Rising from the Ashes (Andrew) novel Chapter 1928

Andrew pulled the knife away and sighed in disappointment. "That's it? You're already breaking? Boring. And here I thought you had nerves of steel. It would've been more fun if you'd held out longer. I was just getting started. Didn't expect you to be such a damn coward."

Seeing that disappointed look on Andrew's face, Hank wanted to die right then and there. He thought Andrew was a living, breathing devil walking among mortals.

Even Chetvine's notorious Ironhold Division probably could not produce such a twisted executioner.

Hank growled in frustration, "Andrew, no matter how arrogant and powerful you are, Mr. Hale is not someone you can mess with."

Andrew scoffed. "Oh, you mean Barnaby the Baby? Everyone knows him. If he dares raise his voice at me, I'll actually be impressed."

Hank let out a bitter string of laughs.

Even Chantelle and the others cracked a smile. When Andrew started bragging, he really did not hold back!

Facing Hannah now, Hank dropped to his knees and bowed his head. "Hannah, I'm sorry. I was wrong. I owe you a real apology."

Hannah's eyes filled with tears as she said bitterly, "I only hate that I was blind and gave my trust to the wrong person!"

Hank snapped back, "Oh, really? You think you were just blind? Then tell me, Hannah, weren't you the one chasing status, chasing luxury? Didn't you drag me around to flaunt me in front of your girlfriends, proud that you landed someone 'so elite'?

"When I got invited by the Driscoll family, didn't you rush to tag along like it made you special? Say what you want… I was a bastard out in the open. But you? You weren't some innocent little angel either."

Hannah broke down completely, tears falling hard. "You're right. I admit it. I was shallow… blinded by vanity."

Only when the crowd had finished jeering did Chantelle finally take him away.

As she walked him toward the car, she frowned and said, "Andrew, even though Hank committed serious crimes, he's still with Special Ops. He'll have to be tried by their tribunal."

Before getting in, she turned back and warned, "But I'm worried… if Mr. Hale hears what you did back there, things could get ugly."

Andrew waved it off like it was nothing. "Let him come to Gabo Creek himself. I'll be more than happy to catch up with him. And I'll ask him if he's already forgotten the pain I left him with last time."

Chantelle stomped her foot. "Andrew, I'm being serious! Could you not talk like that? The Director of Special Ops is a high-ranking federal official! And you're just calling him a baby? Are you out of your mind?"

Andrew pointed to his own nose with a smirk. "Do I look like I'm joking with you?"