Taryn
As Stuart enters the room, I stiffen my spine. His face is a mask of delight as he comes closer. His eyes slither back and forth between us as if he’s savoring our fear. “Hello, Ava.” He mutters slyly.
Keeping her behind me, I tighten my hand around her arm in warning. “Don’t talk to her,” I warn.
Stuart’s eyes snap back to mine, his smile slipping from his lips. “And what are you going to do about it?”
I don’t answer as I tighten my hand around the broken shard of glass.
Ava sobs silently behind
Ewan The first shot lands near my foot, only managing to make me angrier. Logan, Phoenix and I, rush into the house and aim as men try to surround us. A grunt escapes my lips as one of the men kicks out and hits me in the kidney. Turning sideways, I grip his foot and twist it. The sound of snapping bone makes satisfaction course through me. Crying out in pain, the man falls to one knee, which allows me to shoot him in the head. Out of the corner of my eye, I watch as my brother and Phoenix take down their opponents. However, I don’t give it another thought because I know they can take care of themselves. As another man approaches, I remove my knife and stab it into his thigh. This man is impressively muscled, with the body of a linebacker and the face of a pit bull. He barely feels my knife slice through his
Taryn Things have changed so much in the past year. As I watch Ava and Ewan splash around the beach, I smile. After she attempted to kill us, Tamsyn was convicted to thirty years for attempted murder. Ava cried for days. It was hard to watch, but Ewan and I did everything we could to console her. We even put her in counseling. After months of therapy, she understood that Tamsyn was disturbed and had nothing to do with her mother’s psychotic behavior. I mean, even I knew that Tamsyn was messed up way before then. Once Stuart was buried and everything was settled for Tamsyn’s hearing, we asked Ava if she’d move in with us. At first, she couldn’t believe that we’d take her in after everything her mother
Ewan I watch as my beautiful bride walks down the aisle. Her long crimson hair swirls wildly around her, and her simple mermaid dress flutters in the wind. Ava walks beside her, her blue dress a beautiful contrast with her scarlet tresses. It has been a year since we became engaged and officially adopted Ava. At first, it was odd to hear her call me dad, but I quickly adjusted. I never thought I’d want children, but I found myself enjoying it since becoming Ava’s dad. We’ve become very close since she moved in with us. Thankfully, she has not dated anyone yet. She told me that it’s because boys are immature, and I didn’t argue.
Ewan There’s nothing like bringing justice to those who cannot do it for themselves that makes satisfaction course through my veins. Dalton Corleone and Bonnie Corleone are going to receive a bit of that justice tonight, and I cannot be any more delighted. I watch as the couple sits comfortably in their large mansion, feasting and rebelling while their victims fester in the bowels of their underground torture chamber. Dalton and Bonnie are sociopaths. As a couple, they work with charities under the guise of humanitarianism, but in real life, they’re monsters. They own several homeless shelters and food pantries around the country, which they use for the sole purpose of choosing a victim. They are most assuredly candidates for ironic justice. Once they choose their prey, they offer the victim an opportu
Taryn It’s my twenty-sixth birthday today, and I’m taking the day off from both my jobs to celebrate. I even called my father’s nurse, Willa, to come over and watch him for the day. This is the first time in years that I’ve decided to do something for myself, and I’m determined to enjoy it. After my father’s stroke ten years ago, I devoted my time and worked hard to take care of him. My mother abandoned us when I was a baby. For years, I live with my dad and my sister, Tamsyn, until she left too. My father began experiencing health problems years ago. I was eleven when we found out he had to have brain surgery, and my sister Tamsyn was sixteen. I used to worship my sister, Tamsyn. Even though s
Ewan Bollocks, I’m such a git. I can’t believe I kissed and touched Taryn, then insulted her. I try not to think about the fact that she felt incredible in my arms. Or that I was taken the moment I saw her. Who knew that little Taryn turned out to be quite the beauty? I guess I never considered it. After I left her near the beach, I thought about how lonely she seemed, and my heart thawed. It was only on impulse that I stopped at the coffee shop near the pier to buy her the cupcake. I didn’t like the idea that she was spending her birthday on her own. Something about her response made something inside of me ache. She seemed resigned, and it broke my heart. I remember all of the birthdays I spent alone, and it re
Taryn I head back to the dressing room as soon as my dance number is over. Sweat glides down my body, and glitter sticks to my skin, making me feel a little itchy. Before I make it to the room, I’m stopped by one of the club’s customers. The guy has been coming around for a couple of weeks, drinking and watching the girls obsessively. At first, I didn’t really pay him much attention because he looks like any other rich asshole who frequents the club, but recently he’s been persistent in getting my attention. He’s one of those men that looks too slick with his perfectly coiffed hair, thousand-dollar suits, and phony smile. I make every effort to avoid his presence when he comes around. It’s not just me, either. A few of the girls have noticed his creepiness. The first time he noticed me, he tried to buy a lap dance, but I refused. I’m not big on lapdances, a
Ewan The shop that Taryn works in is not far from my home. I swallow my surprise at the thought that she was always so close, and I didn't have a clue. But I’m here now, and I’m ready to help her. It’s past noon, and the parking lot is riddled with vehicles. Carrying a small bag around her shoulder, Taryn walks out of the shop a moment later. She’s wearing a short jean skirt that emphasizes her long legs and a midriff Beatles t-shirt that makes her breasts look like firm, bouncy apples. By the jiggle of her breasts, I wonder if she’s wearing a brassiere. She wasn’t wearing one when I kissed her yesterday. I didn’t feel any straps constricting her silken skin. This time she’s wearing
Ewan I watch as my beautiful bride walks down the aisle. Her long crimson hair swirls wildly around her, and her simple mermaid dress flutters in the wind. Ava walks beside her, her blue dress a beautiful contrast with her scarlet tresses. It has been a year since we became engaged and officially adopted Ava. At first, it was odd to hear her call me dad, but I quickly adjusted. I never thought I’d want children, but I found myself enjoying it since becoming Ava’s dad. We’ve become very close since she moved in with us. Thankfully, she has not dated anyone yet. She told me that it’s because boys are immature, and I didn’t argue.
Taryn Things have changed so much in the past year. As I watch Ava and Ewan splash around the beach, I smile. After she attempted to kill us, Tamsyn was convicted to thirty years for attempted murder. Ava cried for days. It was hard to watch, but Ewan and I did everything we could to console her. We even put her in counseling. After months of therapy, she understood that Tamsyn was disturbed and had nothing to do with her mother’s psychotic behavior. I mean, even I knew that Tamsyn was messed up way before then. Once Stuart was buried and everything was settled for Tamsyn’s hearing, we asked Ava if she’d move in with us. At first, she couldn’t believe that we’d take her in after everything her mother
Ewan The first shot lands near my foot, only managing to make me angrier. Logan, Phoenix and I, rush into the house and aim as men try to surround us. A grunt escapes my lips as one of the men kicks out and hits me in the kidney. Turning sideways, I grip his foot and twist it. The sound of snapping bone makes satisfaction course through me. Crying out in pain, the man falls to one knee, which allows me to shoot him in the head. Out of the corner of my eye, I watch as my brother and Phoenix take down their opponents. However, I don’t give it another thought because I know they can take care of themselves. As another man approaches, I remove my knife and stab it into his thigh. This man is impressively muscled, with the body of a linebacker and the face of a pit bull. He barely feels my knife slice through his
Taryn As Stuart enters the room, I stiffen my spine. His face is a mask of delight as he comes closer. His eyes slither back and forth between us as if he’s savoring our fear. “Hello, Ava.” He mutters slyly. Keeping her behind me, I tighten my hand around her arm in warning. “Don’t talk to her,” I warn. Stuart’s eyes snap back to mine, his smile slipping from his lips. “And what are you going to do about it?” I don’t answer as I tighten my hand around the broken shard of glass. Ava sobs silently behind
Ewan I gaze down at my phone’s screen as the call cuts off. Taryn sounded despondent, and to hear her tell me that they’re going to kill her and Ava, makes my gut clench. I’m still astounded when I recall how callously Tamsyn planned to kill her own daughter. The woman is a bloody monster. “Well?” Logan’s voice cuts into my reverie. “She and Ava are still alive. She said that she’s in a mansion near the Valley. From Tamsyn’s trajectory, I gauge that we’re not far from where they are kept. I’m glad you called Bullet and told him to tail her while we follow a street over. I don’t want her becoming suspicious.”&nb
Taryn My arm aches beneath the man’s painful hold. As soon as the vehicle came to a stop, I hid the phone in the seam of my jeans, put my gag back on, and slipped my hand back inside my restraints. My fingers throb, and my face itches from rubbing it against the rug, but it was worth it because I was able to warn Ewan. Breathing heavily, I listen to the men’s footsteps until they reach the trunk of the car. It’s still dark outside, and my eyes have to adjust. A shadow eclipses the vehicle’s interior, followed by large arms. I flinch away and try to squirm further into the trunk, but the men easily grip my legs and torso to lift me out. Muffled curses fall from my lips as I’m carried inside a home. I don’t recognize the I, which means that I am not at Stuart’s house.
Ewan The atmosphere is tense at best as Logan, Phoenix, and I search my father’s grounds. Even though I wish to rush in and shoot him between the eyes, I know that I have to be careful. If he took Ava, it must be because of his quarrel with Logan and me. My hope is that he hasn’t hurt Ava in any way. I couldn’t bear it if he hurt someone as innocent as Ava to get back at Logan and me. “All of the lights are off.” Logan comments. I glance at him from the vehicle’s dim interior. The only thing I can make out is the glow in his eyes and the steady sound of our breathing. I turn my gaze back to the house and inspect the grounds. It’s quiet and still.
Taryn “He really loves you,” Tamsyn mumbles sharply. “Ava tells me that he looks at you like you’re the most important thing in his life. And I can see that you feel the same way.” I turn to my sister and cross my arms protectively in front of my chest. She sounds bitter, which puts me on edge. I don’t want to be here. I’m just too angry at her for abandoning dad, and for not going to his funeral. “Yes, he does love me, and I love him, too,” I reply evenly. This is not a conversation that I want to have with Tamsyn, considering that she used to be Ewan’s girlfriend. But I have to make i
Ewan I shoot up from my bed as the shrill sound of my cell phone ringing resonates throughout the room. Taryn shifts beside me and open’s her heavy eyes with an annoyed growl. “What’s wrong?” She mumbles sleepily. It seems that our nights are prime for us receiving phone calls. Unfortunately, no one ever calls with good news. Fuck! Reaching for the nightstand, I look at the phone’s screen and frown. “It’s Tamsyn,” I mumble gruffly. At my words, Taryn slides up the headboard. “Why the hell is she calling you at this time of the night?”&nb