Page 74 of Secrets & Desires
“It’s confirmed. Sandor Carpentier is your half-brother. We have men on the way to your office and to his mansionrightnow.”
“He’s not in the office…and Livia is athishome.”
“Gotcha. We’re onourway.”
He got up and raced out of the office, ignoring Harriet’s startled yell as he pushed past her and out to his car. “Answer your phone,goddammit!”
He called Charvi in desperation. “Charvi, I know Livia came to see you this morning. I need you to tell me everything.Everything.Rightnow…”
ChapterTwenty-Nine
As Livia movedthrough the hallways of Sandor’s mansion, her heart thumping, she looked for his security team but there was no one. “Where the hell iseverybody?”
Jason was looking tense. “I think we should get you out of here, Ms.Chatelaine.”
Livia shook her head, heading for Sandor’s study. “Keep a lookout for me. I’ll be quick, Ipromise.”
Inside, she rummaged through every drawer in Sandor’s desk, every file she could get her hands on from his cabinet. Nothing. Finally, she found a box shoved on the window sill behind the curtain. She opened it and saw various personal items—toothbrush, toiletries, old postcards, and photos. At the bottom, a stack of letters. She flipped through them and saw they were all addressed to Gabriella. She stuck them in the back pocket of her jeans and returned the box to where itcamefrom.
“Ms. Chatelaine, I think we should go.” Jason had stepped into the room, but before she could answer, he gave a strange, gargling, noise, his eyes bulging and, in horror, she saw blood spurt fromhisneck.
“Jason?”
He looked at her, his expression confused, pained. Blood spurted from the hole in his neck that Sandor’s knife had made. Sandor grinned at her as he yanked the knife out of Jason, who slumped, dead, to the floor. “Hey there, Livia. Good to see you.” He waved the knife. “Time to be gutted, pretty girl.” And he wentforher.
Charvi told him everything and,desperate, Nox drove like a mad man towards Sandor’s home, knowing he might be too late, that Sandor had had a head start, and if he caught Livia snooping... Images of Ariel dead, of Pia, all superimposed with Livia’s face. Livia lying dead on the grave, her belly cut open, her blood soakingeverything.
No. No. Notagain.
And his family. Nox knew in his bones that Sandor and Florian had killed them, had framed his beloved Dad, murdered his brother, shot the defenseless Gabriella and left her to die a slow, agonizing death. And all because Florian Carpentier was a jealous, psychopathic rapist.Fuckers.
But all he could think of now was getting to Livia, to save his love.Please, please, let herbeokay…
Despite being shockedand terrified at Sandor’s appearance, Livia was ready tofight.
“Motherfucker!”She yelled at him and launched herself at the man. Hitting him full force, they tumbled to the floor, the knife slicing through the air, precariously close to Livia’s body. She pounded at his face, kicking him, totallyenraged.
Sandor cuffed her across the face so hard her ears rang as she crashed to the floor. “I knew you suspected me, Livia, as soon as I saw your face yesterday. When the home called me this morning and told me you’d been snooping around…” He straddled her and tried to bind her hands. Livia struggled, yelling at him, hoping that someone,anyonewould come. He grabbed her head and bounced it viciously off thefloor.
“Livia!”
Nox.Nox was coming. It gave her strength, and she brought her knee up, striking Sandor in the balls—but it wasn’t enough. As she scrambled away from him, he jerked her back and slammed her back against the wall, ripping open her shirt. Livia struggled, but then he put his forearm across her throat, pressing down hard, and she couldn’tbreathe.
“Fuck you, asshole,” she gasped, “you can kill me but you won’t get awaywithit.”
Sandor merely smiled and drove his knife into her belly. Livia gasped at the agonizing pain that shot through her. “Shame I can’t do this slowly, beautiful girl, but as you can tell, I’m in a hurry.” Blood pumped from the wound and Livia could smell rust and salt. Sandor admired his work. “You bleed well, Livia. I’m going toenjoythis.”
Dazed by the pain, Livia lost her breath as he stabbed her again, the knife driving through her navel and slicing deep into her. But then Nox was there, roaring, knocking Sandor off of Livia, who slumped to the floor. Livia rolled onto her side and crawled away, bleeding heavily, her hands clamped to the vicious wounds in herbelly.
Seeing Nox and Sandor struggle, she crawled towards Jason’s body. Grabbing the bodyguard’s gun, she turned in time to see Sandor sink his knife into Nox’s stomach. Nox yelled out in agony and Sandor laughed, yanking theknifefree.
“No!”Livia screamed and aimed the gun at Sandor, pulling the trigger. The gun clicked. Livia cursed. Was the gun empty? Sandor got in a vicious right hook to Nox’s temple. Nox staggered away from Sandor and Sandor dived atLivia.
“Stupid bitch,” he snarled, “you have to turn the safetyoff. Allow me todemonstrate.”
As Nox, bleeding, came after him, Sandor turned the gun on Livia and shot her, the bullet tearing through her belly. It felt like fire ripping through her. Her body jerked with the impact and she could no longer feelherlegs.
We’re going to die here. We’re both going to die here…“Nox…” Her voice was weak and she felt herself dying now. There was blood everywhere, and she could feel her body shutting down. Fighting with Sandor, Nox looked at herdesperately.
