“Colin, take him out.” I murmured, stoking the fire of the confrontation, but, in reality, I was clutching


    Colin’s arm with all my might, terrified that he might actuallysh out and hurt


    someone.


    Colin took a step forward, dragging me along until he turned and met my gaze.


    Kyle, already trembling with fear, let out a yelp and made a break for the door. Just as he reached the


    threshold, in barged Dexter, nked by a posse of burly bodyguards.


    Instantly, Kyle found his backbone, his voice quivering with newfound courage. “That lunatic’s right


    there! Dexter, for heaven’s sake, throw him in the loony bin or put a bullet in him!”


    I kept a wary eye on Dexter and his entourage, stepping in front of Colin to shield him. “In broad


    daylight, Mr. Fitzgerald, what exactly do you think you’re doing? Bullying us with your muscle?”


    Dexter lit a cigarette and gave me a once–over. “Step aside.”


    “Not in your wildest dreams,” I shot back with an icy stare.


    Taking a long drag, Dexter snapped his lighter shut and ordered his goons without turning to look at


    them, “Take him away.”


    “Dexter, you think you can just haul someone off without a by–your–leave from thew?” I stood firm,


    protecting Colin from the encroaching bodyguards.


    “Thew?” Dexter sneered with contempt. “A madman, a killer without a conscience. If I kill him, I’m


    doing society a favor.”N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.


    He stepped closer, his voiceden with malice. “Whatever he did to Phoebe, I’ll repay it a hundredfold.”


    “And you think you have the right to say that?” I pushed him back, a sneer of my own taking shape.


    “Take him away!” Dexter insisted.


    I frowned, knowing Dexter was doing this for Melody.


    It seemed Ste hadn’t sent Hank’s video to Dexter yet.


    “Dexter, if we don’t end him, we’ll never sleep soundly again. And Melody’s carrying your child. The


    child’s what matters most,” Kyle interjected with malicious glee.


    Dexter frowned, irritated. “Shut up.”


    Kyle fell silent.


    “Dexter!” I cried out as they grabbed Colin. He was quick but outnumbered by the dozen burly


    men.


    Clearly, Dexter knew from experience that a handful of men were no match for Colin; it took a


    16:12 1


    small army to restrain him.


    “Dexter, let him go!” I tried to intervene, but Dexter wasn’t about to listen to me.


    Without a further nce, he signaled for his men to take Colin away.


    “Dexter, don’t you want to know who really killed Phoebe?” I shouted after him.


    He halted, turning to face me. “It was this madman.


    “It was you.” I used through clenched teeth, a flood of hatred rising within me.


    Dexter’s gaze grewplex as he frowned. “I won’t spare anyone who’s hurt Phoebe.”


    I couldn’t help butugh at the hypocrisy. “What about you? Shouldn’t you be yed a thousand times


    over?”


    He stepped forward, towering over me with an oppressive presence. Despite myself, I felt a twinge of


    fear and took a step back.


    “Don’t try to provoke me. Even if you were to run to Brendan right now, I wouldn’t let it slide,” Dexter’s


    eyes zed with reckless fury.


    “Crossing the Langley family won’t do the Fitzgeralds any favors. It’ll just lead to mutual destruction,”


    Iwarned through gritted teeth.


    “Do you really think I care?” he scoffed. “Do you have any idea what this maniac has done to my wife?”


    Wife? My brow furrowed. Melody? Howughable! Only Melody knew for sure whether or not Colin had


    ever hurt her.


    “Even if it costs me everything, I’ll make his life a living hell,” Dexter’s voice trembled with a venomous


    resolve.


    “Mr. Fitzgerald, I’ve got a video here that you might find enlightening,” Ste called out as she burst


    through the entrance, panting heavily.


    I had texted her my location but did not expect her to show up so quickly.