Consumed (Blood Ties Book 9)

“VIVIENNE!” London screamed as the hidden door slammed shut.

Boom!

BOOM!

The sound of his fists was deafening, filling my ears. But it was my breaths I focused on as Hale kept his hand clamped over my mouth and blocked my nose. I bucked, thrashed my arms, and stumbled backwards, trying to keep from falling. A hard kick came from inside me as Hale jerked me back along the dark hall and through a doorway.

I lashed out, clawing for a hold on the frame as I passed.

“No, you don’t.” Hale grunted and yanked me hard, tearing my hold free.

“NO!” I screamed, lunging to claim my hold once more.

“Let go, you fucking BITCH!”

He dragged me backwards and kicked the door closed. But the moment he tried to slam his card against the scanner to lock it, I spun around. No…no…no…no. If he locked that door, it was over. If he locked that door, I was as good as dead. I wrenched my head backwards, then slammed forward, clashing hard with his. Agony ripped through my skull, plunging into my neck, but his hold on me loosened and I leaped away.

Panic was all I felt as the faint crackle of a two-way radio carried through the destroyed study.

“The jet is ready, Mr. Hale. The pilot is starting the engines.”

Hale jerked his gaze toward the sound, his eyes widening before he turned back to me. There was a sickening hunger in his stare, one desperate to destroy what he could. That gaze carried down to my stomach. I recoiled, curled my spine, and covered my stomach with my hands as the two-way crackled once more.

“We can’t get to the child, Mr. Hale. The Rossi men are everywhere, cutting us down all over. We’re trying, but we’re being slaughtered out here.”

Hale winced at the words. But he didn’t turn those beady eyes away from my belly. I could almost see the thoughts racing through his head.

“No,” I whispered and took a step backwards, cradling my belly. “No.”

“I want an heir.” His words were a throaty rattle like the fucking snake he was. “If I can’t have my own,” he lifted his gaze to mine. “Then, I’ll take yours instead.”

My knees shook. My heart was hammering, driving fear through my veins. “No.” I shook my head. “You can’t have them. You can’t have my babies.”

My belly rolled and pushed. Quivers rippled deep inside me before my baby stilled.

Hale took a step closer as the crackle of that two-way sounded again.

“Awaiting your command, Mr. Hale. Do you want us to keep going after the child or call it?”

Hard, consuming breaths expanded his chest as he took another step closer.

I moved backwards, desperately scanning the mess of the study for a weapon. A small bag was open. Stacks of papers were scattered across the desk underneath it. He was running, that was for sure. Only now, I stood in his way. He stepped even closer, pushing me until I hit the wall.

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I glanced at the door, but he clucked his tongue.

“I wouldn’t try that if I were you⁠—”

I lunged, driving my body as fast as my legs would allow toward the door. But I wasn’t anywhere near fast enough, leaving Hale time to grab me around my stomach and haul me back.

“No! NO!” I screamed, then opened my mouth and latched onto his hand, biting down as hard as I could until I tasted blood.

“Fucking BITCH!” Hale screamed.

The blow was instant, connecting with my jaw until it tore my teeth free. Agony followed, jarring into my neck. Only, I didn’t have time to attack again. I was dragged instead, around the end of the desk and toward the chair.

“FUCK YOU!” I stumbled, falling against him. “FUCK YOU, YOU SONOFABITCH!”

He yanked me harder, one arm in a stranglehold around my throat and the other hit the desk. I didn’t see it until it was too late. My vision focused on the white sparks dancing in my eyes and missed the shine of steel…until he lifted his hand and I saw the blade.

“No…no…no…no.”

“You won’t give me what I want?” He grunted, lifting the blade as high as he could. “Then I’ll take it for myself.”

My baby bucked inside me, kicking and pushing until, in one final shove, he drove deep into my belly as the knife arced down. I shoved backwards, throwing myself to the side. Hale let me go…watching me stagger. Warmth slipped down…trickling out of me.

Until I looked down…and saw the hilt of the blade.

Buried deep inside me.

Movement came from the doorway. I slowly lifted my head, my world slowing to a crawl as London and the Sons shoved the door wide, before freezing, staring at me with the knife in my belly.

“My babies.” I whimpered before my knees buckled, sending me crashing to the floor.