Page 67 of Lore
Trent shakes his head, turning to the man he brought here on a fool’s mission. “No, please. Of course she’d protect them.” He then addresses Atiana himself. “I want my daughter! Bring her out to me now, and I’ll leave you alone to live your life.”
Blade suddenly walks out and hands his phone to Prez, who hands it to Alexei. Alexei nods to the man next to him, who reads it and says something in Alexei’s ear.
If possible, his expression turns colder.
In one swift moment, he pulls out his gun and shoots Trent in the head point-blank.
He drops to the ground, dead.
Without sparing him another glance, he turns back to us. “We apologize…” he pauses and adds, “And we thank you for the cleanup.” Then they leave, climbing back into their fancy-ass cars.
Atiana looks away from Trent’s body, tears dripping down her cheeks. I wish I could have spared her from seeing that. I knew he was going to die, but I thought it was going to be at my hands, and not with her having to watch.
“Come on, let’s get you back inside.” I carry her in my arms, and she melts against me, burying her face in my neck.
I go straight upstairs and lay her down in my bed, just holding her tightly. Trying to keep her together.
“I’m sorry you had to see that,” I murmur, planting my lips against her forehead. “So sorry, baby.”
“It’s o-over,” she whispers back, her voice cracking. “It’s over.”
A little while later, my phone vibrates, and I see what Blade found and showed Prez and Alexei.
Trent had made a deal to sell Dove.
This asshole was going to sell his own-fucking-daughter to make the money back that he’d lost.
Three million dollars.
He was going to sell my daughter.
I take a deep breath and hold it in for five seconds, trying to curtail my anger, not wanting Atiana to know.
She will never fucking know the truth.
Never.
I type back a message.
Kill the buyer.
A few hours later, I get a message.
Kill confirmed.
I can always count on my brothers.
No one will ever hurt her again.
ATIANA
The next morning is a new day. We’re safe now. I don’t have to worry about Trent hurting me or him trying to take Dove. But when I tell Lore I’m heading out to the shops, he sends four men to watch me.
Four.
Either something is up, or he’s just feeling overprotective.
Walking into the supermarket with Danger, Blade, and the twins is an experience in itself. We walk in a line, and Bones leans his arm on my shoulder.
