Page 33 of Wicked Vengeance

“Snipers, cover us to the house,” I say to whoever is in the trees. There’re so many of them, and I don’t know their names and faces yet.

Two more guards pop up on our way to the house, but they drop like flies before they can even put their finger on the trigger.

“We’ve got you.” If we make it out of this alive, I’ll send them fucking personalized Christmas cards.

“That’s what I’m talking about!” Maddox shouts, leaping over their bodies as we make a mad dash around the side of the house. He’s in his element. Nothing gets him excited like a little revenge bloodshed– nothing except our girl.

“Teams, check-in,” I say as we plaster our backs to the stucco wall.

“Outer perimeter is clear for now,” one of the snipers says.

“Guys, get in here. Now.” My heart crashes and burns in the pit of my stomach as Ronan’s panicked voice filters in my ear. My brothers meet my eyes for a millisecond before we dart back around and bolt through the front door. The sight that greets us drops me to my knees.

Chapter 24

Maddox

The inside of King’s mansion is a scene straight out of one of my murder wet dreams. It’s absolute carnage. Bodies litter the floor in piles, blood sprayed and spilled over almost every surface. But nothing is as beautiful as the masterpiece standing in the middle of the carnage. Her entire body is drenched head to toe in Kingsmen blood.

“You’re late.” Her strained voice is barely a whisper.

Jumping over bodies like a fucked up game of hopscotch, I don’t waste another second getting to her. Ronan stands next to her, directing his eyes anywhere but at her. It takes me about two-point-five seconds to realize it’s because she’s naked, standing in all her glory like a fucking warrior.

“My Bloody Queen,” I whisper, pulling her into my arms, and she latches onto me like a spider monkey. My knees buckle with relief, slamming into me like a hurricane and we crumple to the floor. “I’m so sorry. I’m fucking sorry.”

Alek and Royal appear at our sides, plastering themselves to us. Their bodies help shield her vulnerable state from everyone else in the room, even though I think everyone has kept their eyes on our surroundings. I would hate to have to cut their eyes out since they’ve helped us so much.

“Angel,” Royal whispers, his voice crackling like logs on a campfire. “You’re alive.”

“Babygirl,” Alek kissed her blood-soaked hair. “You’re okay. We’ve got you now.”

“My daughter?” The question comes out a strained whisper, her grip slipping on my hoodie.

“We’ve got her, Angel. Don’t worry. Let us take care of you now.” Royal’s confirmation must have been what she was holding out for, because the second the words pass his lips, her body slumps between us.

“I’ve got you,” I say, moving her to cradle her bridal style and standing from the floor before shouting to the guys. “Somebody find me a blanket.”

“She’s okay. Her adrenaline just crashed,” Alek says, pressing two fingers to the side of her neck and checking her pulse. Someone delivers us a blanket and Alek and Royal help me cover her before I turn to Ronan when he speaks.

“Yes, I’d say she wore herself out. This was all Red.” He waves his hand around the open space to the blood and bodies decorating the disgustingly expensive mansion.

My eyes must look like saucers as I survey the handiwork of my bloody queen. “Everyone?”

“We found her standing right where she was, slicing that one’s throat.” He points to the man at my feet with the gaping wound. “He was the last one. The house and property are clear. Red took out every single one of them in the house before we made it inside.”

Emotions batter inside my chest like a war drum. Raena is the strongest, most beautiful woman I’ve ever met. She’s a survivor. I don’t even want to think about what the fuck has happened to her in the days she’s been in this house. I can’t think about it right now or I’ll lose my shit. Now it’s my turn to be strong. For her.

“Is one of these fuckers King?” I ask. The men have already started moving the bodies into a large pile in the middle of the living room.

“No. He must have fled when we arrived. He was likely in one of the SUV’s that left,” Ronan replies with a heavy sigh.

“Let’s get her home.” Alek says, gently brushing her hair from its plastered position on her face. “We don’t need to stick around for reinforcements to show up.”

“Agreed. We just need to know what you want to do with the bodies. Are we leaving them or disposing of them?”

I turn to my brothers. A silent agreement passes between us instantly. This mansion holds nothing but horrific memories for us– for Em. And now Raena. I don’t want a single reminder left standing.

“Burn it all.”

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