Chapter 105

MADDISON

I slowly pivot, my gaze landing on Papa’s gun. He’s aiming it at Violet, his face twisted in a snarl of rage. His eyes are stormy with fury, and I notice him scanning the room for his henchmen.

His six men have every exit covered, standing rigid like soldiers awaiting orders. A wave of fear washes over me for Violet. She’s just one petite woman, and even though I know she has backup, I’m uncertain how much help they’ll be when bullets start flying.

“What the fuck do you want?” he growls, clearly annoyed.

Violet barely acknowledges him, sparing him a brief glance before turning her attention back to me.

“Where are they, Maddison? How many?” she questions me.

Mr. Fennick suddenly rises from his stunned silence, reaching out to restrain Violet, but she shocks him with a taser, sending him sprawling on the floor, convulsing.

I watch as his body jerks unnaturally on the floor. I quickly follow Violet’s lead and answer her.

“Next floor down, you can’t miss them,” I whisper to her.

They’re finally here; she’s finally here. These girls will be saved from the horrors of Sanctum and everything it has in store for them.

I’m overjoyed, elated… My emotions are soaring so high that I almost forget about the imminent threat my father poses.

“Don’t move,” Papa orders as Violet steps over Mr. Fennick, discarding the taser as if it’s worthless.

The small device lies on the floor next to me, and I’m tempted to grab it and make Mr. Fennick tremble again.

“Cal, he has a gun… Fuck the rules and get in here,” Violet pulls me closer, whispering so only I can hear.

She gives me a quick once-over as if that was her intention all along, then pushes me in front of her.

To my shock, she pulls a knife from her waistband, pressing it against my throat.

I let out a small shriek, worried she might actually hurt me as she speaks.

“I suggest you put that gun down, sir,” she says.

“Release my daughter…”

“Put the gun down, sir,” she insists.

He smirks, clearly intrigued by her, and for a terrifying moment, I wonder if he would claim her—a woman her age—for himself.

Papa has always had a reputation for having multiple women. Mama tolerates a lot, allowing his polyamorous lifestyle to play a significant role in their relationship.

I’m not sure she fully understood what she was getting into. And by the time she saw Papa for who he truly is, I fear it was too late.

Maybe she loved him, or perhaps it was because she knew too much to leave. But there’s an unspoken rule in our house that no one leaves.

Except…I did. He sold me to Mr. Fennick, and I left. I’ve been gone for almost a year…

“What do you want with my girls?” he asks, taking three steps toward us.

Violet digs the knife’s point into my skin, causing a sharp sting as I squirm against her.

I thought she said she was here to help us, but right now, it feels like she’s here to hurt me, like I’m just a pawn in her mission to save the new group of girls I had just photographed.

And I hate that I don’t fully trust her, but we barely know each other, and I’ve been too trusting when I have no reason to be.

“Filly, come here,” Papa orders, snapping his fingers and pointing the gun at Violet’s head over my shoulder.

A quick gesture of his hand is supposed to reassure me that he might protect me for once.

I don’t know what comes over me, but I position myself so the gun is aimed at me.

Given how close he is, I have no doubt the bullet could pass through me, but it would slow down enough to only wound her if she didn’t dodge it.

“Filly.” He stammers angrily, upset that I’ve shielded the petite woman behind me instead of obeying his command like the obedient pet he made me.

Truthfully, I could probably break free from her grip; she’s much shorter than me. Her head barely reaches my shoulders, but then again, she did toss Mr. Fennick over her entire body.

Mr. Fennick stirs on the floor, prompting her to zap him with the taser again.

She nudges the small device with her foot as he convulses once more.

We both stand over him, a sense of satisfaction washing over us as we watch him twitch from the electricity coursing through his veins.

Suddenly, a gunshot rings out, causing me to whip my head around to face my father.

He’s fired a shot into the ceiling—a warning. But we don’t have the luxury of time to ponder his warning as the room quickly fills with people.

They’re all dressed in black combat gear, guns at the ready. I’m torn between where to focus my attention—my father, Mr. Fennick, or the armed men now occupying the room.

Despite the chaos, an eerie silence descends over me, and everything seems to slow down. My heart maintains its steady rhythm. None of this is affecting me as it should.

“Drop your weapon,” Callum commands, striding beside us like a modern-day knight.

He’s the only man not dressed in black, but he’s here to protect us nonetheless. His gun is aimed directly at my father, and I find myself praying.

I pray fervently that something will provoke Callum to pull the trigger, but he doesn’t. He doesn’t shoot because my father complies.

He engages the safety on his gun and places it on the table next to him. Time seems to freeze, and I realize this is my opportunity for retribution.

Violet retreats, leaving me standing alone with Callum at my side. I risk a glance back to see her encircled by the men in black.

I have no doubt that their job is to ensure her safety. Tears well up in my eyes and begin to trickle down my cheeks.

They’re tears of relief, anger, and disappointment. I had hoped for a different ending to all this.

So, I throw myself into Callum’s arms, clinging to him like a scared child seeking comfort. I bury my face in his chest, afraid that my eyes might give me away.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you,” I whisper.

He doesn’t respond at first, his gaze still fixed on my father. But then his arms drop to his sides before finally encircling me.

“You’re safe now, Maddison. I promise,” he assures me.

But I can’t bring myself to believe him, knowing that my actions have likely jeopardized my safety.

“Thank Asher for me; tell him I’m sorry,” I manage to say through my tears. A fleeting moment of indecision reminds me of everything Asher has done for me.

Callum looks down at me, confusion etched on his face. He uses his free hand to wipe away my tears, trying to comfort me.

That’s when I seize the opportunity to snatch the gun from his hand. He resists, but I kick him between the legs and soon have him on the floor beneath me, grimacing in pain.

Without a second thought, I turn to face my father, who is being restrained by two men. I walk toward him and pull the trigger twice. The recoil from the shots pushes me back.

I then turn back to Callum as he calls out my name, his voice shattering the silence despite the crowd in the room.

“Maddison, no!” he pleads.

I raise the gun toward him, warning him to keep his distance. He complies, stepping back three paces with his hands raised in surrender.

He starts barking orders to get Violet out of the room. She’s struggling against the men trying to restrain her, desperate to reach me.

But I ignore them all, focusing my attention on the second man of the hour while blocking out everything else.

“Don’t do it, Maddison. Look at me. MADDISON,” Callum yells.

I disregard Callum’s pleas and aim the gun at Mr. Fennick’s head. I kick him so he’s facing me, then I pull the trigger, shooting him between the eyes.

My hands start to shake, but I know what I have to do. I know the consequences and what I want for my life.

I turn the gun on myself. There should be three bullets left.

“No! No, Callum. Please!” Violet cries out as I pull the trigger for the fourth time, locking eyes with Asher’s tearful mother.