BOOK II.
Four months have passed since Ashton and Ria's relationship fell into ruins. He's convinced that she hates him and she believes he never loved her. Giving up on each other, they attempt to mend their loneliness in the arms of their past; Ch...
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"CAN WE PLEASE get a light turned on? It's so gloomy in here and I am just dying to witness the look on my little sister's face."
Sudden light. Jared blinks and his heart stops.
Poised before them is the man he's only heard stories about. A man he's hoped he'd never have to meet. The very man who's tortured the woman he's learning to love for her entire life.
He's taller than he imagined. Skin paler. Eyes colder. Deader. Tattoos are engraved in the exposed parts of his skin like ink on paper. He's smiling so wide and joyously it begs the question of whether this is some sort of sick joke.
Though there is nothing humorous about the petrified look in Vivian's eyes.
The man, Vincent, digs his fingers in her skin and she flinches. That's when Jared snaps out of his stupor.
"D-don't touch her." He shoves Vincent's hand aside and stands in front of Vivian. Terror rushes through his veins. He's shaking, trembling. Never in his life has he confronted someone. Not like this. What is he supposed to do?
Time slows. His heart roars in his chest. He's sweating but ice cold all at once. Only one thing works through his scattered thoughts. Protect her. He has to protect Vivian.
Vincent narrows his eyes and taps his thin lips. "You are a new player to this game. Let me guess..." He feigns juggling a thought in the confines of his head.
Jared barely has enough time to asses the situation. Four dead-eyed men, large and clad in black, stand in each corner of the room with large weapons held tight in their hands. Assault rifles? He swallows hard and tightens his hands into fists. How can he dream of fighting this?
"Jared Montgomery!" Vincent announces his name, drawing his attention back to him. "Right?" He grins and holds his hands out like he's expecting praise. "You're Ria's best friend. Sophia's bandmate."
Jared nearly loses his breath. "H-how do you know this stuff?"
"Come on. Are you really that slow or did they not fill you in on who I am? Please tell me you guys have filled him in." Vincent's gaze flicks above his head. "Dan? Did you tell him? What about you, Viv?" Vincent shoves Jared aside and smiles at his sister. "Did you tell your little boyfriend all about me?"
"Leave her alone!" Jared scrambles back over to them only to stop short when he's suddenly staring into the barrel of a gun. He barely has enough time to register a thing. Not the moment Vincent pulled it out or even trained it on him. Suddenly, Jared is looking into the face of death and his world ceases to move.
"Don't!" Vivian cries and throws herself at her brother.
"Stand still," Vincent barks and raises his fist to strike Vivian right across the face.
