Page 121 of The Boy I Loved
Dominic discreetly lifted his shirt, revealing a black pistol tucked beneath his waistband. Slowly, he tugged it free, fumbling with the side of it before a soft click sounded out. Just as he was about to rise again and use the weapon, Vincent approached. Hegripped Dom by the hair hard, a sneer curling his lips as he forced his neck to bend backwards.
“You are a fucking coward,” Vincent hissed, his blue eyes flashing with violence.
I shoved Vincent, trying to get him away from Dom. Instead, Vincent grabbed my arm and tugged me around his target, pulling me flush against his chest.
“It’s a shame really,” he taunted, running the snout of his pistol between my bare cleavage. A shiver rolled down my spine from the cold feel of it, tremors shooting through my body. “I always wanted to sample this tight pussy.” Sighing dramatically, mirth lit up his irises. “Guess I’ll have to settle for your sister’s instead.”
Before Dominic could react, Vincent raised his gun and fired. It all happened in slow motion, or so it seemed. My own screams sounded so distant, my body wiggling against Vincent’s in an attempt to get free. Dominic’s body falling forward, blood matting the back of his head. Agony ripped through me, tearing me up from the inside out.
Vincent shoved me toward Tristan, who held me close against his chest as if he ever truly cared for me beyond my body.
Fuck him. Fuck them all.
My knees buckled, hot tears streaming down my face. We were so fucking close to freedom. This was proof that evil always won out.
A twisted smirk crossed Clay’s face as he moved to stand before me. “I have to applaud you and my idiotic nephew,” he began. “That’s the closest anyone’s actually gotten to escaping.” He pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket and swiped it across his hairline. “If he hadn’t been shot, you two probably would have succeeded.”
Just as he turned his back on me, preparing to bark orders at the rest of the guys, Tristan’s voice rang out from behind me, his chest vibrating beneath my head.
“Hey, Clay,” he began. Clay turned around once more, thatarrogant look still etched into his features. What I hadn’t expected was for Tristan to lift his own gun and point it directly at his boss. “Fuck you,” he finished before pulling the trigger.
My ears burned, sound drifting in and out of tune with the ringing. Clay crumpled to the ground, his lifeless eyes peering up at the darkened sky. The bullet went right through his forehead, blood trickling from the wound. My breathing was unfocused, gasps and pants shaking my shoulders. If he’d done that ten minutes earlier, Dominic would probably still be alive.
That was when it hit me.
Dominic was dead. He’d never get to taste freedom again. He’d never see his mom or sister. He’d never have children or heal from the trauma inflicted upon him.
A sob wrenched from my throat, my legs growing even heavier. If it weren’t for Tristan holding me up, I’d probably be on the ground.
The rest of the guys didn’t seem to know what to do without having Clay to bark orders at them. They glanced around at one another in confusion.
“Does … this mean we’re free?” Nicholas asked hesitantly.
“Stay or go. I don’t give a fuck,” Tristan replied, wiping the gun off on the front of my dress. “I’m getting Hazel out of here. I’ll be back. Vincent, if you choose to stay, you’re in charge. If not, Rodney’s in charge.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Tristan was really going to let me go?
No one even protested, seeming to give Tristan their allegiance as if killing Clay made him the new leader. My head spun, tears still falling down my cheeks uncontrollably. There was a deep ache in my chest, opening a gaping hole that only Dominic could fix. But he was gone now.
Tristan loosened his grip around me, placing a hand against the small of my back instead. My thoughts and emotions were alljumbled as he steered me forward, leading me in the direction of the woods. Could this all be some kind of elaborate trick to get me alone? He wasn’t the sharing type and got jealous anytime I had to do anything sexual with someone else. Maybe he realized this was the perfect opportunity to lock me up somewhere, so he could come and go as he pleased.
The thought had my steps faltering. My fear amplified to new heights, and I was tempted to beg him to put me out of my misery right then.
When I glanced behind me, I spotted a few of the guys staring right back at me—Mason, Nicholas, Vincent, and Rodney. They all watched with unreadable expressions. The rest of the group had already started to split, heading back to the building where all of the other sex slaves resided.
They deserved to be free, too.
Unfortunately, I had no idea where we were or what town. Maybe I could ask someoneifTristan actually intended to let me go.
When we reached the tree line after what felt like an eternity, complete darkness wrapped around us. Not even the sliver of the full moon peeked through the branches, making it impossible to see a damn thing.
“Are you really letting me go?” I whispered, taking slower steps so I didn’t trip and fall on my face.
He was silent for a few moments, and I feared that my question alone might have been enough to give him ulterior motives. “Yes,” he replied simply.
I wanted to ask him why. He never cared about any of us before. Why did he kill Clay, and why was he letting me go? I wasn’t complaining, but it was definitely out of character. Instead, I bit my tongue. I didn’t want to unintentionally change his mind about that.
Silence stretched between us, the tears drying on my cheeks.The sadness was replaced with a bitter numbness, one that prevented me from feeling much of anything.
