Page 200 of The Sweetest Obsession

Shit, shit, no.

He can’t.

He won’t.

I start inching forward again, then go completely still as Aleksander smirks, aiming the gun dead at us over Nell’s shoulder.

“Ah-ah-ah. Not very smart, little sister. One little flick of the hand and it’ll be her just as easily as you.”

“You animal,” I hiss. “She’s just a little girl. Leave her alone!”

“She was old enough to follow us into trouble, wasn’t she? Such a clever little thing...” He makes the most disgusting kissy face toward a trembling Nell and my heart wrenches. “Too smart for a littlebrat. If she wants to fight like an adult, she can die like one, too.”

“No!” I thrust a hand out. “No, look, you can do anything you want with me. I swear, we won’t say a word, we just—please don’t hurt her.”

I’m at a loss. Reduced to begging this demon for a miracle because I don’t think he’s capable of mercy.

He looks at me flatly.

I think I see what makes his gleaming green eyes so different from mine and Ros’ now.

Unlike ours, his are totally empty.

Soulless.

His smile, a horrible clown mask splitting his face until it looks like plaster cruelty.

“Liar,” he spits. “I know when I’m outgunned. Well. Not literally.” He taps Nell’s shoulder with the pistol and she cringes. My gut bottoms out every time his finger shifts. “The moment I put the gun down, you’ll charge me. Two against one is hardly fair, is it?”

Shit.

I don’t know what to do.

I have to talk my way out of this. Ihaveto buy time. If I just have a few more minutes—

Except I don’t need them.

Because the next time I breathe, the odds are three against one.

My heart leaps as Grant comes vaulting over the railing behind Aleksander, a wild man with his face bristling with protective rage.

I’m not breathing as over two hundred pounds of pure grizzly force barrels down on Aleksander Arrendell like a tank.

25

ONE WAY TO SKIN A CAT (GRANT)

Never.

Never in my life have I felt anything like the murderous rage scalding my veins the instant I hear my little girl’s scream.

I don’t even remember how I got on the fucking yacht.

I know I meant to jump for the lifeboats bolted halfway down the hull—a target I can actually reach without someone holding the wheel steady for me—but I don’t remember actually doing it.

One second, Nell’s voice sliced through my heart.

Then the gun.

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