Page 107 of Once A Villain

Sinking into the couch, I curl up, grabbing a blanket from the back of the sofa and draping it over my shoulders. The wine warms my veins, and I close my eyes, trying to block out the storm outside.

The rattle of branches against the windows jolts me awake. I open my eyes to rain lashing against the glass and wind howling through the trees. My body feels numb, and my mind is foggy.

How long have I been out? I check the clock—it’s almost 12:30 AM. No sign of the masked man. He’s not coming.

Disappointment crashes over me. Why did I think he would?

A car pulls up to the curb, and my pulse quickens. I hear the front door handle rattle.

“Rory! Open the fucking door!” Griffen’s voice roars through the storm. Panic surges as I unlock the door. He storms in, drenched and livid. “What the fuck, Rory?! Are you fucking crazy?!”

“Griffen, what are you doing here?”

“What am I doing here? What are YOU doing here?! Do you have any idea what you just did?” My blood runs cold; the room starts to spin.

“I—”

“You just made a huge fucking mistake, Rory. Axel is fucking furious!”

“Griffen, I?—”

“Fuck, Rory! What the hell were you thinking? You’re in so much trouble!”

“Griffen, please,” I beg, my voice breaking.

“He’s going to fucking kill you!”

“Just listen to me. Please,” I plead, tear welling in my eyes.

“Can you even drive, or are you drunk?” His gaze lands on the wine bottle, his expression darkening.

“I’m not drunk,” I snap, but it only makes his anger flare more.

“Grab your shit. We’re leaving. Now.” He grits his teeth, and I know better than to argue. Defeated, I grab my purse and phone from the kitchen, taking one last look at my house.

“Rory!”

“Fine,” I snap back, and he grabs my arm, dragging me out into the storm.

Rain lashes down, wind howling as he shoves me toward the Range Rover. I climb into the driver’s seat, my stomach churning with dread. Griffen’s Bugatti roars off into the night, tires squealing against the wet pavement.

I take a shuddering breath and put the car in drive, dread coiling tighter in my gut. Griffen’s right—Axe is going to kill me.

As I drive, my hands shake uncontrollably.

Pulling into the driveway, the security lights cast eerie shadows on the walls. The storm rages, rain drumming on the roof, and the windshield wipers are the only sound breaking the silence.

The gate slides open, and I inch through, my vision blurred by tears. How do I explain this? Sobs shake my body, and the weight of everything crashes down. Fear clenches at me as I grip the steering wheel. The car stops, and I look up to see the garage door in front of me.

I made my choices, and now I have to face the consequences. I can either be brave and own up or be a coward and lose everything my mother left me.

Stepping out of the car, the rain and wind batter me. My clothes cling to me, soaked through, and my hair sticks to my face.

I stop dead. Axe’s car is in the driveway.

Panic floods me, and my stomach drops. I thought I’d have more time. But there’s no escaping it now. As I climb the steps, the door swings open. He stands in the doorway, his eyes blazing with pure rage—I’ve seen that look before. The night he branded me.

My chest tightens, and I can’t breathe past the lump lodged in my throat.

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