“Caden doesn’t want to take anything from you.”
“Don’t say his name!” Gabe snapped, his grip on the gun tightening.
“He’s trying to steal the hotels, Lena, our parents. Everything.”
My fingers dug into the carpet beneath me as I gauged my options for making a run for it. “He’s leaving the company.” I didn’t know that for sure, not yet, but maybe it would buy me some time.
Gabe stilled. “Bullshit.”
I shook my head. “It’s true. He’s miserable working for your father.”
Gabe chewed on the side of his lip as he mulled that over.
While he was distracted, I slipped off my strappy heels. If I had to run, I wasn’t going to do it in stilettos.
“You’re lying,” Gabe clipped, stalking toward me.
“I-I’m not. We’ve talked about it. He hates what your father has put you both through.”
Gabe reached down, grabbed my hair, and hauled me up. “Don’t insult my father.”
That pain in my scalp bloomed bright again. “I’m sorry.”
He gripped me tighter, pressing the gun into my side. “No, you’re not. You’re just the same. Trying to act like you care while you steal it all.”
I needed to calm Gabe and fast. Keep him talking. But how did you talk someone down who was clearly in the throes of some sort of breakdown? “Why do you think he wants to steal from you?”
Rage bloomed in Gabe’s eyes, and I knew I’d made a grave mistake.
“He thinks it’s his!” Gabe bellowed.
I knew I had to move, and fast. My knee came up in one swift action, finding its target between Gabe’s legs.
He hollered in pain, his grip on my hair loosening.
I took my opening, running for the door as fast as my legs would carry me. But it wasn’t enough. I should’ve known better. It was hard to compete with a fuel like hatred.
Just steps from the door, Gabe caught hold of my dress, the fabric ripping. Then he got my hair again, yanking me back. But he didn’t stop there. He threw me against the wall with vicious force.
The room spun around me, and my legs went weak.
Gabe’s hand closed around my throat, squeezing hard. “He thinks he can take from me? I’m going to take from him.”
I clawed at Gabe’s arm, but he didn’t even seem to notice.
“Might fuck you first. Really make him pay.”
Panic shot through me, and I fought with everything I had, but it wasn’t enough. Black spots danced in front of my vision.
The door flew open, banging against the wall.
Gabe’s hold on me fell away, and I collapsed to the floor, coughing and trying to suck in air.
Some part of my brain recognized Caden, fury in those hazel eyes I’d never seen before. He was on his brother in three long strides, his fist lashing out and connecting with Gabe’s cheek. But Gabe didn’t go down. Instead, he struck with a vicious uppercut to Caden’s ribs, his hand with the gun rising and going for Caden’s face.
Caden ducked the worst of it, realizing now what his brother held in his hand. Caden tackled Gabe to the floor. They grappled, both trying to get control of the weapon.
I screamed with everything I had in me, but Gabe’s assault had already turned my voice raw. I tried harder, silently pleading for more sound to come out.
