Pearl just huffed and looked at me.
“You did the right thing when you left,” Pearl said. “You shouldn’t have come back here. You can’t trust him.”
Hunter, her new handler, dug his fingers into her thin arm as he leaned down to her height and snarled in her face. “One more word, and you’ll regret it, old lady.”
Pearl whimpered in pain.
“Stop!” I pleaded. “You’re hurting her!”
“That’s enough, Hunter.” Adrian placed his hands in his suit pocket and addressed me. “She won’t be harmed as long as you give me what I want. The dagger. Now.”
I tightened my grip on the bag and shifted my gaze between Adrian and Pearl, still bothered by the murderous look in Hunter’s eyes.
“Emilia,” Pearl begged. “I’ve loved you like you were my own, but I won’t let that horrible man get away with this. Don’t give it to him.”
“Will you shut that hag up already?” Adrian pointed at Pearl, his temper rising.
Nick stepped forward with a roll of duct tape, tore off a strip, and placed it over Pearl’s mouth harshly.
She struggled and screamed through the tape, but it was no use. These men were so much bigger than she was, but that didn’t stop her from fighting against them.
Hunter gripped Pearl’s arm harshly and jerked her sideways. “Stop it, lady, or I’ll make you stop.”
“Don’t hurt her!” I shouted. “Here!” I took the jewelry box out of my bag and extended it to Adrian. “The dagger’s in here. Just let her go, and it’s yours.”
Everyone stopped.
Giving Adrian exactly what he wanted was the last thing I wanted to do. But I had to remind myself this was all a part of the plan. I only had about ten minutes on my own before my father and Drew showed up. The quicker I traded this dagger for Pearl, the better.
“Open it,” Adrian instructed.
I hesitated and glanced at Pearl. She shook her head slightly, but I ignored her.
I retrieved the ring from my pocket and placed the ten-pointed diamond key into the latch. Turning it clockwise, the lid popped open and revealed the sparkling dagger inside.
“The box and the ring were ingenious, right?” Adrian boasted. He took two steps closer. “No one would have expected it to be there, especially after I gave it to you. It was the perfect cover. And the engagement? Well, that was just another way to keep you by my side, and you were all too willing and compliant to do so.”
As I closed my hand over the dagger’s hilt, my grip tightened as his words filled me with rage.
How could I have been so stupid, so blinded by a man like him? Knowing it was all a game to him, a cover to get the dagger for himself, almost had me contemplating lifting the dagger and shoving it right into his chest.
But then what would happen to Pearl?
I needed to stay on course. Get Pearl away from them. Adrian would get what’s coming to him.
I reminded myself of that truth as I begrudgingly handed him the dagger. He took it, ignorant of the future that awaited him.
“Finally,” Adrian said, wonder and arrogance choking the word. He lifted the dagger and turned it in his hands, inspecting it. “Amazing how one little thing can hold such power.”
The thought of him using said power made my stomach churn.
“I knew you’d come through for me, Em.” Adrian stepped closer with the dagger raised.
I stiffened but stayed perfectly still as he lightly caressed the tip of the dagger along my cheek. He leaned forward until his mouth hovered right next to my ear. His masculine cologne slithered up my nose, but I didn’t dare move.
“You always do,” he whispered.
Before the bile in my stomach could make an unwanted appearance, Adrian pulled back and examined the dagger like it held all the answers.
