Chapter 455

He glanced down at the hand she held the gun in. “You know how to use it, right?”

During her time at the villa, he had taught her how to fire a gun, how to aim. He had used a replica because he worried about frightening her, but he knew she was smart enough to figure it out.

Finn’s tone was calm, as if he were discussing something trivial.

Evangeline, however, was frozen solid. In an instant, a tidal wave of panic swept over her.

She knew Victor wanted her dead, and she had prepared herself for it. She had been afraid, but knowing Finn would help her—and seeing that he had had cut that fear in half.

But now, the heavy weight of the gun in her hand made the danger terrifyingly real. She realized Finn wouldn’t have given this to her without reason. As long as he was able to protect her, he would never put the hope of survival in her hands. This was a last resort.

He was handing her the gun because he was prepared to die.

It was just like at the bottom of the cliff, when he realized he was sick and that, without medical help, he would never make it out. He had told her to leave on her own then, too.

He wasn’t confident he could survive an encounter with Victor.

The thought sent a fresh wave of panic through Evangeline. She grabbed Finn’s arm, refusing to let him go.

“Finn, we have a gun. We can fight our way out of here,” she whispered, her voice low enough for only him to hear. Since all pretenses were gone, why should he have to maintain this superficial harmony with Victor? They had to take a chance, fight for it!

Finn met her intense gaze and quickly understood what she was thinking. He smiled sadly and glanced at the surrounding bodyguards. “There are too many of them. We can’t break through.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll be fine,” he insisted. “Besides, I’ve already contacted my sister and Glenn. They’re on their way with reinforcements.”

Just as she had tried to buy time earlier, he needed to stall now. If they were going to go up against Victor, they needed overwhelming force. Otherwise, he would just be leading her to her death.

“Are you done yet?” Victor’s cold voice cut in from a distance. “Or do I have to come over there and get you myself?”

At his words, Finn gently pried Evangeline’s hand off his arm and turned to walk towards Victor.

“Victor, let’s just talk, for old times’ sake—”

A sickening thud echoed through the night.

Finn had been approaching with a smile, trying to reason with him. But before he could finish his sentence, Victor’s fist slammed into his face.

Finn staggered back, a dark bruise already forming on his cheek, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. He spat out a mouthful blood, and with it, half of a broken tooth.

“Finn!”

Evangeline stared in shock for a

second before trying to rush

1.n

forward. But before she could take more than a couple of steps, a bodyguard, seemingly, on a silent command, intercepted her, grabbing her by the shoulders and forcing her roughly to the ground.

Finn glared at Victor, clenching his fists. But when he turned and saw Evangeline on the ground, he forced his hands to relax. He even managed a weak smile. “Victor it’s been a while. Do we really need to get violent right away?”

Victor didn’t answer. He simply threw another punch, this one even harder than the last.

Finn stumbled back several steps and fell to the ground.

He tried to get up, but Victor was on him in two strides, planting a foot firmly on his back and grinding it down with his full weight.

Finn struggled to breathe. Through the pain, he managed to choke out, “Victor, I saved your life once.”

“I know,” came the cold, chilling voice from above, a voice that sounded like death itself. “Otherwise, you wouldn’t have the chance to be talking to me right now.”

“Finn, you’ve disappointed me.”