Violent Ends

She waited for him to say his piece so that she could go. “I didn’t come here to prolong this.”

He got up out of his chair, and she stood.

Another thing her father once taught her, don’t let the enemy think they had any power over you.

Maddox Denton was her enemy.

“You’re a little skittish today.”

“I’m not skittish at all. I have nothing to be afraid of.” She stood tall.

She’d come to work today prepared in a jeans, shirt, and sneakers. If she needed to, she could make a run for it.

This man scared her. No doubt about it, but she wasn’t going to run away. She always did make bad decisions.

“Consider your file terminated.”

“Good.”

“Now tell me some of those secrets.”

“That’s not going to happen. You think I’m stupid.”

“I think you’re incredibly stupid.”

She smiled and then shrugged.

He took a step toward her, and she took a step back. She gasped as her back hit the wall and then his hand went around her throat. He didn’t squeeze.

She made no move to stop him either.

“You really think you can play this game with me?” he asked.

“You think you can hurt my man?”

“That’s my son.”

“Gideon is now mine. You can’t be a man about his threats, then move aside and put someone on the throne who can.”

“You think that’s your guy? Gideon can’t control shit. Besides, you really think you’d be able to make your escape then? You’re not going anywhere, Emma.”

His grip tightened around her throat.

It was strange.

The last time she had been choked like this, her father had been the one to do it. She’d wanted to go to college and hoped to take extra classes in high school. He refused, and she begged.

She remembered Gabriel having to pull him away as she was on the verge of blacking out.

Gripping Maddox’s wrist, she stared at him, even as tears filled her eyes.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”

Like before, Gabriel was there, pulling Maddox off her. He shoved Maddox away.

“Is that what you do now? Choke defenseless women?” Gabriel was panting.

She took several deep breaths, relishing the air she was breathing in. What had she done?

Staring at Maddox, who glared at her, the threat was clear.

“You should have thought twice about threatening me. You want to know the only way you’re safe from me? Gideon. You marry my son, and I’ll leave you the fuck alone.”

“Consider it done,” Gabriel said. “They’ll be married by the end of the week.”

“Just in time for the Savona dinner, excellent.” Maddox smiled.

“I don’t—”

She couldn’t say anything more as Gabriel covered her mouth. “We’ll all be there. Is Tamsin excited?”

She wanted to bite Gabriel, but from years of them doing this, he knew how to hold his hand so she couldn’t bite him.

Bastard.

“Of course she is. This stays between us.”

“Of course.”

Gabriel dragged her out of the room, and she tried to fight him, but he wouldn’t let her go.

They got on the elevator and still his hand covered her mouth.

She watched them descend to the parking lot. Still, he kept hold of her without saying a word. Time was passing, and she was getting angrier as they got to the car.

He only let her go to shove her into his car. He slammed the door closed, locking it so she couldn’t get out.

She waited for him to climb in the other side and put on a seatbelt.

He pulled out of the parking lot, and they were driving.

“What the hell?” she finally asked.

“You shouldn’t have gone there, Emma. Do you have a death wish?”

“You just agreed for me and Gideon to get married. Why should I even listen to you?”

“He would have killed you. Fuck!”

“Just stop the car. I want to get out and walk. I don’t want to be anywhere near you. Stop the fucking car.”

“No!” Gabriel pressed his foot to the gas and took off.

She was pissed. “I’m not going to be threatened by him, Gabriel. I’m not going to do it.”

“Maddox Denton is a crazy fuck.”

“Takes one to know one, right?”

“As punishment he had Gideon beaten.”

“Don’t even try to pretend that you give a shit about him.”

“I don’t. The only reason I care at all is because you love him.”

This made her pause. “No, I don’t.”

“Okay, Emma, you don’t love him now for whatever reason, but soon, you’re going to fall for him, and when you do, that’s when it’s going to matter to you.”

She sat back against her seat, arms folded. She wished she could deny it, but there was nothing she could say or do that could change his mind.

“I’m not marrying Gideon.”

“Yes, you are. I don’t give a fuck how much you ‘don’t love’ him right now. I saw the look in your eye when you were trying to protect him. Whether you like it or not, you’re marrying him. That’s where we’re going now. You, Gideon, and myself are making sure you’re both married by the end of the day.”