Page 22 of Tormented Heir

Two of the men are playing a card game. A third is pacing, a fourth is smoking a cigarette, and one is busy undoing more of Nataliya’s blouse.

He’s the one I will kill last, and I will make it hurt.

He slips his hand inside her blouse and squeezes hard. She screams again around the gag. Her eyes are wide, terrified, and he laughs. The fucker laughs.

Riley counts down, three, two, one before he bursts into the room. He’s all noise and distraction. He’s wearing a Kevlar vest, and thank fuck because two of the bastards grab guns and fire in his direction. They were the ones playing cards. They are lousy shots, and the bullets hit the wall by Riley.

Ping, ping, ping. They bounce around us, hitting everything but their target.

Nataliya screams again as the room erupts into noise and chaos.

I have my knife in my hand, replacing my gun. I don’t want any bullets firing in her direction. I grab the guy nearest the door and slice into him hard and fast. When I let him go, he hits the ground like a sack of potatoes.

Duke shoots the two men firing on Riley. He’s an excellent shot, and both go down instantaneously.

The man with the cigarette has dived under a table. Blade turns it over and pulls him out by his ankle. The man is reaching for his waist, fingers grappling to get behind him as Blade drags him over concrete. Riley kicks him in the head, and the man’s fingers stop moving. His head lolls to the side as Blade gets him into the open and kneels on his chest.

I’m across the room and on the fucker who had his hands on Nataliya. He’d hidden by a filing cabinet the minute the chaos went down. The fucking coward.

I pull him up by his hair and punch him in the face hard, twice.

His head snaps back, and blood blooms across his nose as it flattens against his face, all caved in and useless.

He shrieks, and I throw him at Ripley. “Zip tie this fucker. We’re taking him back with us.”

I bend down to Nataliya and brush her hair from her face, examining the bruises and the cut. I gently pull her blouse closed, and then remove the gag from her mouth. She turns to the side and coughs and retches.

Duke squats by me and reaches into his pack, taking out fresh water and some wipes. I hand her the water when she’s finished coughing, and she takes a grateful sip. Her hands are shaking.

I use the wipes to gently clean her face. She winces when I swipe over the blood.

She could have a concussion if these fuckers hit her hard enough. She’s going to need medical attention to make sure she’s okay.

“You’re safe now, Nataliya,” I say.

She’s shaking so much her teeth are rattling. I take off my jacket and wrap it around her shoulders before working on the zip ties around her wrists. Once I have them off, I bring her arms forward and gently rub at her wrists and hands.

Taking me by surprise, she falls into me, wrapping me in a hug, and I return the gesture, holding her tight. She’s so petite, and the anger rises in me again. Ten men to take this one petite, unarmed girl. The fucking cowards.

I stroke her hair. “You’re safe now.” I repeat my words, unsure what else to say.

“You came for me,” she sobs.

“Of course I did. Come on; let’s get you home.”

We are walking out of the warehouse when Nataliya stumbles and falls. She starts to cry, and I pick her up, holding her in my arms as we make our way back to the car. The fucker who molested her is being dragged with us by Riley.

Duke and Blade have their weapons still drawn, providing cover until we are back in the car.

Once we are settled in the vehicle and Nataliya is strapped in, I take out my phone and call Jacob.

“She’s safe; we’re heading back to the house. Can you get a doctor to come and check her over?”

“Done.” His voice is raw. “Thank you, son.”

I swallow hard. “You don’t have to thank me.”

“I do.” He breathes out as if he hasn’t done so for the last few hours. “Son, you’re not mine by blood, but you might as well be. I want you in on this with me. Your sister and your mother are always going to be targets. I want you onboard. We’ll discuss it when you get home, but this is your destiny.”

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