ENGAGEMENT 16

CHAPTER 16 

“You killed him.” 

The words were out of my mouth before I could stop them. They tore from my throat like glass slicing my lungs on the way out. My whole body shook against the ropes, my wrists burned as yanked at the knots holding me down. 

“You killed my father.” 

Uncle Henry froze, the gun still pointed at Asher. His face twisted into something ugly something not even human. “I-” He shook his head violently, spittle flying. “No, I didn’t- You don’t know what you’re talking about!” 

“You said it!” I screamed. My voice cracked, raw with hatred. “You just admitted it! You killed him because you wanted this money! Because you wanted to steal from him! He’s your brother, how could you do that to him?!” 

Maya gasped behind him. “Dad…? That’s not true, right? Tell her she’s lying!” 

Henry’s eyes flicked to his daughter for only a second, then back to me. His jaw trembled. “Everything I did was for you, Maya. For us. Your uncle… he was a weak man. He didn’t know how to protect what he built. So I did it. I made sure his empire wouldn’t fall apart. I made sure you would have everything.” 

“You murdered your own brother,” I spat, the taste of bile rising in my throat. My skin felt hot suffocating under the ropes. “And for what? For money? For power? You’re disgusting.” 

“Shut up!” Henry roared, veins bulging in his neck. He waved the gun toward me now, his eyes wild and red. “Don’t you dare speak to me like that. Everything you are, everything you’ve ever had, is because of me.” 

“No,” I hissed, trembling with fury. “Everything I am is despite you.” 

“Asher,” Henry barked suddenly, snapping his attention back to him. “You call your lawyers righ now. You get them to prepare the documents. You sign it all over to me, or she dies.” 

Asher had been unnervingly calm through the tirade, but now his jaw flexed, his fists clenched at his sides. Slowly, he straightened despite the gun aimed between his eyes. “You’re already finished, Henry.” 

“What did you say?” 

“I said…” His voice was a razor’s edge, steady and unflinching. “-you’re finished. My men have my location. It’s been pinged every thirty seconds since I walked in here. You’ve already lost.” 

Henry’s face contorted with rage. “Liar!” 

Asher didn’t blink. “Try me. The cops will be here in less than ten minutes.” 

Henry snapped. 

The gun went off with a deafening crack. 

“Asher!” My scream ripped out of me as he staggered, clutching his side. The sound of his groan gutted me. He collapsed to his knees, blood was seeping through his shirt and dripping onto the floor. 

“No, no, no.” My whole body shook as I thrashed against the ropes, fighting like a madwoman. 

“.. 

CHAPTER 16 

כיור 

793 

12:15 pm 

D 

“You bastard! You shot him!” 

Asher’s face was pale, lips tight, but his eyes… oh God, his eyes found mine through the haze, “Don’t-” His voice was raw, broken. “Don’t give him… anything.” 

Then his head slumped forward, and his body sagged against the ropes binding me. 

My chest caved in. “Asher!” My voice cracked until it was nothing but a rasp. “Please! Please wake up! Stay with me! Asher!” 

Henry’s expression was feral now, sweat dripping down his temples. “Do you see what happens when you cross me?” He shoved the gun toward me, his hands shaking. “You’re next, Jada. If he doesn’t sign everything to me, you die. Do you understand me? You will die.” 

Hot tears burned my face. I couldn’t even wipe them. My wrists were raw, my body was numb but the ropes dug into my skin like cruel reminders of my helplessness. 

“You’ll never get away with this,” I choked out. “Everyone will know what you did.” 

“I don’t care!” Henry’s voice cracked with manic desperation. “I don’t care what anyone thinks. A long as I have Sinclair Industries, as long as Maya is taken care of, nothing else matters.” 

Maya was pale and trembling now, tugging at his sleeve. “Dad, stop. Please, you’re scaring me- “Shut up, Maya!” he barked, shoving her away so hard she stumbled. “You think I’m doing this fo fun? I’m doing this for you. For us!” 

Her lips trembled. “I never asked for this.” 

Henry’s nostrils flared, but before he could lash out again, Matt stepped forward. His voice wa calm and steady, but there was a tightness in it that I’d never heard before. 

“Put the gun down, Henry.” 

Henry’s head snapped toward him. “Stay out of this.” 

Matt shook his head, stepping directly in front of me. His body shielded mine completely, broad shoulders blocking my view of the gun. “No. You’re not going to shoot her. If you do, everything you’ve worked for really is gone.” 

I blinked at his back, stunned. Matt was protecting me? It didn’t feel real. 

Henry snarled. “She betrayed you, boy. She humiliated you in front of the world. And you want t play her hero now?” 

Matt’s voice dropped lower. “Maybe she did. But killing her won’t fix anything. It’ll bury you. It’ bury all of us.” 

“Mattie, get out of the way!” Maya cried, tugging at his arm, “Dad’s right! Don’t ruin this for us!” 

But Matt didn’t budge. “You’ve lost your mind, Henry. This ends here.” 

“Move!” Henry’s voice cracked like a whip. His hands trembled violently as he aimed. “Don’ make me do it, boy. Don’t make me-” 

Matt stood taller, lifting his chin. “Then shoot me.” 

The silence that followed was suffocating. My heart slammed so hard against my ribs I thought it would break through. 

Henry’s face twisted into pure rage, spit flying as he shouted, “You ungrateful bastard!” 

The gun fired. 

BANG. 

12:16 pm A