TENACITY

CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR

(⚠️ mentions of violence ⚠️)

Tuesday, October 18, 2016
W

averley, Edinburgh

"Trey!"

Eyes wide at what was happening in front of her, Nicolysse rounded on Ethan who was struggling to keep Alexandra upright—he was nearing the end of his patience.

"Stand up woman," he snapped, hoping it'll have an effect on Alexandra.

"Forget her!" Nicolysse snapped, coming to stand directly in front of Ethan. "What the heck are you doing?! Why are you shooting him dead?!"

His head whipped from Alexandra to her. "Get out of my face," he spat.

"Out of your face?!" She was unraveling at the seams, and Alexandra quieted enough to see her clutch at her hair and stomp repeatedly. "I've worked so hard for this! I've given my all, and you're killing my prize in front of me!"

It took then for Alexandra to remember the babies weren't with her—they were safe —so she tried pushing away from Ethan, addressing Nicolysse as she did. "Do not speak of my husband as though he's merely an object to be won! I resent that!"

Nicolysse backhanded her, watching as Lexi—still weak from the drug—fell to the ground. Angry now, Ethan grabbed her by the jaw, pointing the gun to her head. "Listen and listen carefully —"

"No, you listen," she cut in, past fearing death. "You played me, making me believe I was going to have him at the end of it all! —"

"Actually," Carter cut in from where she'd been sitting on the ground, bound and all, "I was supposed to have Trey to do what I wanted with him. But, if he dies, I get what I want anyway." Then she shrugged, grinning at the two people glaring down at her. "It's a win for me regardl— "

"Can you shut up?" Ethan snapped. "You're already in no position to defend yourself, so unless you want me to blow out your brains next, shut up."

Then he saw Alexandra attempting to crawl away and kicked her in the side, snarling, "Try to move again and your torture session would begin with your kids. Want to watch me slice them apart?!"

When Alexandra said nothing but stayed put, whimpering in pain, he returned his attention to Nicolysse. "You have some nerve, losing your cool like that.

"But then, you've always been a psychopath, and I like that. I bet it'll be nice to hear your anguished screams when I take you to my den. Would you like that?" He finished in a whisper.

"Read my lips," Nicolysse muttered, eyes defiant. "Go. to. h— "

Bang!

Alexandra rolled away as Nicolysse's body fell to the ground, and turned her head from the face. Nicolysse's eyes were wide open, and the blood from her head wound was slipping past her eye and into her mouth, then pouring onto the ground.

Managing to get on her knees, Lexi retched, hoping this was a nightmare she could wake up from. Trey was most probably dead by now because the shot had been aimed at his heart. And if she had to spend the rest of her days with this man, she wasn't sure how long she could endure.

She found herself wishing she could hold her babies once more.

Ethan found her on her knees, and the sight of her puke made him gag. Nevertheless, he grabbed her by the arm and hauled her to her feet. "We're done here." Then he let go of her, warning, "Stay right here. If you move an inch, I'll shoot you all over. But unlike your ex husband, you'll be alive to feel the agony."