Page 120 of Unchained

“Get off me,” I choke out.

“If anyone is killing him, it’s going to be me!” she shouts.

My heart stops as I contemplate her words. I take a deep fucking breath, trying to calm my rage, and then I glance at the state of her father's face, and I feel better. Although all I want to do is kill this evil motherfucker for laying a hand on my wife.

Pushing myself back up to stand, I shake out the pain in my hands, and when I turn to face her, my heart splinters into a million pieces.

Reaching out, I brush my hand along her bruised cheek, streaked with blood. “Why, Gianna? Why do you let him do this to you?” I whisper. “This isn’t you.”

She recoils from my touch.

Dom walks into the room, his head down, and I snap my head up to look at him and point to the dining table.

“Sit your fucking ass down, Dom,” I say through gritted teeth.

He’s her brother. He should be the one taking the goddamn beating if anyone has to. He knew what was going on in this house, and he’s just as much to blame as her father.

Gianna grabs my shirt, forcing me back to her. “Don’t be mad at Dom. He takes orders from me, remember?”

I swallow the bile rising in my throat. This family is all kinds of fucked up.

Her father groans on the floor, his consciousness coming back, and I slam my boot on his chest, glaring down at him. “Don’t you fucking move. Don’t you dare speak. Or I will put a bullet through your skull, which is less than what you deserve.”

Turning my attention back to my wife, I don’t say a word. I don’t even know what to say.

“Is this what he’s always done to you, G?” I ask quietly, trying to hide the despair in my voice thinking about what she’s been through.

“This is how it was, Colt. This is what made me who I am. I used to think it made me strong enough to lead. But it doesn’t. I get that now. You helped me realize it.”

I nod my head, tracking the blood running from her nose that she keeps trying to wipe away. The way her back is bent over because it hurts her too damn much to even stand up straight.

“He made me believe that if I wanted to run LA; I had to pay the consequences for my actions,” she whispers.

Hell. No.

“Would you let this happen to Wyatt? To our future children?”

She pulls back, flinching. “No. Colten. I’d never. I promise.”

I rest my hands on her shoulders, trying to ground her. “Would you let the man who hurt our children live? What would you do to him?”

An unfiltered rage flashes across her eyes. “I’d torture them until they begged me for death.”

I nod slowly. This man has to die, and I think the only person who rightfully deserves this kill is her.

“He’s manipulated you for a long time, Gianna. And I understand, baby. I do. He’s your dad, and you felt like you didn’t have a choice. But that’s gotta stop now. You have to take the control back before it’s too late.”

I swallow the lump in my throat. I had my suspicions; I hoped I was wrong. That it wasn’t this fuckin’ bad.

“I don’t care what bullshit he’s told you to make you think it’s okay in the past, but I’m telling you right now, it isn’t. And I think you know that now. Men don’t treat women like this, powerful ones or not. Nor kids. That doesn’t make you weak, G. I promise you,” I tell her, pressing my hand over my heart.

“If I kill him, I could lose everything I worked for? I have no guarantee right now that I’ll get the empire, not if he’s dead.”

I lean in, pressing my forehead against hers. It’s now or never. Romeo’s words echo in my head.

It’s kill or be killed in this world, and Gianna is holding the key to her own survival. And I want to be the man who stands beside her when she finally rules her empire.

CHAPTER SIXTY-SEVEN