Page 111 of Wallflower

“I don’t like liars in my ranks.” Maximus casts his gaze from Bradley to the other man. “Both of you, step away from Miss Rose.” His tone is sharp, lethal. It sets me on edge.

“Boss…?” The hesitation in my brother’s voice tugs at my gut. It’s the same small voice I hear in my nightmares, calling for me.“Rippy,”he says, messing up my name as any small child would. But I’d drown him out, turn him away, because our sister didn’t like interruptions. He probably lives thinking I turned my back on him, never looked for him. However, that’s not true. I did. Endlessly. For years. But if this is where he wound up, Maximus would’ve scrubbed his existence from everywhere Bucky or I searched.

“Take your pick, Mr. Morgan.”

His voice jars me from my stupor. “I beg your pardon?”

“Retribution. Don’t you want it?”

“Of course…” This is too good to be fucking true.

“I denied you before. This time, I won’t. Take your pick.”

Where do I even start? The choice should be obvious. It is. But the pit in my stomach begs me to reconsider.

“Richmond, hand Mr. Morgan your firearm.”

“Sir?”

“Now, Rich.”

“Yessir,” he hisses.

I can’t contain the smile that beams out of me. Fuck this prick. I should end him with his own weapon.

“Don’t even think about it, Mr. Morgan.”

Well, fuck. Never mind, then.

Richmond slams the cold metal into my outstretched palm, and I right it in my grasp. Raising it, I train it on the blue-eyed one.

“One more thing, Mr. Morgan. Well…two actually.”

I grit my teeth so hard my jaw aches. Finger on the trigger staring down the man about to piss his pants before me. “What?” I growl.

“Bradley here, has been assaulting your flower almost nightly since her arrival. He’s the reason for the makeup you so thoroughly detested.”

The gun swings toward my sibling, body moving of its own accord, as my brain battles my heart in a fight to the death.

“Max, what the fuck?” Bradley whispers.

What the fuck indeed. What’s his endgame?

Raising his arm, he gestures to the other man. “Samuel is the whole reason Rose is here.”

Fuck.

The guns at my back burn hotter. I only need one to take out all four of them. But another form of protection in my hand will decrease the likelihood of me getting pumped full of holes.

“Here at Bleakcrest, and here in this room now. It’s. All. His. Fault.” Max’s smile is vile. Clearly enjoying the chaos he’s orchestrating in this dank-ass prison cell.

“Maximus, stop,” Samuel chokes on his words.

“He lured her in, fucked her senseless, promised her freedom, then betrayed her. Didn’t you, Samuel?”

Samuel neither confirms nor denies what the boss says, proving he’s nothing but a spineless coward.

My aim lands back on Samuel, though it aches to take the risk extinguishing everyone in this room.