Page 40 of Wicked Vengeance

“Goddamn it!” He’s been on my payroll for years. Too bad I’m going to fucking gut him for this. My fucking house!

Jackson went missing last night, and now over half of my men are either burned to a crisp inside in the wreckage or littering the property surrounding the pile of ash that once was my home.

I’m going to fucking kill them all.

I took a team out to find Jackson earlier, and we didn’t make it five minutes away when the security on my phone alerted me of a breach. When I pulled up the cameras, my place was crawling with men– my fucking ‘sons’ leading the attack.

I’m not stupid. There were too many of them to turn around, even if it meant sacrificing my home– and most of my men– at least I’m alive. I can rebuild everything right after I kill my sons and take back the stupid cunt I let blind me in the first place. Killing her would be too easy. She will watch as I take every single thing in her life from her, starting with my sons, until the only one left standing…is me.

I’m so fucking stupid. I was so consumed with finding her I let my sons get the best of me. Game the fuck on. I know they have my daughter. It all makes sense now. Somehow Little Wolf wormed her way into their lives and turned them against me even more than they already were. They took my daughter, and they stole my woman. I’ll end them and take back what’s mine.

“Boss, we’re here,” my driver says, pulling into the alley. A wicked smile curls my lips. Today, she learns what happens when she defies me. I will kill everyone she’s ever met. Take away everyone and everything she thinks is safe.

Blowing out a heavy breath, I compose my rage, shoving it back into the black abyss that resides somewhere inside of me. “Thank you.”

Looking up at the landmark that’s been around this town since before my time, I fire off a text to my remaining men that are in the SUV’s behind us. Three simple words. An order.

Burn it down.

I hate losing an opportunity to make money, but this place has given me nothing but headaches since I first approached the owner about it years ago. He refused to fall in line at first– until I showed him just how easy it was to get to his wife and daughter. They knew nothing, but he took the warning seriously enough. He’s dead now– you’re welcome, but his daughter has been a thorn in my side since. She refused to fall in line too, and then The Shadows showed up– that I’ve recently figured out are my fucking sons– and fucked shit up for me. No more. I’ll take the loss if it means hurting her– and them.

I watch from the backseat of my SUV while the few remaining Kingsmen kick down the back door and disappear inside. It doesn't take long before they file back out, covering their mouths as smoke trails out behind them.

Let this be their warning. I’m coming for them all.

The SUV pulls out of the alley, with the others following close behind. One more stop, and I know it’s going to hurt her a lot more than this one. A diabolical smile tugs at my lips. She thinks she can escape me? Her master? I think the fuck not. I will not stop until she’s back where she belongs. Death is her only escape, and I don’t plan on that happening for a long, long time. She needs to suffer so much more before I allow that to happen.

I still don’t know where Jackson is, but I have an inkling that they are responsible for that as well. He’s probably dead, too. I might not have particularly liked the prick, but he was more loyal and dedicated than my ‘sons’ ever were. Apparently, loyalty is hard to come by. Who knew?

The drive to the old cottage is short. It sits just outside of town. I want to get this over with as soon as possible and get to my safe house before these fuckers can get their shit together and try to find me before I can find them.

Don’t worry, Little Wolf. I’m coming for you.

Chapter 29

Raena

“I’m so happy you’re back, Red. Don’t do that again. I don’t know what I would do if something happened to you.” Snow pulls away, giving my shoulders a squeeze before turning to clear the dishes from the table.

“I don’t plan on it, babe. Zreo out of ten– don’t recommend,” I joke, smiling at my beautiful friend. “So…fill me in. What did I miss while I was on my little impromptu ‘vacation’?”

Snow looks out the window where our guys are gathered, talking to the men outside. After eating the delicious food Snow had prepared for us, they got pulled outside for some kind of update from their men. She rubs her growing belly and smiles, but I see the exhaustion and worry in her eyes when she turns back to me. “It’s been…hard. Dax was shot when they rescued Em. I thought I’d lost him. Then we found out you were missing. I’ve been putting on a brave face for everyone, but I know this stress isn’t good for me. I’m so worried– all the time. What if something happens to the baby?”

“Oh, Snow, come here,” I say, standing from the table and rounding the island bar. Pulling her into my arms, I hug her like she’s done for me so many times. “I’m so sorry I dragged you into this.”

“No. None of that,” she pulls back, holding onto my arms. “You’re my family. I will always be there when you need me. It’s just with Dax being hurt, you kidnapped, and Jasper being gone, I’m just a mess right now. No one told me when you become a mother, the worry and fear for every little thing is so much bigger than it seems.”

She pulls me to the table, pulling out a chair and sitting down. She rubs her belly again, her tiny bump accentuated in her baby blue sundress.

“May I?” I ask, sitting across from her and reaching for her, wanting to feel the life growing inside her as a pang of hurt hits me in the gut. She pulls my hand to her bump. “No one told me either, you know. I lived through every mother’s worst nightmare, so trust me when I tell you, it never stops. I wish I had words of wisdom to calm you down and ease your worry. But I’m a mess, right there with you. I haven’t seen my daughter in two years. She won’t remember me at all.”

A sob breaks free from my throat, overwhelming me with sadness. Emera has lived two whole years away from me. She was a baby when King took her. I don’t know what she went through. I don’t know how much damage that monster did when I wasn’t there to protect my baby.

“Red, look at me,” Snow says softly, placing her hand on top of mine. “She’s safe. I promise. She’s the most beautiful little girl I’ve ever seen. She has your eyes– so intensely green, like emeralds shining in the sunlight. And that smile… When she smiled at those gorgeous men of yours, her whole world lit up. She is perfect. You’ll see. And no, she might not remember you, but she gets her mother back. I would give anything to have a second chance with my mother. It’ll all work out, I promise. Once you lay eyes on her and feel her in your arms, none of this will even matter.”

“Okay,” I sigh. She’s right. Nothing will matter once I see her– hold her. Everything I’ve been through will fade into the background once my daughter is back with me where she belongs. We will figure out the rest as we go. As a family. A smile slips over my face as I rub her swollen belly once more, “You’re going to be a great mom, you know that? This is one lucky kid.”

“Remind her of that when she’s 16 and hates me,” she laughs, patting my hand before getting up and going back into the kitchen.

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