Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 79052 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 395(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79052 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 395(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
“Take them, now.”
Egan stood, lifting Raven.
“We leave in ten. Tell Sofia our ETA.”
I stood and approached Andy. He was slowly bleeding out. Marcus joined me, meeting my eyes.
“You okay?” I asked, noticing a darkening bruise on his forehead.
“He tried to bean me too. Idiot. My head is too hard for that. He shot at me but hit the floor. I think I got a sliver in my leg. Julian’s right, he’s a lousy shot.”
“Lousy human being.”
I leaned over Andy. His eyes were open, his life slowly draining from him. His breathing was harsh. “Help,” he groaned.
“You think I’m the right person to ask for help?” I shook my head and bent low over him. “Here’s what is going to happen, Andy, Stewart, Jeff, John, whatever fucking name you want to go by right now. You’re gonna die, and I’m going to watch you. And while you’re rotting and burning in hell, writhing in agony for all of eternity, remember this. I will be loving Raven. Protecting her. She will be by my side until death parts us. I will touch her every day. Kiss her mouth. Make love to her. Watch our children grow—together. And you will simply be a small blip in her life. I am going to love her so hard she will forget you ever existed. In fact, the entire world will. I’ll make sure of it. So, this game you’ve been playing? You lost.”
My bullet ended his miserable existence. My satisfaction at ending the life of the man who tormented the woman I loved helped temper my rage.
Marcus nodded. “So that solves that. What do you want to do now?”
“Get Raven to Sofia, then I’ll come back with Egan. I want everything he had. I am going to trace every woman he ever hurt and make sure they know he is dead so they don’t have to live in fear. And I’m going to let Egan out of his cage. This house needs to be destroyed. He’s been dying to blow something up.”
Marcus shook his head. “Stay with Raven. She needs you.”
Julian appeared, a bandage around his arm. “Marcus and I will stay and start gathering. By the time Egan gets back, we can help him set it up to blow and leave.”
“Your shoulder—”
He cut me off. “Seriously, I’m fine. Once we’re done here, Sofia can check me out. The fucker might have given me a little concussion, so I owe him. I look forward to messing this place up.” His face darkened. “Then we’ll go to the other building and dismantle the shrine. Erase all traces of the men he pretended to be.”
“What about his money?” I asked. “His company?”
Julian met my eyes. “Hidden Justice will take care of it all. You are still one of us, Damien. We all are. We protect and help our own. Now go upstairs and get your girl. She needs you. She was getting agitated and saying your name.”
I kicked Andy’s foot. “Him?”
“Leave him,” Marcus growled. “The cold is good for corpses. We’ll add it to the pile before Egan lights the torch.”
In my ear, I heard a chuckle.
“Excelent,” uttered Egan. “Kaboom.”
I turned and hurried to Raven. I had a lot to say to the three men who helped me. But that would come after.
Raven took priority.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Damien
I held Raven as tight as I could without hurting her, whispering in her ear constantly. Reassuring her, telling her how much I loved her. How brave she was.
“We’re going home now, Raven. You’re safe.”
I didn’t know if she heard me, but she nestled closer. She moved her hands, gripping my shirt. I could see the marks on them. Marks he’d put there. I hoped he was already rotting in hell.
I carried her up to Sofia and put her on the hospital bed she had waiting. But as I tried to move away, Raven became distraught, whimpering and clutching my shirt tighter. Her eyes remained shut, and I leaned close. “I’m not leaving, my beautiful girl. I’ll be right here. But I need to let Sofia examine you. Please.”
“Lights,” she whimpered. “It hurts.”
Sofia offered me a towel, and I held it over Raven’s eyes. “As soon as she is done, we’ll lower the lights, okay?”
“You won’t leave?” she breathed out, her voice dry and rough-sounding.
“No. I’ll be right here.”
Sofia was swift and professional. I watched as she inserted an IV, then checked Raven’s injuries, a deep frown on her face. My anger grew bright again seeing the welts and bruises on her wrists and neck. The swelling from where she’d hit her cheek and head. Sofia took some X-rays, working quickly so Raven didn’t panic when I had to step away. I spoke to her the whole time, so she heard my voice. Sofia allowed me to give Raven some ice chips to soothe her thirst, and finally, I was able to get some electrolytes in her. Raven sipped the cold liquid greedily. I turned the lights down and took the towel off her eyes.