re not going to hurt her anymore, David. You’ve lost, it’s time to give up.” He tells him, his voice calm but stern. David laughs, pointing his gun at me while he steps closer.

“You are pathetic, Grayson. You let easy pussy convince you to betray your own daughter? Get a fucking grip. If I die, so does your little girl. Go ahead and pull that trigger and show me what kind of man you are.” David steps closer, leveling his gun at me.

The shot erupts just as another wave rocks us, the sound piercing my ears as I fall backwards with a scream and slam my head against the wall. Black spots blur as warmth spreads over my body and I desperately struggle to open my eyes and pull each breath into my lungs.

Chapter seventeen

Aden

She is here somewhere, and I’m not leaving without Nina in my arms. Markus lunges to the steering, launching us sideways as he spins the watercraft, spraying up a wall of water before speeding around the side of the boat.

“It’s now or never, ladies.” He smirks to us, smacking up against the side of David’s boat and sending all of us to the floor.

“This is why I steer and you sit your ass down,” Jared snarls, helping Luna onto his back as he leaps upwards, catching the rings and heaving them onto the deck. I follow after them, hearing Luna and Jared shouting to each other as they rip through the men waiting. Gunshots and the sound of metal pinging fills the night as I stare at the five dead bodies that are bleeding on the deck.

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