Liana suddenly jerked her head backward, thennged forward, smashing her forehead against Chris’s with a sickening thud.
“Damn!” Chris stumbled back, head tinging, momentarily seeing stars, Wisen his vision cleared, he <b>saw </b>Liana fighting back tears, her forehead red <b>and </b>already swelling, but her eyes still dent.
“You little psycho,” he muttered, touching his own throbbing forehead.
“Threaten me all you want,” Liana spat, her voice trembling despite her bravado. “I’m not afraid of you!”
“No rush,” Chris <b>said</b>, regaining hisposure. “See all those torture devices on the wall? They’re one, I’ll feed you to the snakes.”
At the word “snakes,” Liana’s body gave an involuntary shudder.
“You wouldn’t <b>dare</b>,” she hissed. “My father and my family will hunt you down.”
all
for you.
Once I’ve used every single
Chris let out a humorlessugh. “Really? In Suriname, your uncle Kane was ready to <b>kill </b>you. If I <b>hadn’t </b>saved you, you’d be dead already.<b>” </b>
Liana fell silent, unable to
ble to counter this truth.
“Your family is rotten
-10
the core,” Chris continued. “No empathy, killing each other for personal gain. Only a psychopath
like you could
live in <b>that </b>delusion.<b>” </b>
Chris noticed tears gathering in Liana’s eyes. He bent closer, wary of another headbutt.
still
ying the victim?” b
he sneered.
Liana red up at him<b>, </b>her tears making tracks through the dirt on her face.
<b>Chris </b>picked up the bread and took Liana’s <b>whip </b>different.”
from the <b>table</b>. “I’m in a good mood today, so you get <b>a </b>pass. Next time might be
He turned to leave, nning to find Jade. Looking through the small window, he saw Jade and Eleanor talking animatedly in the living room. Without a word, he turned and walked away.
Later that evening, <b>a </b>security guard approached Chris in the hallway,
“Sir,” the man said, <b>keeping </b>his voice low, “your father left instructions before going out. He wants you to dispose of the Scorpio girl.”
Chris’s expression hardened. “I’ll <b>handle </b>it.”
Minutester, he burst into the secure room to find one of his father’s men pointing a gun at <b>Liana’s </b>head. Her eyes were wide with terror, but <b>she </b>remained <b>silent</b>, her chin lifted in defiance.
“What the hell are <b>you </b>doing? Chris demanded, striding forward <b>and </b>wrenching the <b>gun </b><b>from </b>the man’s hand.
<b>1/2 </b>
“Following orders, sir, the guard replied stiffly.
:
Chris checked the gun–loaded<b>, </b>safety off. “Get out,” he ordered. Til handle this myself.”
The guard hesitated. “Sir, your father specifically-
“I said get out!” Chris’s <b>voice </b>echoed off the concrete walls. This is my responsibility. Tell my father I’m taking care of it.”
After the guard left, Chris exhaled slowly, turning to face Liana. Her eyes followed his every movement, calcting, wary
“Looks like your time’s running out, Chris said, setting a water bottle on the table. “No salt.”
Liana turned her face away.
Chris grabbed her jaw, forcing her mouth open. “Drink it. You need to stay alive a little longer.”
As soon as the <b>water </b>touched her lips, Liana gathered it and <b>spat </b>directly into Chris’s <b>face</b>. In the same motion, <b>she </b><b>lunged </b>forward, sinking her teeth into his hand<b>. </b>
Chris cursed, <b>jerking </b><b>back</b>. The door burst open as a guard rushed in, drawn by themotion.
“Sir, do you need-
“Get out!” Chris snapped, cradling his injured hand. When they were <b>alone </b>again, he looked at <b>Liana </b>with resigned exasperation. really are a little psycho.”
He picked up the water bottle, wincing at the pain in his <b>hand</b>. “Fine. Don’t drink, Your choice.”
“You
Without another word,
Chris left, closing the door firmly behind him.
Chapter Comments
3