Page 87 of Talon

“He was my father long before he became your spouse,” I fire back.

“You’re so ungrateful. He works so hard so you can take his money and then play around saving little animals. It’s pathetic.”

“He pays for half of my house, but that’s it. And that comes out of the trust fund my mother left for me. It’s not even his money, not directly.”

“Whatever. Most people can’t live the way you do while working at a non-profit. You get to live like a princess while the rest of us fight for every dollar. Well, not anymore. I’m going to make sure you never use your conniving ways to take another penny from your father.”

“What are you talking about? I never asked for any of this,” I protest, my fear momentarily eclipsed by indignation. How could she be so blind to the truth?“My mother left me that money. It has nothing to do with my father. I live a perfectly normal life. There’s nothing royal about it. I’m not a spoiled princess. You are so wrong about me.”

“Ha! A normal life, really? Can’t you see how your very existence has made mine miserable?” Her voice drips with venom, while her eyes bore into mine. She’s not just unhinged; she’s dangerous.

“Maybe if you tried to understand my life,” I suggest, praying this might buy me more time,“you’d see that we’re not so different.”

“Understand you?” she scoffs, her grip on my arm tightening.“You’ve had everything I ever wanted, and you think I should try to understand you? No, Jessica, it’s time for you to suffer like I have.”

My heart pounds as the gravity of the situation sinks in. I need to find a way out—and fast. But with Allison watching my every move, I’ll need to be smarter than her if I want to survive.

The sound of heavy footsteps echoes in the distance. My heart races faster with each step. Whoever’s coming might be here to rescue me, or at least distract Allison enough so I can escape. Her fingers dig into my skin, gripping my arm tighter than a vise. She’s not letting me go any time soon.

“Here he comes,” she whispers, a sinister smile spreading across her face.

The man approaching us is huge. He’s tall and broad-shouldered, and he’d normally be considered handsome, except for one thing—his dark eyes are filled with menacing evil. I swallow hard because he’s not here to help me.

“Unlock it,” Allison orders.

The man produces a key from his pocket before turning it in the lock. It opens with a heavy clunk. As the door creaks open, it reveals a dimly lit room beyond it. I barely catch a glimpse before Allison drags me inside.

As I take in my surroundings, my legs wobble beneath me. It’s the morgue. Cold. Sterile. And lined with rows of metal drawers. The unmistakable scent of disinfectant and decay fills my nostrils, making me gag. Am I going to end up just as dead as the other people in this room?

“Get her on the table,” Allison commands, her voice stiff and devoid of emotion.

My stomach churns at the thought of what might happen next. I still don’t understand what she was ranting about earlier. I’m not a fairytale princess, but she’s turning into the epitome of an evil stepmother.

The man easily lifts me off my feet and slams me onto one of the autopsy tables. I yelp as air gets knocked out of my chest. Struggling to take another breath, I’m putty in his big, rough hands.

“Hold still,” he growls, his breath hot and fetid against my face.

I try to squirm away, but his grip is unrelenting. He and Allison work to tie me down. Their movements are so precise and practiced that I have a sick feeling they’ve done this before.

Despite my best efforts to break free, the restraints hold me fast. Allison and the man watch me struggle, both smirking at my useless attempts to get away.

“Please,” I beg, my voice cracking under the weight of my terror,“you don’t have to do this.”

“Shut up, Jessica,” Allison sneers.“No one’s coming to save you.”

My heartbeat echoes in my ears as I struggle against the restraints binding me to the cold metal table. Every fiber of my being screams for escape, but I know that won’t happen without understanding Allison’s motives.

“What do you want?” I force the words out through gritted teeth, trying to sound braver than I feel.

Allison smirks, her eyes glinting with animosity.“I want you dead. Once you’re out of the way, Randolph’s money will be mine. Millions. Enough so I never have to work or rely on a man again.”

The man by her side glances at her.

“Don’t worry, Kyle. You know it’s for us. We’ve been planning it for years, and now, it’s finally happening.” She gives him the huge, pageant-sized smile I’ve seen her flash my dad so many times. It’s just as fake now as it was then, but Kyle’s too stupid to see it. To be fair, my dad never noticed her lies, either, so I guess I can’t blame this guy for being just as gullible as my father.

“I wasn’t concerned,” Kyle says.“We’ll have plenty of money once the old man dies.”

“Money?” I gasp, disbelief and horror warring inside me. How could someone be so callous? My father loved her, and all she ever wanted was his wealth?

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