Chapter 73
Kristin stood under the glare of a few car headlights, squinting hard to see.
Clutching the fruit knife up her sleeve, she shivered and backed away.
She wanted to run, but her legs felt like lead, totally out of control. She was stuck.
Really, she could’ve called James, but she gave up on that idea.
She didn’t want to drag him into more trouble.
“Kristin, do you think you’re something, huh?” Vincent was filled with disappointment as he spoke with biting sarcasm. “How dare James fall for a woman of your reputation.”
Kristin numbly retreated, trying hard not to care about Vincent’s mockery.
“Kristin, I told you to get lost.” Clarence said, lighting up a cigarette and leaning against the car, watching the scene unfold with an icy gaze.
Vincent stepped closer to Kristin.
Kristin felt as though she were plummeting into a frigid ice cave.
“You got Adrienne locked up, I underestimated you,” Vincent said with a sneering laugh, grabbing Kristin by the hair and dragging her to the front of the first car.
A posh lady in the car looked down at Kristin with disdain. “Spit it out. How much to drop the charges?”
Kristin trembled all over. “Assault is a crime, plain and simple…”
Adrienne’s mom scoffed. “Kristin, do you think I’m giving you a chance?”
Kristin tightened her grip on the knife handle. “Nonsense.”
Clarence, holding the cigarette butt, stiffened for a second, and looked up at Kristin. He seemed about to say something, but ultimately he said nothing.
“Three million, is that enough?” Adrienne’s mom frowned.
“I don’t want it.” Kristin gritted her teeth in pain, her voice hoarse.
“Too little for you?” Adrienne’s mom stepped out of the car, looking at Vincent. “She won’t listen, what can you do?”
“For a woman like this, you gotta use other methods. She’s been with James and doesn’t need the three million dollars,” Vincent said, his smile dripping with scorn as he shoved Kristin into the car.
“Vincent, I’m leaving this to you. No killings, alright? Make sure she drops the charges before the Silvergrove Chamber of Commerce dinner ends tomorrow,” Adrienne’s mom instructed.
Vincent nodded. “Got it.”
Chapter 73
Kristin clutched her phone, sneakily trying to call for help.
Clarence saw Kristin fiddling with her phone, frowned, but didn’t stop her.
But Vincent caught her, snatched the phone, and tossed it out the window.
“Trying to call James? He’s a bit tied up to save you right now,” Vincent said, massaging his temples with a crazy chuckle. “Keep running, Kristin.”
Kristin curled up under the car seat, hugging herself tightly, clueless about Vincent’s next
move.
“When did you start hooking up with James? Six years ago, or was it seven? Huh? That bastard child is James‘?” Vincent laughed, a crazy edge to it.
When Kristin kept silent, Vincent yanked her hair toward him. “Kristin, you are a bitch! Wasn’t! good to you? How dare you cheat on me with other guys?” Vincent was losing it.
Kristin looked at him, terrified, saying nothing. Her silence clearly infuriated Vincent. “Whore.” He despised her and thought she was filthy, yet he couldn’t let her go.
“James isn’t picky,” Vincent muttered irritably, then violently threw Kristin’s head against the car door.
With her head hit the door, Kristin felt dizzy.
In the passenger seat, Clarence massaged his temples with a low voice. “Don’t go too far… remember why we’re here. We need her to drop the charges.”
Vincent just sneered, saying nothing.
They drove to an abandoned mine in Crescendo Town, far from the city center, after nearly an hour on the road.
Vincent dragged Kristin out of the car, and she stumbled to the ground several times, her knees scraped raw, skin sticking to her torn pants, pain flaring with every move.
“I’ll ask you one more time, will you drop the charges?” Vincent threw Kristin into a warehouse.
Kristin struggled to her feet and shook her head.
Vincent frowned and kicked her
away.
Kristin lay on the ground, coughing for a long time.
Clarence stood at the door, hand on his temple, silent.
Kristin coughed, the sweet yet metallic taste of blood evident in her throat.
“One last time, will you drop them?” Vincent’s voice was cold.
“No…” Kristin glared at Vincent with loathing, herbice hoarse but firm.
“Kristin! Do you think you can talk to me like that with James backing you up?” Vincent pulled
at her collar, unable to stand seeing Kristin like this.
“Still won’t drop them?” Vincent glanced at the men behind him.
There were about a dozen bodyguards in the warehouse, all waiting in advance.
“They’ll take turns to rape you, then let’s see if James will still love you.” Vincent wasn’t just trying to scare Kristin.
Obviously, Kristin being with James had pushed Vincent over the edge, making him lose all
reason.
The bodyguards moved in as Vincent commanded, “Don’t forget to take pictures.”
Kristin retreated in terror, crying helplessly, “Get away…”
Clarence frowned and grabbed Vincent, snapping, “You serious about this?”
“Do you think just a scare will make her afraid? With James to lean on, she is not scared of you or me.” Vincent shrugged off Clarence’s hand.
“Vincent, don’t go too far!” Clarence thought this approach was despicable.
“She’s already a mess. Why should she care about a few more guys?” Vincent snapped as he grabbed Clarence’s collar. “You better not be stirring the pot.“.
Clarence shoved Vincent off, paused for a moment, then turned and walked away.
Kristin leaned against a pillar, watching Clarence walk away with a sense of despair.
She should’ve totally given up on him long ago. Why was there still a glimmer of hope?
Vincent made his arrangements and left. He sure wasn’t going to stick around with his eyes dirtied.
“We’re just doing what we’re paid to do. If you drop the charges now, we don’t wanna mess with you,” the head bodyguard threw in.
Kristin sat there numbly, looking up at the men. “Rape is a crime, and you’ll get punishment…”
“This is the middle of nowhere, who’s gonna know?” one ruffian snickered. “If you don’t take al turn, I’ll go first. Even Mr. Bryce had a go, she’s clean for sure. Besides, with the cash paid by Mr. FitzGerald, a few years in prison is worth it.”
The men laughed, egging each other on.
As one began to unbuckle his pants, Kristin gripped a dagger and pressed it to her own throat. “What about murder, huh?”
The man furrowed his brow, looking at Kristin, pale but not trembling.
What was she implying?
Kristin’s blade slashed across her neck, red blood spurting out instantly.
Chapter 73
The men looked at each other in horror. “She is crazy…
They knew they couldn’t bear the weight of a murder charge.
With a weak smile, Kristin leaned against the pillar.
She waited until everyone was far away before pressing her scarf against the wound and staggeringly walking out.
When Vincent yanked her into the car, she struggled, lost a shoe, and walked barefoot on the road, the gravel piercing her skin, the pain numbing.
The scarf was soaked with blood. Kristin knew what she was doing, but she also knew she’d die without quick help.
She didn’t know how long she walked. It felt like dawn was breaking.
Finally, she saw someone out for a night run on the roadside.
“Can I borrow your phone, please?”
The jogger was horrified at the sight of Kristin, all bloodied in the middle of nowhere. “Miss… I’ll call the cops for you!”
Kristin shook her head, her voice quivering. “Can I just use your phone?”
The jogger quickly handed it over.
Kristin thought for a second, then dialed Rhett’s number.
She had memorized it the day Rhett gave her his business card.
