Page 71 of Graves

He takes out the clip, clearing the last bullet inside the chamber before testing it down the lane. Once he knows thereare no bullets inside, he points it toward me.

“What do you do?” he asks.

“Beg for mercy?” I snark.

He rolls his eyes but smiles, handing the gun to me. His head nods, and I take it, pointing it at him like he did me.

“So, if they are holding it with one hand, you want to do this in one motion. If they are holding it in their right hand, you’re going to grab the muzzle of the gun with your left and hit their arm with your right simultaneously.”

After he explains it, he does it so fast it makes my head spin. Zayden’s hand wraps around the muzzle, and he smacks my arm loose, forcing my grip to break as he holds the gun, spinning it into his hand and pointing it at me. I can’t help but laugh at how utterly incompetent I just was as he nods encouragingly.

“Your turn.”

Chapter Thirty-Two

ZAYDEN

My piece of shit brother has been lazy. He doesn’t care about her, not even in the slightest. If he did, he would have found this guy by now. He’s too worried about maintaining his legal businesses and keeping himself on the up and up to get his hands a little dirty. I have no such limitations.

It took me two hours to sift through Blake’s background before I was able to pinpoint exactly where I could find him. She didn’t give me anything to go on, of course, but she didn’t deny that it was a him, and when she shot thatfucking target up, I knew I was right on the money.

Dominic said it wasn’t her parents, and though that would be a logical explanation, it didn’t feel right. So, I started looking at her past relationships. Boyfriends, teachers, bosses. Anyone who could have been close enough to hurt her for an extended period of time. Then one name popped up, I took one look at his face and knew who it was.

So, that’s what brings me to this shithole neighborhood in the slums of Chicago at two in the morning. Blake is tucked away in bed with Dominic, safe and sound, and I’m standing over a sleeping dead man. I had planned to do it quickly, make it discreet, something like natural causes, especially with his sleeping wife beside him. I have a better idea, though. One I think my angel is going to thoroughly love. After all, tomorrow is our seven-month anniversary.

Chapter Thirty-Three

BLAKE

The bed beside me sinks down for a moment before an arm wraps around my waist, pulling me away from Dom and into a warm body. I feel a gentle inhale against my head before a soft voice is whispered into my ear.

“Good morning, angel.”

I can’t help but smile.

“Good morning, Zayden,” I murmur sleepily.

“I have a present for you,” he says before pressinga kiss to my neck.

“We’re sleeping,” Dom rasps. “Get the fuck out of my room.”

“Sorry, brother. My angel and I have a whole day planned. See you later,” he says before slipping his arms underneath me, lifting me into the air and out of the room.

I cling to him quickly, giggling as Dom shouts at us.

“Where the fuck are you taking me?” I laugh as Zayden walks into the spare room, setting me on the bed before grabbing some of the clean clothes I’ve folded and put in the dresser in here.

Now that Dominic and I are better, I feel like I spend more nights than not in his room, but nights like the night before last, where I obviously needed my space, this room works. Is it bad how easily I’m adapting to this life of captivity? Probably.

Zayden sets out a black T-shirt, a pair of black leggings, and some black socks.

“Get dressed, angel!” he says almost giddily.

I raise an eyebrow. “All black? Are you trying to turn me into you or something?”

He looks down at his black shirt, black leather jacket, and black jeans before giving me a wicked smirk.

“It’s a good look, yeah?”

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