Page 142 of Wicked Lord

We giggled like lovesick kids all the way to my Jeep parked under a sycamore tree around the corner.

“I can’t believe we’re doing this.” Her warm hand tightened around mine. “My father’s going to be so pissed, but I don’t give a damn.”

A broad smile spread across my lips. “You don’t have to worry about your father or anyone else anymore.”

Her warm brown eyes softened as we stopped at the car. “I love you, Ax.”

I pulled her into me and rested my forehead on hers, inhaling her sweet, addictive scent. “I love you so damn much it hurts.”

“How fucking sweet.”

We pulled apart as Brock stepped out of the shadows on the other side of my Jeep, a snarl twisting his mouth.

Fire infiltrated my bloodstream and wrapped my muscles. I wanted to slam my fist into his face until his skull caved in.

“Did you really think it would be that easy, Vanderhart?” Brock jerked his chin toward Lorelei, the pale moonlight glinting in his blond hair. “Did you really think you could take my property?”

“I’m no one’s property,” Lorelei hissed, suddenly shaking beside me. “You don’t own me.”

His laughter made my skin crawl. “I do own you, Lorelei. Your father sold you like a whore, and now, I get to do whatever I please with you.” His cold eyes raked over her as he slowly licked his lips. “I can’t wait to punish you for this. You’ll be screaming all night.”

Crimson bled around the edges of my vision. I’d had enough of his bullshit. This was the last time he threatened the woman I loved.

I released Lorelei’s hand and stepped toward Brock. “You and I are going to settle this now, Haversham. And it’s going to end with your broken body sprawled across the pavement.”

Brock reached behind his back and pulled out a gun, aiming it at us. “Not another step, Axel, or I’ll blow a hole through your head.”

I screeched to a halt, backed up, and pushed Lorelei behind me so her small frame was completely blocked. My pulse skyrocketed as I stared down the barrel of the silver Colt 1911. I hadn’t expected Haversham to actually pull a weapon on us.

“Don’t be stupid, Brock. I’m not someone you can just kill without starting a shitstorm.” Between my family and the Serpents & Daggers, he’d be knee-deep in shit until someone tossed him in his own grave.

He gave a bitter laugh, the elegant cut of his suit clashing sharply with the gun in his hand. “I can pay people to cover my tracks.”

“Brock, don’t do this.” Lorelei’s fingers gripped my shirt. “Just let me go.”

He motioned the gun to the left. “Get back in the fucking house, Lorelei, and maybe I’ll let Loverboy live to see another day.”

I studied Brock and the gun, focusing on it as the tree branches above us swayed to allow in a few more slivers of light. “You’re really ready to shoot me with that thing?”

“You bet your ass I am.” His nostrils flared as he peered behind me. “Get in the house. I won’t tell you again, Lorelei. You’re only making this worse for yourself.”

“Don’t move, Lore. This prick is so full of it.”

Brock scoffed. “I have a gun pointed at your head. Iwillshoot you.”

“Your lie would be more convincing if you had the fucking safety off.” I sprinted forward and snatched the gun right out of his grasp. “Like this.”

He shuffled back, the blood fading from his cheeks. “You won’t kill me.”

“No?” Removing the safety, I racked the gun and leveled it right at his heart. “You’re the type to hire someone to kill your enemies while I have no problem getting my hands dirty.”

“How could I forget, Axel? Youarea killer, aren’t you?” Shadows darkened Brock’s gaze as he focused his attention on Lorelei. “You’ll find out your knight in shining armor is just as dark as me, princess.”

She gripped my arm, ignoring Brock’s words. “Put the gun down, Ax. Let’s just get out of here.”

Her touch instantly soothed the fury crashing through me, and I lowered the weapon. “You come after Lorelei again, andI won’t hesitate to put a bullet in your heart.” I ejected the magazine, hurled the gun like a football into the nearby patch of forest, and threw the ammo in the opposite direction.

“You’re going to regret this, Lorelei!” he called out as we got into the Jeep. “Axel’s life will be ruined because of you.”