Chapter 74|Trigger.

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**Arabella's P O V.

Martin's eyes were narrowed as he gave me a once over, to emphasize his words he added, "You're nothing but a rogue with no one to lean on, at least that will be before you die. When you die you'll go straight to hell where crooks like you rot in." He ground so hard I thought his teeth were falling out a minute later.

When they didn't I gave him tbe perfect response to the words I deem as bullshit.

"Good riddance, I'd rather be alone than with the likes of you, even in hell, Martin." I raised a brow to emphasize my deliberate use of his name and his cheeks flushed red.

He grumbled under his breath, took out an object from behind his back and the sight of the weapon had me bracing myself for his next move, the very inevitable moment when it goes off.

Martin pointed a gun at me, he pressed it on my head, casually trailed down to my throat whispering the immediate damage a blow there will cause and result in.

"But killing you instantly will be a bore. I'd rather shoot your leg first, then your arm, relish in the sight of you groveling on the floor as your blood pools around you and the room smells of nothing but its stench, pleading for death or help from the pain. I'll mark these walls with your name and date and how exactly, at what point I had rid the world of your forsaken existence, what favor I'd done to everyone. I'm anticipating that part already." He grinned devilishly, licking his lips in anticipation.

"Then why did you have to kill the man guarding me? He had a family to return to, a mate, a home. Everything you lack!" I screamed, memories of the man's last words returning to me in full force. He vowed to protect me with his life and it costed Martin nothing to have the man dead and me subsequently killed.

"Was I supposed to let him play tricks before I had you brought to me? You're such a naive, gullible and stupid girl who knows nothing about life despite all she was taught. Just a big-for-nothing in adult clothing. I've grown weary of our verbal sparring. Let's get this over with." He clicked his finger once, then twice and two masked men walked in garbed in black from head to toe.

Ofcourse Martin works with his men at his disposal.

They yanked me up, pulled my hair out of its neat coiffure. One raised my head up high, the aftermath of his harsh man-handling definitely going to bruise later and the other man slapped a duct tape over my lips, shutting me up permanently. The one holding my hair tied my hands behind my back and braced my legs apart.

"Good. Good boys." He remarked, nodding at his minions and they walked out as expressionless as they came in.

"Quite a shame that you turned out to be ungrateful after all the sacrifices done for you. My darling Vanessa did what she had to do all in order to secure a future for you, a future as a grand Luna and the mother of the strongest wolf. We would've conquered the world. Had she known her efforts will be put to shame she wouldn't have wasted it on you. It irates me as hell knowing you took confidential information to the enemy. I was surprised when I heard news of your betrayal, you switched sides quicker than one flips the egg in a pan. Vanessa would've been disappointed in your slutty actions, having you sniffing at that good-for-nothing boy.. " He tsked, shaking his head as though deep in thoughts.

"Well it's your choice and you chose a different path. I'm sure Christopher didn't waste time before telling you about my atrocities, the lot of them. I'm glad I left him with something to always remember me with. It gives me immense pleasure knowing he cannot part his lips to speak without Martin Miles coming to his mind and the damage he had done to him, the long-lasting, permanent damage. It's not my fault that I'm not someone you take for granted." His words made me fight the urge to gag.

It was so disgusting.

"Let's get down to business." He cocked his gun and took aim, a sinister grin curling his lips upward, crookedly and so disgustingly.

"Any last words?" He taunted knowing I was left at his disposal with no chance to speak or ability to make a single move. All I could do was stare at him right in the eye as emotionlessly as I could.

A shot ran into the air and I felt the pain immediately. It didn't hurt less knowing the shot reached its aim and was done by a man I once looked up to. The man who birthed my own mother. It made my eyes sting with hatred and not fear. Definitely not the pain caused by a bullet wound.

I wasn't scared of him. Or of death.

The sound of someone approaching in haste had us turning to the door, my chest was heaving as a scent reached my senses. I didn't give myself hope but boy did I hope.

Lucas came barging in looking ready to kill with his nostrils flaring and eyes on the cusp of turning into a feral wolf's. My world stopped right there and then.

How did he knew I was here? How did he get here? Fucking hell!

My heart hammered loudly in my chest and I shook my head vehemently at him. Martin was getting his wish if Lucas gets killed and, or subsequently me or vice versa. It wouldn't do any good for us and even if we were defeating him only the Lord knows the number of men he has around for protection.

Our victory wouldn't be for long before they gun us down.

He has literally created an army from the most feral rogues, assassins and wimps like Leah. The wimps are used for tricky situations.

Lucas moved closer to me, his body pulled taut, tensed. His eyes ran over my whole body from the top of my head to the tip of my toes lingering on the bullet in my leg, his perusal made me feel like I was lit on fire. It honestly didn't hurt anymore with my mind focused on getting Luke out before he was hurt. That was enough to make me feel like running mad. What he did next incited my desperation further and I felt my wolf surface. He placed himself before me protectively, wordlessly showing Martin how he had to get to him first before he had the chance to get to me.

"Move or I'll kill you and get to her next. It'll be a pleasure and I'll be delighted to kill you both at the same time." Martin growled. "A win-win for me."

Darkness enveloped my senses, I was barely able to hold myself as he pulled the trigger and two shots rang in the air.

Lucas fell before me and just before I slipped out of consciousness I saw Martin staggering for balance as blood oozed from his chest.

What the hell just happened?