Page 71 of Wicked Devotions

HARPER

The sound of crashing glass from downstairs startles me from a deep sleep. Declan is up and pulling on his shorts before I’m even fully aware of what’s happening. I hear the thunder of feet on steps as I pull on the closest clothes near me, my shorts and one of Declan’s hoodies.

“Ouch, fuck!” Declan yells. “Damn it!”

“Let me see,” Emerson says.

When I get down to the bottom step, Cy throws his arm in front of me, halting myprogress. Shards of glass litter the floor, sparkling in the light thrown around the foyer by the chandelier. Blood is dripping from a cut on the bottom of Declan’s foot.

I still can’t comprehend the scene around me until my eyes land on a large brick with a piece of fabric wrapped around it with a rubber band. Cy follows my gaze and walks over to it, gingerly avoiding stepping on any of the large shards. He picks it up and pulls an envelope from the other side of the brick.

It doesn’t take more than a passing glance to know it’s from the same person as the others have been. He tears it open and pulls out the letter while Emerson argues with Declan about needing to go to the hospital to see if he needs stitches. I’m torn between worry for Declan and dread for the contents of the letter.

“Let me see it.” I hold out my hand.

Cy hesitates but relents when I cock my eyebrow and look down at my outstretched hand. My blood runs cold as I read the message.

Dearest,

I’m deeply disappointed that you have chosen the life of a whore. I’ll remember that when I finally have you. For ruining your body, I’ve ruined something of yours in return. Remember I’m always watching.

Ruined something of mine?What is he talking about? My mattress? I rack my brain trying to think of anything that means that much to me. I don’t care about material things.

Cy takes the letter back from me, and that’s when I realize what the letter means. I snatch the brick from his hand and pull the fabric out of the rubber band. A dark brown stain covers one side of the cream-colored fleece.

Bile rises in my throat when I turn the quilted piece of blanket over and see an embroidered A. It’s one of Annie’s saddle blankets. The only one I was able to keep when everything was confiscated by the government.

“Annie,” I gasp, tears immediately rolling down my cheeks. “He hurt Annie.”

“What?” Declan snaps as he pushes an irritated Emerson away and crosses to me.

I hand him everything and look at Cy.

In that one glance, I know he is on the same exact page as I am. Before either of the other two can say a word, he’s lifting me into his arms and carrying me through the house into the mudroom where I slide on the first pair of shoes I can find. He does the same and before Declan or Emerson can stop us, we’re out the door and into the garage.

He tosses a helmet at me while the door opens and he puts his own on. Then he’s on the bike and revving the engine as I slide on behind him. He leans back and opens my visor.

“I’m going to drive fast so hold on tight.”

I catch a glimpse of both Emerson and Declan looking royally pissed at us as we fly down the driveway past them. But I can’t worry about that. Declan needs to have his foot checked, and I’m safe with Cy. Most importantly I have to get to Annie.

He wasn't lying. A drive that usually takes at least thirty minutes, took us eighteen. It’s three in the morning, so there was no traffic but now we find ourselves locked out of the stables. All my shifts are during the operating hours, so I don’t have the code to unlock the gate.

“I’ll boost you up.” He crouches down and interlocks his fingers.

“Thank you.”

I put my foot in his hands and grab as high as I can on the wrought iron bars. He boosts me up and holds me steady until I can swing myself over. As soon as I’m on the ground, he climbs up like breaking and entering is his favorite hobby. I’m slightly horrified at just how easy that was for him, but we don’t have time to talk about this.

I grab his hand and start running over the gravel toward the barn her stall is in. Cy guides me around any of the motion sensor flood lights as we go. I never would have thought not to run through them.

Curious horses poke their heads out of their stall doors as we run past them. There’s a handful of whinnies and spooked snorts mixed with the pounding of our feet. When I finally get to Annie’s stall, she’s not standing like I hoped. She’s lying on her side with her face toward the corner.

I can’t tell if she’s breathing or not through the sheen of tears in my eyes. I pull the door to the side, and her head pops up. Her ears are pinned back as soon as she sees Cy, but nothing looks amiss.

I hold my hand up to stop him. “Don’t come in here, she doesn’t like men.”

“Are you okay?”

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