Chapter 621
His voice carried through the night air, and Elissa Drummond, standing on the upstairs terrace, caught every single word.
She knew all too well that Finn Thornton wasn’t joking or making empty threats; he had come fully prepared. Her life hung entirely on his whim. Anyone who wanted to save her would have to obey his every command. But she wanted Rowan Murphy to live, too. Rowan, herself, and their baby—their family of three had to walk out of this place completely unscathed.
The glaring floodlights in the front yard illuminated Rowan’s face perfectly. Elissa could clearly see the hesitation in his eyes, but as if sensing her gaze, his focus suddenly sharpened. This time, Elissa didn’t say a word or make a move; she simply locked eyes with him, unblinking.
Nearby, Frank stood quietly, watching the silent exchange as if something had just clicked into place for him.
Rex ran his tongue along the inside of his cheek, his sharp gaze cutting toward Finn. “Plenty of people want Rowan dead, and you don’t even make the top of the list. Tonight, whether you hurt him or Elissa, I can make you disappear from this earth without a trace.”
No one doubted the weight of his words. After all, he was Rex Wilkinson; making people vanish was well within his capabilities.
This development was entirely outside of Finn’s plan. Sean Cross hadn’t even brought Elissa to the Wilkinsons to reveal her true identity yet, but all three Wilkinson siblings were already here, wading straight into the crossfire. It was obvious they already knew who she was. If the Wilkinsons hadn’t shown up, he could have easily slipped away in Vistapeak City after taking Rowan out, leaving Rowan’s men leaderless. But now, whether he achieved his goal or not, getting out in one piece was going to be a problem. The Wilkinsons wouldn’t just sit on the sidelines.
Still, he had Elissa. He wasn’t about to panic. “The Wilkinsons really are as powerful as they say. Unfortunately for you, I’ve got nothing left to lose.”
“Let’s take this inside,” Rowan said, pulling his gaze away from the terrace to look at Finn with a cool, collected confidence. “Let’s talk. Maybe I can offer you a deal you can’t refuse.”
Finn needed time to formulate an exit strategy, so he didn’t decline.
The massive group made their way into the living room. Laurel lingered at the back, whispering brief instructions to the men she had brought Then she casually looked up at the terrace her voice raising just enough for Elissa to hear. “Don’t be afraid. We’ll take you home soon.”
She sounded exactly like a calm, protective older sister.
Somehow, the last traces of panic in Elissa’s heart vanished. She looked at Laurel,
tears suddenly prickling her eyes, and gave a firm nod. “Okay.”
She trusted them. She also trusted herself. She just needed a little reassurance, and both Rowan and Laurel had grounded her. It felt as though no matter how this ended, they would be there to catch her. It was a sense of security she had never once experienced in the precarious, ice-thin reality of her past ten years.
Once everyone moved into the main hall, the yard fell dead silent, leaving only Nash and Rowan’s men guarding the perimeter wall.
Specs watched Elissa’s expression soften and scoffed. “Do you seriously think that just because the Wilkinsons are here, you and Rowan are walking out of this alive?”
Elissa ignored the taunt. Her hand, which had been resting over her stomach, shifted slightly. “My stomach hurts.”
“What the hell do I care if your stomach hurts?” Specs rolled his eyes dismissively. “Suck it up. Everyone gets stomach aches.”
Elissa frowned deeply. “I’m pregnant. If a pregnant woman experiences complications and isn’t treated immediately, it could easily result in two lives lost.”
She deliberately painted the
worst-case scenario, adding a sharp
reminder, recall Finn warning you downstairs that there couldn’t be
any sin ups. If run
away on your watch, that’s a slip-up. But if die on your watch? That’s just as bad.”