Page 2 of Ruthless Savage

I knew I needed to protect her. It’s one thing I couldn’t do for my brother. It’s why he died. Even while I thought I was doing what I had to do to protect him, it still wasn’t enough.

Francis Palmer was the leader of the gang I worked for before I joined the Quinns. The one I betrayed. And the one who killed my brother.

Keegan had nothing to do with the Palmers. He was just a way to get to me. To punish me for what I did.

My brother haunts me when I sleep. Accuses me of killing him. And he’d be right. I might as well have held the knife to his throat.

His last few moments of life constantly play in my mind. No matter how much I try, I can’t ever escape that day.

And I never will.

“Come on, Francis, just let him go.”

Two of his men hold me back, while another points a gun at my head.

His people are everywhere, surrounding me across the acres of land he owns. I could fight off the ones holding me, but I know Francis would instantly kill Keegan if I tried.

Francis tilts up his mouth, his eyes narrowing, a sharp blade against my brother’s Adam’s apple.

Keegan trembles, tears rolling down his cheeks.

Feck! How will I get him out of this?

I don’t know what the hell to do!

Think, you arsehole, think!

“You thought you could double-cross me and live to tell about it?” Francis laughs coldly. “After I kill you and your addict of a brother, I’m gonna fly to Ireland and personally cut out your parents’ hearts. It’s too bad you won’t see me do it.”

“Don’t do this! I swear, I won’t say any more shite to them. I’ll say I lied. Please, just let him go!” I hate begging this feck, but for my brother—my blood—I’ll do anything.

My mother was right. She said I’d kill him one day. If he dies and she finds out…

Pain shoots through my chest. This will kill my parents. I can’t allow it to happen.

“Do you think I'd ever trust you again?” He drills me with a sharp look. “If you don’t kill a rat and teach the other rats where not to shit, they’ll never learn their lesson.”

Keegan’s eyes connect with mine, slicing with fear, his body continuing to tremble.

I’m sorry, I mouth, heaviness weaving through my chest.

I can’t lose my baby brother.

This is all on me. I got sloppy. I let them find Keegan.

I was always careful. Never met up with him unless it was at our secret spot in the park at night. He knew I worked for unsavory people, and I knew he was selling crack. I tried to stop him, but then he got hooked on it. I attempted to get him help, even though I knew he had fallen beyond anything I could do.

But still I had to try. He was family. You don’t give up on family.

So when he called me one day, saying someone was trying to kill him, I came running. But Francis’s people were following me. I knew there was a chance they were. But I took the risk anyway. I couldn’t let Keegan die.

I did get him out of trouble, but we landed in a whole new one.

“P-please, I don’t w-wanna d-die!” Keegan cries.

“Hush, hush.” Francis gently slaps his cheek. “There’s no point in wasting your voice. You will die today either way.”

A sob shakes through Keegan’s body.

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