Pennies (Dollar #1)(79)

“Wait,” I ordered.

Dragging Alrik toward her, I nodded as I kicked his leg to make him kneel and pressed his sweaty head against the muzzle of the gun. “Now, you can kill him.”

She sucked in a gasp, scarlet rivulets staining her naked breasts. The look she gave me—so full of thanks and relief and vicious, vicious victory—clutched my gut. She was insidious in her hate; after two years of torture she’d won.

My cock hardened, recognising the conqueror inside her. That was why I couldn’t forget her. Why I had to steal her.

She was unique.

My equal.

Even though I’d never admit such things.

“Do it, Pimlico. Slaughter him.” My voice ruffed with impatience and greed. “Finish it.”

Alrik locked his hands in prayer. “Wait! Pim…sweet little Pim. Don’t do this. I love you!”

She spat another wad of blood, splattering it all over his face. Her loathing told him exactly what she thought of his so-called love.

Alrik squirmed, his temper once again getting him into trouble. “Why, you little bitch! I’ll whip you so f*cking—”

My fists clenched to punch the bastard. But hot rage settled over Pim, giving me a split-second warning to get out of the damn way.

Dropping Alrik, I sidestepped to avoid an incorrect aim or ricochet. I jolted as the gun exploded.

The scent of sulphur hit my nose as the boom of a bullet tore around the white lounge.

For a second, Alrik stayed swaying where I’d placed him.

Then, he fell.

Dazed and confused, he stumbled as his hands came up to hold a newly formed hole in his belly.

Pim stared. Shock merged with disbelief that she’d finally repaid him with pain.

He screamed, “Fuck, you shot me! You sho—shot me.”

She did but it’s not enough.

It wasn’t a mortal wound.

I had no intention of leaving here with any chance of him being found by paramedics.

Taking a step forward, my fingers ached to finish it.

But once again, Pim surprised me.

She smiled with a gruesome red grin, pulling the trigger for a second time.

Boom!

The shot went into his cheekbone.

Two holes but still alive.

She’d missed his brain and heart.

Alrik screamed harder, no longer stringing concise words together but howling for his life.

Sobs wracked her body as adrenaline quickly switched to stupefaction.

She’d pass out any second—I was shocked she hadn’t dropped already—but I didn’t want her to black out without seeing him dead.

She needed to see that.

I refused to let him haunt her.

Moving around the couch, I kneeled beside her and took her trembling hands in mine.

“Here, I’ll help you.”

Alrik garbled, “No! Do—don’t!” Blood spewed from his cheek as he did his best to hold both wounds.

His pleas didn’t register as I guided Pim’s rapidly failing strength and pointed the gun directly at his forehead. “Go ahead, silent mouse.”

Her body jerked at my nickname for her, but her finger latched onto the trigger for a third time.

Bang!

Thrice was the charm.

There were no screams, no begs—nothing but throbbing silence and the steady drip, drip, drip of her blood raining on the couch.

Alrik turned from rapist to corpse, doing the world a favour by no longer breathing.

She didn’t gloat over her kill.

She didn’t cry or question.

And I didn’t let her wallow in what she’d done.

I had more important things to worry about—not about police or witnesses or other trivial things. No, much more important than that.

The woman I’d come to claim was dying.

I couldn’t permit that until I’d taken what I needed.

Almost as if on cue, Pim dropped the gun by Alrik’s cadaver, toppling spent and fading over the settee.

“Shit.” I caught her, bundling her into my arms and climbing from the furniture.

Her skin no longer held pigment, looking blue and bloodless as I strode from the room. I gave no heed to the three men turning the lounge into a lake of gore. I only focused on the tiny but formidable woman in my embrace.

“Stay with me, Pim. I’ve got you.”

She didn’t respond as I marched through her prison and carried her over the threshold, stealing her from the white mansion into freedom.





IT HURT.

So much.

It was all I could think about. The only thing I could focus on.

I washed in and out of blackness.

My body wanted to sink and sink…to shut out the pain. But my willpower had waited too damn long for this.

He’s dead.

I killed him!

I couldn’t sleep now.

I’m free!

But, oh my God, the agony.

Mr. Prest’s arms around me couldn’t compete with the excruciating stinging of my tongue. Fresh air after two years of being locked away went unnoticed. The world and everyone in it were nothing as I lived in a torturous hell of warm oozing blood choking me and more pain than I thought possible.

I couldn’t understand what was going on.

I was outside!

Away from the white mansion for the first time since Master A outbid my one million to buy myself.