Buttons & Hate (Buttons 2)

To kill me.

“Black and blue, my ass.” He stopped the end of the stairs, tensing before he made his move.

My heart slammed into my chest and survival mode kicked in. I had to think and think fast. Crow wouldn’t be home for hours so I couldn’t rely on his protection. The only person I could rely on was myself.

“Don’t run. You’ll just make it worse.” He slowly ascended the stairs, his eyes on me the entire time.

“Come near me and see what happens.”

He chuckled. “I forgot how feisty you are. Maybe that’s why he won’t give you up.” He kept moving up the stairs, inching closer to me.

I had no other choice but to run. If I moved quickly enough I could find a weapon. The third floor contained Crow’s bedroom, his study, and the playroom. I would definitely find something to my advantage there.

I chucked my book at him and ran.

“Get your ass back here.”

I sprinted up the stairs as quickly as my body would carry me. When I reached the top there were only two places to go—left or right. Within an instant I made my decision and sprinted down the right hallway and straight into the playroom. By a stroke of luck, it was unlocked.

I burst inside and grabbed the first weapon I could find. A whip was on the ground and I snatched it. I could strike him across the face or choke him with it. I’d killed a man before—and I would do it again.

Cane caught up to me and shut the door behind him, blocking the exit with his back. He eyed the whip in my hand, a dangerous smile on his lips. “What are you going to do with that, sweetheart?”

“Crow is going to kill you.”

“He’s too much of a pussy. He won’t even give you up.”

“Because he’s not a monster.” I held the whip ready, prepared to strike him when he was close enough.

“No. He’s just a lying piece-of-shit. He cares more about getting his dick wet then protecting his own family. Since he can’t do what’s necessary, I will.”

His words fell on deaf ears because I didn’t understand them. All that mattered was surviving. I had to get through this. I had to fight him off until Crow came home. His staff was incapacitated and he would figure out exactly what happened instantly.

“If you surrender, I’ll go easy on you.”

“If you touch me I’ll kill you.”

He chuckled. “You’re on fire, sweetheart.” He faked a sprint to his right then changed his footing at the last minute, coming at me from the left.

I struck him with my whip and snapped him right across the wrist but that didn’t accomplish anything. It didn’t even slow him down.

He charged right into me and pinned me to the floor.

The fight was still in me and I punched him hard in the face, connecting my knuckles against his nose. Blood streamed out and oozed down his face. I punched him again, prepared to kill him.

“Fucking cunt.” He pinned my arms above my head then punched me as hard as he could right face.

I felt my cheekbone crack.

“Black and blue.” He hit me again. “I’m going to make Bones suffer for what he’s done to me. When I’m through with you no one will recognize your face. Bones won’t even want you anymore.” He slammed his fists harder into my face, beating me until blood oozed everywhere.

I didn’t scream.

I didn’t beg.

I didn’t plea.

I would never give him that satisfaction.

He grabbed me by the neck and slammed my head into the floor. “Today is the last day you’ll ever see.”

Chapter Eight

Crow

I drove into the roundabout with such speed that I skid across the pavement and almost collided with one of the pillars of the entryway. With the car still running I jumped out with my gun in my hand.

Lars hit the distress button from the kitchen and alerted the alarm on my phone. I jumped in my car and drove as fast as I could, almost crashing on the way here. Without getting any details I knew exactly what happened.

Cane.

I sprinted into the house and saw Lars tied up on the tile floor right outside the kitchen. He was still breathing but his eyes were closed. “CANE!” My chest swelled with hatred. The adrenaline kicked in as I prepared for the fight of my life. I had to choose Button over my last family member, I would.

Because he crossed a line.

I sprinted upstairs and checked the bedrooms, searching for them. Cane may have snatched her and took her back to the headquarters. Or he may have handed her over to Bones already.

I had to check just in case.

I ran to the third floor and checked every room. The only room that remained was the playroom.

Somehow, I knew he was in there.