Protecting His Windflower (A Spirit Hunters Series Novel Book 1) by Temperance Dawn (best black authors .txt) 📕

‘business’ agreement your father signed on his death bed, making me sole successor to his estate should anything unfortunate happen to you.” Banks paused. “It was always in my plans to get rid of Henry, and you, and be the sole owner of the business. I just never expected you would seduce her into loving you.”

James’ head spun while he knelt on the floor. He bled from the cut on his head, given to him from the beating he’d received after Banks had caught him and Abigail together in his bedroom. Blood dripped down his brow. The faint, muffled cries of Abigail in the background broke his heart more and more as the moments ticked by. He knew Banks was possessive, but he had no idea he was a tyrant. James’ mind raced, and all he could think about was Abigail and what Banks’ men were doing to her. They had dragged her kicking and screaming from the study, and there was nothing he could do to stop them with his hands being bound behind his back.

The realization that his death was imminent washed over him. There was no doubt about that. Robert Banks would never allow him to live now. He only wished he could see his beautiful Abigail one last time. James’ attention was brought back to the present when Banks knelt down in front of him, the document his father had signed in his hand.

“My father would have never signed that.”

“Oh no, he wouldn’t. Not when he was well. But on his death bed, he could barely speak. He didn’t even have the strength to read it, let alone hold the pen. I assisted him. Told him it assured you would have the same control as he did. He was more than happy to let me hold his hand while he scribbled his name.”

All hope that James might have had was lost in that instant.

“Charles!” Banks barked. Confusion set in as Banks’ own butler entered the room. James looked up and caught Charles’ eye. “Take James’ belongings and have them destroyed. He no longer resides in this house,” Banks instructed.

“Sir?” replied Charles. The confusion was clearly audible in his voice.

“You heard me. I am now the owner of this property. We move in immediately. Have his belongings removed and never mention his name or Abigail’s name again.”

James saw the sadness in Charles’ eyes as he nodded at Banks’ request. Charles turned to look at him. He did his best to plead with him, but there was nothing Charles could do. Not if he wanted to suffer the same fate. And James knew it.

After a moment, Charles gave James the slightest nod. James lowered his eyes and head to the floor as Charles walked out of the room. He was gone, and it was the last time James would ever see the eyes of a kind soul again. As he was dragged to his feet by Banks’ men and led down the stairs.

***

Abigail fought as hard as she could, but they were too powerful. She had been hauled down into the basement where she now lay bound and gagged as she watched two men dig. They never mentioned why they were digging, but she somehow knew the hole was for her. Her grave.

Abigail watched as Banks’ men beat James. Banks told her she was supposed to be his. Her pleads for him to leave her alone and let her live happily with James went unnoticed. Banks’ men tied a gag around her mouth while he paced back and forth in the study like a mad man, saying his plans had been ruined, and she and James would pay. Now she understood what he meant. He hadn’t gotten what he wanted—her. So, her punishment would be death, and she knew James would suffer the same fate. The raging beast in Banks was out, and he was going to kill both her and the one man she had ever loved.

The hole was dug, and the two men who worked for Banks picked her up like a rag doll, tossed her down into the pit, and covered her with dirt. She tried to wiggle free, but the binds on her hands and feet wouldn’t allow her to move. The ropes cut into her skin. She felt the trickles of blood slick her hands, but she wasn’t able to slip them free. Her screams were muffled by the dirty rag tied around her head. Dirt burned and scratched her eyes as she struggled to get free. The musty smell of it sickened her as it seeped into her nose, suffocating her. The weight on top grew with each shovel full of dirt thrown on top of her. Soon, it was too heavy for her to move.

Abigail managed to turn her head to the side and maneuvered the dirt to create a pocket of air around her nose. She opened one eye into a slit and glanced up before the last shovel of loose earth was thrown on to her. Banks stood and smiled down at her. His voice was sinister as he spoke, “We’ll be together again.”

Abigail was determined to forget his voice. She’d be dammed if it was the last voice she ever heard echoing through her mind as she died. She squeezed her eyes closed and thought of all the happy memories she could of her parents and James. She remembered the sweet words he’d spoken to her. The dreams and plans they had talked about—the promises he made to her until she could no longer think. The lack of air sent her into deep drowsiness.

It was silent, black, and still. She drew in one last labored breath and let herself fall into a heavy sleep with the sound of James’ voice distantly calling for her.

***

Liam woke slowly. He tried to open his eyes and force his body to rouse quicker, but the nightmare held him captive. His heart raced, and sweat slicked his skin. The dream had been the