Brad’s POV
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Mira’s eyes slammed shut, and I knew I’d hit the mark. The pieces of the puzzle that had been nagging at me for years finally clicked into
place.
“That’s why you disappeared without a word six years ago, I continued, circling her like a predator. “You went to get the surgery, didn’t
you? I should have realized it sooner – that’s why you wouldn’t speak much during that period. If I’m not mistaken, your voice changed
too, didn’t it?”
Another violent shudder ran through her body, confirming my suspicions.
“No wonder the Collins family suddenly liquidated all their assets in Moonshade Bay and fled overseas in such a hurry. No wonder you
made yourself impossible to find.” I paused, studying her perfect form beneath the soaked fabric.
The memory hit me then – that night in Moon Valley when she’d tried to seduce me. Even in my drunk state, something had felt wrong.
Her body had been too perfect, like a work of art rather than something natural.
Mira finally opened her eyes, the fight seeming to drain out of her completely. When she spoke, her voice was a harsh rasp – nothing like
the sweet, melodic tone I remembered.
“Since you know everything, why don’t you just kill me?” she asked, resignation heavy in every word. “With your methods and reputation, I wouldn’t last three days anyway, would I?”
I nodded approvingly. “You do understand my methods. You’re right – anyone who dares to target the Rayne family typically doesn’t survive long. But I’ve kept you alive for a reason. You’ve been quite useful, helping me eliminate problems I wanted gone anyway.”
Her trembling intensified.
“Mira Collins,” I said, letting my voice drop to a dangerous whisper, “you have some fucking nerve. Trying to infiltrate the Rayne family’s European operations? Should I admire your courage or laugh at your stupidity? Did you really think accumulating stock certificates would give you access to Europe? How amusing.”
She glared at me with pure hatred, her ruined voice making her words sound like a broken saw.
“What’s the point of all this? I was your first love! That’s undeniable. Can you really bring yourself to destroy me?”
I stopped but didn’t turn around. When I spoke, my voice was completely devoid of emotion.
“You’re right. You were the first girl I had feelings for. But that’s all it was feelings. I came to see you tonight to permanently erase that memory from my life. Everything I said to you, everything I wore after tonight, it will all be completely erased from my memory.”
“Then why bother with this charade?” she screamed, her voice cracking. “You clearly haven’t forgotten me! There’s still something in your
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Chapter 279
heart for me!”
0:
37
I finally turned, letting her see the cold amusement in my eyes. “Actually, I just wanted to show you that Elle looks much better in that
style of dress than you ever did.”
The effect was immediate and devastating. Mira’s face contorting with rage and pain.
“Brad Rayne, you bastard!” she gasped. “Don’t you want to know why I’m so desperate to get involved in the European black market?”
I regarded her with mild interest. “Because your organs are failing, and you urgently need replacements, right?”
The last bit of color drained from her face.
“You came back to Moonshade Bay with a plan, I continued methodically. “First target: me. If you could make me fall in love with you again, you’d have free access to Europe for organ replacement. When that failed, you shifted to Lucas. But he couldn’t even get into the board of directors.”
I began pacing, enjoying the way she hung on every word.
“Desperate for more stock, you tried to acquire Elle’s five percent. When that failed spectacularly, you turned to Lester and Roy – smaller holdings, but every percentage point counted. Lester was too busy chasing Sophia and had given up on you anyway, so you focused on Roy, using Yara to get his contact information.”
Her breathing was becoming more labored.
–
“But even that was too slow,” I continued. “So you decided to go straight to the board members. Much faster to corrupt someone who already had access. Enter Eric Ellen – perfect target, already compromised. Get enough money, secure enough organ sources, and you could finally get your surgery.”
“You’ve known everything all along…” she whispered, her voice barely audible.
I smiled coldly. “I wanted to see exactly how far you’d go. There’s nothing more satisfying than crushing someone’s dreams just when they think they’re about to succeed. But I have to admit, you showed remarkable courage. Trying to buy stock with money you didn’t have? Impressive.”
“I hear you’ve saved up fifty million for your overseas surgery,” I said pleasantly.
She wouldn’t meet my eyes.
“Are you here to gloat?” she asked flatly.
“Not at all. I’m here to see you off. After all, you’ve done me several favors – neutralizing Lucas’s ability to cause trouble in the Rayne family, and convincing those stubborn board members to hand over their stock certificates personally. How could I let you leave alone?‘
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Chapter 279
Despite my polite words, the threat was unmistakable.
“You’re going to kill me,‘ she stated.
I didn’t deny it.
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Panic crept into her voice. “Elizabeth would never allow you to kill me!”
“If you were still the old Mira, she might protect you,” I replied calmly. “But you betrayed her. And Elizabeth Rayne has never tolerated betrayal. When my father betrayed her, she chose to die with him rather than let it slide. What makes you think she’d show mercy to you? Especially after I told her about your activities these past few years.”
Mira’s face went completely white. She stumbled backward, sitting heavily on the bed.
“Do you have any last words?” I asked courteously.
She closed her eyes for a long moment. When she opened them, there was only resignation.
She stared at her reflection in the mirror across the room
–
a stranger’s face looking back at her.
“I have nothing to say.”
Maybe it really is time for this to end.
I stood up, straightening my jacket. “Then let’s finish this.”
The words had barely left my mouth when we both shifted simultaneously.
Mira’s wolf form erupted with desperate fury – claws extended, fangs bared, her modified body trembling with rage and terror.
I met her lunge with brutal efficiency. My larger wolf form collided with hers, claws raking across flesh. She managed one wild swipe that caught my shoulder before I pinned her against the wall.
Her claws scrabbled uselessly against my grip as I tightened my hold on her throat. The fight lasted less than thirty seconds.
Her eyes went wide, then vacant. The body that had cost her everything finally went limp.
I shifted back to human form, wiping blood from the scratches on my shoulder. My jacket was torn, but I was barely winded.
“Clean this up,” I told Alex as he appeared in the doorway, completely unsurprised by the carnage.
The door closed behind me with a soft click, sealing the end of Mira Collins once and for all.
C
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
