Page 131 of Ruthless Savage

“Speaking of my happiness, I need to talk to you about something else.”

“Of course, darling. Anything.”

“I know when I’ve brought up writing as a career, you’ve dismissed it. But I really want to do this, Dad. I wanna try. And it doesn’t mean I won’t help you on the farm. I just want more, you know?”

He shrinks back against the chair and searches my eyes, then says something I never thought I’d hear him say.

“Then do it. I won’t stop you. Not anymore.”

“Really?!”

“Aye.”

“What happened to…” I mock his tone of voice. “‘Writing isn’t a career. You need a job worthy of your name.’”

“I just want you all to be happy, and if this makes you happy, then that’s all that matters to me.”

“Well, that was much easier than I thought.”

“See?” He throws his hands in the air. “I’m easy to talk to.”

“Mm-hmm.” I pop a brow.

His eyes crinkle with a hard chuckle. “I love you, Eriu. I want you to know that.”

“I do know that.”

“Good. Now, why don’t you rest? I’ll be here the whole time.”

But even though I try to sleep, it never comes. I won’t be able to. Not until I know Devlin and my family are safe.

DEVLIN

Mason’s guards are lying on the ground. Again. Seems like he didn’t learn his lesson after all.

While Gio and the Quinns surround the property, Iseult walks right up to the front door, with me wedged between two shrubs not too far from the entrance.

She rings the bell and waits for Mason to answer.

A creak echoes.

“Who the hell are you, and how did you…” Mason’s voice trails, and I’m thinking he just caught the bodies on his lawn.

“Aww,” Iseult tsks. “Now is that a way to treat your almost future sister-in-law?”

He gasps right before she kicks him hard, and he grunts as she rushes inside. And that’s when I join them. The other guys all follow us in.

Iseult grabs Mason by the hair, and he winces.

“What the hell is this?!” His eyes bounce between her, me, and the rest of the room. “I didn’t do shit! I left her alone like you told me to.” His frantic attention flies to me.

“Cut your bullshit.” I step up, removing my nine from my waistband and angling it into his throat.

“Wh-what are y-you talking about?” He practically shakes in her grasp. “I didn’t do anything! You’re making a big mistake!”

Tynan brings a chair over from the kitchen, and Iseult pushes Mason into it.

Her palms drop to his knees, and she bends forward. “Now, if you’re a good little boy, I won’t cut off your tiny penis.” She kneels and retrieves a knife from her ankle, swinging it in the air. “I may have a little fun, though.” She grins, staring at the glistening blade. “How much depends on you.”

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