Page 96 of Dirty Little Saint

“Romulus, stop them!” Clover shrieks at her butler.

This creepy fuck.

I dart to the side as he charges me, but trip over Clover’s cane and go sprawling to the floor. Val drapes himself over me, desperate to shield my body as Romulus cocks his fist back.

“Oh, hell no,” Villette growls. In one swift move, she yanks on his shoulder, knocking him off balance. He turns on her just as she slams her fist into the side of his jaw. His knees buckle right before he slumps to the floor.

“Night, night, motherfucker.” Villette shakes out her hand, wincing. “Fuck, that hurt.”

“Holy shit, Villette. Where the fuck did you learn how to do that?” I let Val help me up from the floor.

She smirks. “I have a brother named Bones; how do you think I learned?”

“I regret ever doubting you, Crane,” Val quips, his eyes wide as he looks between Villette and the grown man she just knocked out cold.

She raises her chin, proud. “Thanks.”

“How dare you break into my house and assault my staff,” Clover hisses.

Fuck. I forgot about this bitch. I still can’t believe Riot lived in her womb for nine months. I slide my knife out from its strap and hold it up to her face. “You should be ashamed of yourself. The atrocities that your husband commits in this house. Disgusting. You’re coming with us now.”

“No, Maur. She’ll slow us down with that leg of hers. Let’s lock her up in one of these rooms.” Val starts opening up doors in the hallway.

“She’ll just scream for help. Ooh, Villette can you knock her out too?” I’m only half-joking.

Villette holds out her hand. “Give me the knife. I’ll keep an eye on her in one of these creepy kidnapper rooms while you do what you need to do.”

I look at Val, who just shrugs like it might be our best option.

“I don’t wanna leave you alone with this monster.”

Villette takes the knife from me. “Don’t worry. I will knock her out if I need to.”

“Maur, we have to go.” Val’s brow is glistening with sweat, and we haven’t even gotten to the hard part yet.

I nod. “All right. Be careful. Stab the bitch if she tries anything.”

Clover laughs. “Silly little girls trying to play grown-up. You have no idea what you’re up against. You will lose.”

I grit my teeth and fight the urge to choke her to death. This woman doesn’t have a caring or nurturing bone in her body. “I won the second your son chose me over you. Let that ruminate while my friend holds a knife to your throat.”

Clover’s eyes darken. “My son likes pussy. He didn’t choose you. He’s just made you his latest obsession. And when he loses interest, I’ll be the one he comes to for drugs and booze and money, just like he’s always done.”

I almost feel sorry for her. She really believes what she’s saying. “Whatever helps you sleep at night, lady.”

“Maur,” Val pleads.

I turn to Villette one more time. “If anything goes wrong, you run like hell, Villette. Run as fast and as far as you can.”

She nods and gives me a hug before I take off running down the corridor with Val.

The tunnels look familiar, but there’s no way I’d find my way back to the ritual room without Val. I was in such an adrenaline-fueled daze the last time I was here. The way they surrounded me like a rat in a cage as they led me down to torture me for their sick pleasure.

“Hey, we’re almost there. You okay?”

I raise my chin. I need to remember who the fuck I am. “Yeah. I’m good.”

As we reach the doorway to the ritual room, I feel nauseous. A wave of panic rushes over me. My body is literally revolting. Fuck. I never want to see this place ever again after tonight.

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