Page 62 of Indecent Villain

I grab my phone and type out a message to Beckett, hoping he won't ignore it. I curse when it won’t send. I need to come up with a plan fast. I must find a way to rescue Kinsley and stop whatever Rossi and Elf have planned.

I have no choice but to reveal myself. "What the fuck are you two up to?" I shout, making myself known.

They turn, and I delight in seeing Rossi stumble. The giant of a man, Elf, moves toward me, picking up speed. This is going to hurt. I stand my ground and brace for impact, willing to die to save Kinsley.

As Elf lunges at me, I dodge his attack and reach for my pocketknife. I don't get the opportunity to use it, as 1,200 volts of electricity surge through my body. I collapse to the ground, my muscles spasming uncontrollably. The last thing I see before losing consciousness is Rossi on the jetty, a smirk on his ugly face, as a needle jabs into me.

24

TIBERIUS

Rushingtoward the barn used for storage, I find Blaze moving about, fully loaded with weapons.

“Kinsley?” I question. “Is she here?”

“I thought she was with you.” He frowns. “I haven’t heard or seen anyone other than Edgar, and that was about two hours ago when he went into the barn.”

I turn and run for the lake, spotting a figure heading my way. He weaves unsteadily, as though drunk.

“Help!” Rossi shouts.

I race toward him and frown at his disheveled appearance. Blood rushes from a cut on his forehead.

“Where is she?” I growl. “What the fuck have you done to her?”

“Not me. Edge attacked me and took off with Kinsley in your boat.”

Nine and Salem come running, followed by Jock and Ryan.

“I want you out on the bikes looking for them. Edge took off on the lake, so search all the places he could reach land.” I pause. “Salem, hang back with me. We are going to have a chat with Xavier and Cleo.”

Veronica appears, rushing toward her father with a napkin in hand. Ignoring them, I stride into the house and find Xavier pacing with his brows tight.

“I know you think this is Cannon, but I’m telling you, he did not take Kinsley.”

Cleo scoffs. “Oh, brother, you always want to believe the good in him. Cannon hated Father, and he hates Kinsley. You know this.”

“He doesn’t fucking hate Kinsley,” Xavier shouts.

The room falls silent at his outburst. Xavier rarely says a bad word.

“You”—he points an angry finger at Cleo—“stop throwing our brother to the wolves.” Xavier rakes a hand through his hair. “I’m telling you, Beckett, whatever happened to Kinsley has also happened to Cannon. Instead of pointing the finger at him, we need to rescue them both.”

“Are you saying he didn’t just try to kill me?” Rossi asks, bursting with anger.

“If he wanted to kill you, you’d be dead!”

“I have to agree with him,” I say, adding in my own two cents because something about this whole fucking mess does not add up.

Edge’s apology was sincere, I’m sure of that. But Rossi is here, and Kinsley and Cannon have disappeared. The logical reasoning is that Cannon fed me bullshit to divert my attention to Rossi. My gut, however, tells me Rossi is playing me.

I glance at Veronica as a thought occurs to me. She raced out of the house toward her father with a napkin in hand, ready to tend to his wound. How did she know he’d been injured when she had been inside the whole time?

“We’re leaving,” Veronica says. “I have no wish to locate the girl.”

“How did you know your father would need a napkin?” I ask, stopping their exit. “I didn’t see you with one beforehand.”

Veronica bristles. “I picked one up to dab at my mouth. It was still in my hand when the shouting started.”

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