𝙃𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙖𝙝'𝙨 𝙋𝙊𝙑:
" Let me go, you jerk," I yelled in agony as he dragged me to the garden. It was raining heavily and my high heels were making it too difficult to walk on the grass. And with this jerk pushing me around like a cattle, it wasn't helping.
I'm not giving up. I'm not leaving this place. I'm not going to leave Liam! I kicked him right on his calf with my high heels. I was finally released from his grip. This is my chance. I tried to run away.
Suddenly, I felt a sharp pain in my ankle. I fell on the grass clutching my leg. I must have sprinkled my ankle.
" That's enough," shouted Hugo. " Dad, I don't think it's a good idea to take her with us."
I started to feel hope through the immense pain. But Rey looked discerned. " He has manipulated her into his trap completely. We need to save her from this."
" But dad, she is being so stubborn. We can't-"
He stopped speaking as Liam's men surrounded him.
"Don't you fucking move, you assholes. It's war now," he shouted at Rey. I wanted to get up and run to him. But I wasn't able to move my leg.
Cece came running to me and helped me get up from the grass. I wasn't able to stand on my own. I wrapped my arm around her for support. " What happened to you, Hannah?"
"I tried to run away but I slipped and fell, " I answered awkwardly and turned over to look at Liam. He was pointing a gun at a puzzled Rey.
" The balls on you! You think that you can deliver an imposter and get away with it?"
" I don't know what you are talking about. We captured Erickson Eaton from Russia, as per the deal," he answered back.
Liam lowered his weapon in frustration. " Where is the real Erickson Eaton?"
" There is only one Erickson Eaton," said Hugo from behind him. " He is the one we captured in Russia. He was the one who contacted us for hiring assassins. We have proof."
He took out his phone and showed it to Liam. " What does this mean? " he asked Hugo in particular.
" It means that Erickson Eaton is dead. Someone is using an imposter to screw you."
Liam looked overthrown by his explanation. I could sense the sadness in his eyes. All this time he had been suspecting a man who was like his father.
" Why didn't you tell this to me before we made a deal? You tricked me into making this deal, didn't you? I'm not going to trade Hannah for an imposter."
Rey's eyes flared up like a volcano. " We found out that just yesterday, Eaton. You can't break the deal because of that."
"Okay then," he said. " Come on guys, it's war now." said, frowning " It's war now."
" There is going to be no war today because of me," I screamed.
Everyone turned in my direction. I gazed at Rey furiously. " If you are my father, you will not force me like this. I don't want to leave Liam. Please understand that."
" But my child, you don't know anything about Eatons. They have no morality. Liam is using you."
" What morality do you have? You abandoned me when I was just born. And you talk about morality?"
" I had to give you up, my child. I did it for a reason. But I didn't abandon you completely. I made sure you and Hector grew up in a decent family."
I dig my nails deep in my palm to contain the anger. " My real father died 10 years ago. His name was Carter Miller. I would like to keep it that way. You will always be a stranger to me."
Rey was silent for a few seconds. He stared at me with despair. " You will understand the truth very soon. Till that I'll be waiting for you, my child."
He then glared at Liam viciously. " You are going to regret this, Eaton," he said and started walking away from us.
I went to Liam and squeezed him with my arms. I kissed him fiercely. For a moment it didn't even matter that we were surrounded by a lot of people. I almost forgot that my ankle was sprained. I was too happy to be back with him.
" Are you alright, sweetie? I noticed that you were limping," he asked.
" My leg, it hurts," I blurted out through the pain. He carried me up in his arms and took me inside. He placed me on the couch. Our clothes were soaking wet now.
He then examined my feet. " I'll tell the maid to bring ice. Till that don't move your feet," he said. I was already shivering in the damp clothes and he was bringing me even more ice!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It was half an hour since I took the morphine. As the drug kicked in, I felt painless. Still, I was getting bored without Liam around. I went outside the room to check on him.
Everyone was in the living room. The imposter was lying on the floor while his legs and hands were tied up. It was terrifying just to look at him.
Liam was looking extremely impatient. He must have tried very hard to make him speak out. Looks like he didn't cooperate.
" Mr. Eaton, let's just kill him. He is of no use to us," said Danny.
I always despised Danny. He was very cruel and he remained me of Hector.
" You are not handling the situation in the right way, Liam," I said and walked to him. " This guy knows that you are going to kill him as soon as he confesses everything. That's why he is not cooperating with you."
He down at me intrigued. " So what do you propose Hannah? I should make him my circle member and feed him daily?"
" Exactly. You should offer him something first. Only then he will cooperate with you."
" I don't agree with her, Mr. Eaton," Danny interrupted. " This guy is still loyal to Russians and he is a threat to all of us. He knows all of our identity."
Of course, I expected this from him. " If he thinks that he is going to be killed no matter what, then he would rather die without helping us."
Liam was validating my proposal. He gazed down for a second. " Let's have a vote among us and decide accordingly. Members in favor of Hannah's proposal can raise their hands," he said.
Out of ten, five people raised their hands. I was happy to know that Ricky was on my side. But Cece didn't raise her head. " I'm sorry," she said. I scowled at her.
" Okay, now members in favor of Hector can raise their hands," he shouted.
The remaining five raised their hands. Great! Now it is tied. So it's up to Liam to make the final verdict.
Liam sighed in frustration. " So far we have got nothing from him. He is just a con artist hired by the Russians to fuck up my mind. I don't think that he knows the identity of my rival. So I disagree with Hannah's proposal. " he said and glanced at Danny.
I felt so embarrassed. I thought Liam was on my side. But he favors Danny's opinion over mine? This is unacceptable. Danny went over to the con artist and he was about to shoot the guy.
The con artist didn't even look at Danny. He was staring at Liam with determination in his eyes. " You should reconsider this, Eaton. Because I can be helpful to you. I know so many details about your rival. I'm willing to help you only if you spare me."
Danny lowered his gun and looked at Liam confused. I felt relieved that I was right. Now Liam has to agree with my proposal.
But he looked disinterested. " I have seen thousands of con artists like you in my life. I know that you are just bluffing. Danny, go ahead. Kill him."
" Seriously, Liam?" I cried out. " You are making a ridiculous decision. "
Liam looked at me furiously with his deadly eyes. Maybe I crossed the line this time!