Page 86 of Submission

My loyalty to people I trust has always been my Achilles heel.

My weakness.

Now, I’m seeing the overarching results of that mistake.

“So, you were never truly loyal to me, were you?” I say with reserve, as my blood boils with anger.

“Did you really think I would sit idly by while you stepped higher up in the organization? Did you think I’d be satisfied being your second in command? A Scottie Pippen to your Michael Jordan? Hell no.”

“Where you fell in the organization was up to you. We were both young, both building up our reps.”

“It was satisfying to see you break when you realized that your only family died painful deaths,” he says, his gun moving with each syllable that he utters. “But then you weren’t broken for long, were you? You always were resilient. You just tore through anything standing in your way, and it was later that it occurred to me that it was because you were careful to eliminate any weaknesses before they could be found. But you fucked up, Hunter. You fell in love with a girl? Really?”

“Who told you she’s my weakness?” I let out a low laugh. “Do you really think I am who I am in this city by accident? You don’t think all these years didn’t teach me how to protect my actual weaknesses?”

“Your sister, little Lena, is right there.” Jonathan points out. “Unprotected.”

“That was a variable I couldn’t have predicted,” I say coldly.

“Men, why don’t we start our game?” Jonathan says.

That’s when I see two more familiar faces reveal themselves. They are the gang leaders who didn’t show up at the meeting the other day.

I can’t say that I’m very surprised.

I just study them, unfazed, wondering if they realize that this is going to be their last day on the earth because I’m going to kill both of them…slowly.

“I’m going to make this easy for you,” Jonathan says with glee. As soon as he says that, both men take a position behind Megan and Lena, their Berettas pointed at their heads. My hands immediately tighten around my gun, but I don’t show any sign of stress on my face.

Lena looks terrified, and then I see Megan looking at her and frowning as if trying to communicate something to her. Lena’s hands clench the fabric of her dress, and she presses her lips together to hold her cries back even as her eyes fill up with tears.

“I will allow you to keep one girl alive,” Jonathan continues. “You just have to choose. After all, I did take your family away from you once. I can’t be that cruel and take away both your lover and your sister. Just doesn’t seem fair.”

My reinforcements haven’t arrived yet, and my jaw tightens. I need to stall. I need to think of something to buy myself some more time.

Fuck!

Megan meets my eyes, and I see her move her hand slightly. It’s enough for me to notice what she’s holding in it. My eyes move towards Lena, who is standing stiffly, trying to hold in her fear. But when my eyes settle on her, I see a shadow move behind her, behind the pallets, and the flash of a gun. The person hiding moves just enough for me to be able to identify them.

“And what happens to the one who survives?” I ask, choosing my words carefully. “Does she get to walk out with me?”

“Always the negotiator.” Jonathan smiles. “We’ll figure that part out later. For now, you choose. Is it the sister you barely know any longer or the college kid you’re fucking?”

My phone vibrates again, and I give Jonathan a relaxed smile.

“Then, the choice is obvious, of course,” I say.

Megan meets my gaze, giving me a terse nod. Her face is pale, and my hands tighten on my gun.

“Well?” Jonathan prods.

“I have to save my sister.”

Chapter 34

The Showdown

Hunter

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