Dangerous Beauty: Part Three: This is War by Michelle Hardin Page A

mother. Lucretzia had the same exotic features as her brother. Caramel-colored skin and striking Asian features, which Carter knew now, came from their mother.
    “You little slut!”
    “Calm down, Lucretzia,” Cole said. He lowered his hands and locked eyes with Carter. “Caterpillar,” he said with a sigh as if he were annoyed with her, “put the gun down. It’s me.”
    He extended his arms as if he expected Carter to come running to him.
    Carter frowned. “Who the fuck are you?” she asked.
    He rolled his eyes. “You’re being childish. Let’s just talk about this. You’re upset with me because I betrayed you.”
    He spoke to her as if she were a simple-minded weakling. Carter now remembered that he’d always talked to her in that same tone back in St. Louis and she hated it. When Henry had found her, she wasn’t in the best of shape and he reveled in that. He’d lied to her, made her think he was a nice Christian boy, and treated her like she was an idiot. Carter hated herself for letting him talk to her the way he had when they were together. She’d never told his stupid ass off because she thought she owed him her life. Now she knew she didn’t owe him shit but a thorough ass whoopin’.
    “Fuck you, Henry!” Carter yelled for the first time ever and it felt damn good. So many times Carter had wanted to yell “Fuck you!” at the know-it-all motherfucker and now she finally had the chance to tell him off.
    “I never loved your stupid ass,” she spat. “The best day of my life was when I got away from you. I’m glad you left that night because it gave me a chance to get my shit and catch the first plane out of that hell hole.”
    Cole frowned. “You don’t mean that, Caterpillar.”
    “I’m not your fucking caterpillar, Henry. I hated that name then, and I hate it even more now. And since I’m on the subject of what I hated, I hated the way you used to follow me around. You were so fucking desperate, and when I finally gave in to your pathetic ass you hurt me. However, I convinced myself that it was beautiful because you told me you loved me. I was so stupid and naïve then, but no more. You want to know why we barely had sex? It’s because I couldn’t stand being touched by you. Everything you did to me made me want to vomit! The sex was horrible, and your dick is the size of my damn pinky. These gave me more pleasure than you ever did,” she said, holding up two fingers. “I never should have given myself to you. You were nothing but a huge disappointment. You know what, as a matter of fact,” she lifted the gun and pointed it at his face, “you’re fired from being my first. I just decided that it didn’t count. The man that gets the title as my first is the first man that gave me an orgasm.” She smiled wickedly. “And that crown goes to Nathan Salerno, you little bitch.”
    Rage filled Cole’s dark eyes and he shot forward toward Carter. She smirked and tossed the gun aside as she lunged forward, meeting him halfway. The first punch was for every time he made her feel stupid, the second was for the dumbass nickname. The five uppercuts, knee to the gut, balls, and face were for the few times she’d allowed him to have sex with her, and the series of forceful kicks to the face and body were just because it felt damn good to kick his ass.
    She heard Lucretzia scream, and Carter had expected her to attack, but she never did. As a matter of fact, after a moment, her screaming had stopped and the only sound in the hallway was the sound of Cole’s wails of pain. Soon Carter stopped and took a step back, both tired and satisfied with the beating she’d given her ex-boyfriend.
    “You should leave now,” Gabe said, nodding toward Lucretzia. “Let’s not wait for things to get worse.”
    Lucretzia frantically ran over to her brother and pulled him away as quickly as she could while simultaneously screaming, telling them to get out of the castle.
    Walking over to pick up her gun,