Richard cried out in pain, and I turned to find Mason putting him in a chokehold. Despite that, my cousin glared at me. “Give me my damn phone now.”
Did the idiot think that was actually going to work? “Oh, well, since you told me to.” I pretended to hand him the phone with my left hand as I reared my right hand back and punched him square in the jaw.
“You bitch.” His words were filled with contempt. “I always hated you.”
“The feeling was mutual.” Actually, it wasn’t, but I’d be damned if I admitted that. At one point, I loved my uncle and his family.
Well, there goes me saving you. Mason tightened his arm around his throat.
Someone had to hear all that commotion. I expected a fire alarm or something to go off at any second.
It was as if they heard my thought because I heard yelling voices coming from upstairs.
We needed to catch up to the others and try to form some kind of plan.
Richard laughed as I glanced in the direction of the front entrance of the house. “You won’t be able to win. You’ll wish you died with your parents that day.”
The sad thing was he didn’t realize how often I made that very wish. “Karma’s a bitch.” I lifted my leg up high and kicked him right in the nuts. “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure, when I take back the crown, you get what’s coming to you.”
He groaned, and his face began to turn red from lack of oxygen and the crotch kick. “You bitch.”
“I think you already said that.” I squatted beside him and looked him straight in the eye. “Next time you call me a name, make sure it’s a little more creative.” I then punched him right in the face, making him fall over unconscious.
Mason grinned as he let my cousin fall to the ground.
A loud gunshot rang in the air.
The others. I pushed my legs, heading straight into the foyer.
Mason was right behind me.
When everything came into view, I came to a sudden halt.
My uncle stood right in the middle with the gun pressed directly into Kassie’s head. Mona was being held by two huge-ass guards to his right, and Ella was being detained by another one on Darren’s left. A third guard held a gun to Ella’s head.
“Well, look what we have here.” Darren’s blue eyes matched my own. The one trait that he and Dad had in common. “I can’t believe that you knew about this place. I must have underestimated you.”
“Well, it was my grandparents’ place.” I wasn’t going to throw Kassie to the wolves. No pun intended.
“Grandparents?” The guard’s brows furrowed in question while holding Mona.
“No, she’s messing with us.” Darren’s eyes glanced over at the guard. “She’s some manipulator.”
It took a second, but I realized who it was. It was my dad’s second guard, who happened to be off the night my uncle executed his plan. Back then, he had solid black hair, a mustache, and was as loyal as they came. The salt and pepper hair threw me off though his presence was still commanding. He and Kassie hated each other. Always in competition for dad’s favorite. I had to play this realization the right way.
“It’s Elena, Tommy.” Kassie’s voice was strong despite the gun Darren jammed into her head.
“I don’t believe you or Mona much.” Tommy’s tone was cold. “You always tried to make me look bad.”
“Restrain her.” Darren nodded at the guard on his other side. “If she makes one damn move, I’ll blow Kassie’s head off.”
Not knowing what else to do, I allowed the guard to come over and restrain my arms.
Stay still. I’m going to knock his ass out. Pure rage was evident in Mason’s voice.
Don’t. I couldn’t lose anyone else that I loved. Not now. They’ll hurt them. Try to stay back. If they don’t see you, we might have an advantage.
Fine, but one wrong move, and it’s over.
I had to figure out a way to give us the upper hand. “He’s lying. I’m Elena, the daughter of King Corey and Queen Serafina.”
Tommy stared at me as if he was considering it. “You do have her red hair.”
“Stop it.” Darren spat the words. “It’s hair dye. You can’t be stupid enough to fall for this. Take her outside and kill her before she causes more grief.”
The guard holding me yanked me toward the door, which made me realize that we had to do something now. I had purposefully acted weak for this instance.
Darren opened the door as a sadistic grin spread across his face. “We have to let people know that manipulators won’t be tolerated.”
Be ready. I’m coming in. Mason ran forward and grabbed the guard’s shoulder, yanking him backward.
As the guard stumbled back, I leaned forward, attempting to balance on both feet.
Mason and the guard sparred as I focused on saving Kassie.
“Look at what you forced me to do.” Darren’s maniacal laugh filled the air as he cocked the gun.
Right before he could pull the trigger, I moved as fast as possible and grabbed the gun from his hand. Just as I was pulling it away, the gun fired, hitting the ceiling right above us.
“Look at what you made me do,” Darren growled.
Mona used the distraction to punch Tommy in the gut and bent her knees, throwing him over her body.
“Get her,” Darren yelled as he wrapped his arm around Kassie’s throat. “She’s a manipulator that’s gone too far.”
As the guard standing next to Ella began moving in my direction, she kicked her leg out, causing him to fall on the ground with a loud thud.
“Someone get her now.” Darren’s face turned red, and suddenly, Kassie reared her head back, head-butting him in the nose.
Blood poured down, and he stumbled back against the front door.
