Ch24 Danger
The silence that followed was palpable.
I dared not move for fear of what would happen next. Not only did I fear for my life, I feared for the life of my baby.
“You know why I’ve been so successful at what I do,” Mack began to say as he walked around the desk to stand behind the it.
I couldn’t speak, even if I had found the words.
“I can deal with situations with emotion. Most people struggle with the guilt, but nothing else mattered other than Sienna.” He sighed, opening the drawer.
My blood pounded in my ears when I saw the gun he set down on the desk. I trembled inside, feeling the situation spin out of any control.
“This is how I solve problems.” His eyes lifted from the weapon to me.
I closed my eyes briefly, not having the courage to deal with the reality of what was happening but I forced my eyes open to hold his.
He smiled, as if he was reveling in my fear.
“Are you afraid Taylor?”
I swallowed slowly before I nodded slowly. I hated admitting it but I feared what he would do if I had lied.
He reached for the a bottle of whiskey on his desk and took a deep gulp of it.
The drunker he got, the more dangerous the situation was becoming. I had to do something and quickly. But fear kept me from breaking my silence.
He gave a hollowed laugh as he looked back down the gun. He picked it up and I inhaled sharply faltering a step back.
“I stand to lose everything if I harm a hair on your head.” He moved around the desk.
I frowned, unsure of what he was talking about. He was drunk, maybe drunker than I thought. He was making little sense.
“But I’ve already lost everything. I have nothing.” There was a touch of sadness in his anger.
Oh dear God. I wanted to turn and reach for the door but I had to keep calm even when my world was spinning.
“Mack,” I murmured, knowing I had to do something.
“You think there is anything you can say that will stop what is going to happen.”
I wanted to beg and cry.
“You don’t…” I whispered, my throat tight. My eyes stung.
“Was he worth it?” he asked, studying me with an intense stare.
“Don’t…” I repeated, hoping to reach some part of him that would stop this. I could not die like this. Not after everything I had been through.
It could not end this way.
One man held my future in his hands, a man who hated me. Sin would never recover from this. I couldn’t even think what this would do to my brother, just when he had found love and happiness. He was unsteady on his feet. He rolled his shoulders.
“Murder, violence. There was no price too high. I did everything to protect my sister and give her life she deserved. And what did I get in return?” His voice raised. “Nothing! They both betrayed me.”
I trembled inside, his anger palpable.
“But you don’t have to do…this.” Oh my God. Inside I was freaking out. The situation was getting dire with every second that passed.
He held the gun and I stared at the object that could take everything from me.
“Sienna left with Sin. He took the only thing that mattered to me.” He sighed. “So I’m going to take the only thing that matters to him.”
I held my breath. There was no way to sway him. Nothing I could say was going to stop what he was going to do.
“I’m pregnant,” I whispered, hoping that would be enough to sway his cold heart.
“I know,” he replied, disinterestedly. He was still studying the gun. “It’s Sin’s I presume?”
“Yes.”
There was silence.
He smile was sinister as he eyes lifted to mine. Possessed by an emotional revenge, there was no way to change what was fixated in his mind. No words would stop what he was intent on doing. Taking my life.
He tested the weight of the gun and that was all I could fixate on. The object that was pointed directed at me, that could end everything.
They say that when you face death your life flashes through your mind. But all I could think of was Sin and Connor. The people I loved and how this would destroy them.
I was fixed to the spot, unable to move as I watched Mack point the weapon at me. I had never been so afraid in my life but I would not cower. Not to this monster.
I had survived so much, and if he was going to end my life I would hold my head high. I would not scream or beg for my life.
There was knock at the door.
It took a few seconds for me to be able to take a breath.
The knock persisted.
“What?” Mack yelled, annoyed.
The door opened slowly but only slightly.
“Your sister is here.” I recognized Kai’s voice. His henchman.
Mack frowned and lowered the gun.
The emotion that welled in me was hard to keep from the surface. I was in no way safe but it felt like a moment of reprieve.
“What does she want?” Mack asked tersely.
“She wants to talk to you.”
I swallowed hard.
Mack’s gaze was still on me. I watched the mixed emotions play across his face. He was torn but he made no move to leave. Then he straightened.
“Tell her I have no sister.” His response was cold and heartless.
I felt his words in my chest like a punch. Any hope that his sister would stop him evaporated.
He raised his gun to me again. I was taken off guard. I had expected him to at least speak to Sienna.
My hands fisted but I refused to close my eyes. I would not give Mack the satisfaction. If he was going to kill me he would have to look into my eyes and do it.
“You have any last words?” he asked, the gun aimed at me again. I was staring down the barrel knowing I was about to die.
I shook my head. The words I had were for the people who would learn of my fate after I was gone.
My life flashed through my mind. All the moments I treasured with Sin, my brother and the people I loved. I thought about the moment Sin had told me loved me. My heart warmed. I thought about the baby and when Sin had figure it out. I swallowed the emotion it brought.
All I could hear was my own heartbeat. I placed my hand on my stomach to touch the life that still grew inside of me. I would not be alone.
Sin had my brother and his friends. I just hoped it would be enough.
Mack’s finger slowly began to tighten on the trigger.
“Mack.” The sound of Sienna’s voice flooded the room before she entered the room. Her hands behind her back. Her head slight bent, almost submissive.
“Why are you back here Sienna?” Mack’s gave did not move from my face.
“You have to stop this. All the violence and murder. It’s enough,” she whispered, her voice filled with heartbreak and despair. Slowly she lifted her eyes to meet his.
It was clear to see the affects of the life that Mack had led had impacted his sister. It was the reason she had been so desperate to escape. I wanted to see her as a selfish person only intent on getting what she wanted but for the first time I saw her as desperate victim.
“I decide when it’s enough,” he argued, recklessly.
“Lower the gun,” Sin stepped in behind Sienna. Our eyes met for the briefest moment.
I don’t think I had ever loved him more than in that moment when I had been contemplating the fact that I would never see him again. For the briefest moment I felt hope.
“So you’re here to save to your girl?” Mack asked Sin.
Sin’s features were voice of any emotion as he stared at Mack. “If you pull that trigger you will not leave this room alive.” He raised a gun and pointed it at Mack.
I’d never seen this Sin. The one that had belonged to this violence.
“You really love her that much?” Mack seemed unable to process Sin’s actions.
“I would die for her.” I didn’t want that. I
“Really?” Mack seems to be amused.
Sin lowered the gun slowly. Mack watched as Sin moved in front of me, facing him leaving Sienna standing by the doorway.
“Yes.”
No. No. No. This could not be happening.