Page 117 of I Will Mend You

“How did you do it?”

Hunter smirks. “I’ll explain it all when you’re the one sitting in the electric chair.”

I search his bruised face for clues. We stripped every captive naked, scanned their bodies for devices, secured their limbs so they couldn’t reach our communications networks, yet somehow this bastard managed to breach our security.

“One way or another, you’re going to tell me how you did it.”

When the smirk widens to a grin, I see it. A missing tooth.

“Let me guess,” I snarl. “Your prosthetic tooth contains a mini faraday cage concealing a communications device?”

He chuckles. “Your father would be proud.”

“Xero?” Amethyst says from the hallway.

Hunter’s gaze snaps toward the door, his eyes widening. “Is that Amy? I’ll look forward to taking my turn with you. Delta said your cunt was even sweeter than your sister’s.”

His taunt ignites a fury that consumes every fiber of my being. The world narrows down to a single point: this bastard who dares to lay claim to my little ghost. Before I know it, my gun is out. My vision is a haze of red. I fire a shot into his throat.

Hunter jerks backward, his smug triumph replaced by shocked gurgling. Blood sprays from the wound and pours from the sides of his mouth in rivulets. His eyes bulge wide with fear and confusion, only intensifying my wrath. I wanted to languish in his slow, agonizing death.

Amethyst grabs my arm. “You said they were five minutes away. Let’s go.”

Pocketing the gun, I let her lead me out of his cell. Hunter’s words ring through my ears, and the question rises to my throat.

“I have to know,” I rasp, my throat raw, “Did my father really touch you?”

Amethyst glances away, her chest rising. “I was drugged and didn’t know what was happening until afterward.”

Rage burns through my veins, hot and pulsing. I want to charge outside and meet the convoy of bastards if there’s any chance of facing Father.

Amethyst cups my cheek, forcing our gazes to meet. “Xero. Where are we going?”

Her touch snaps me back to the present, and I swallow back a wave of all-consuming guilt. Vengeance can wait. My priority should be keeping my little ghost out of his hands.

Our eyes meet, and I see the fear in her green depths and a vulnerability that makes my heart ache. “No one will ever hurt you again, not while I draw breath. And if I’m dead, then I’ll still watch over you like an avenging spirit.”

She swallows, her eyes shining with unshed tears. “Thank you,” she whispers, her voice choked with emotion. “I believe you.”

The words hit like a punch to the chest, making my steps falter. Relief, guilt, and gratitude twist to tighten my throat. After everything, she trusts me. I swallow hard, forcing down the surge of emotion.

I lead her out of the cell and down the hallway in the opposite direction of the house. We pass another heavy door, leading to a lockout chamber. It’s a large closet with a hatch on the floor that opens into a deeper tunnel.

As Amethyst climbs down into the darkness, I secure the airtight door and descend after her before sealing the hatch. Her feet hit the ground, triggering the tunnel’s automatic lighting system. LED bulbs flicker to life, casting long shadows along the curved walls.

By the time I jump down, she’s already sitting in the emergency cart. The four-wheeler’s motor is just about fast enough to outrun the shitstorm I’m about to unleash if the chamber’s seal fails.

“Where does this lead?” she asks, her voice echoing.

“Another bunker where we can launch our defense.”

I unplug the cart, slide into the driver’s seat, and fire up the engine. It hums to life, and we lurch forward at top speed.

Amethyst grasps onto the sides of the cart, her knuckles white. She breathes hard, her body leaning into mine for comfort. I wrap an arm around her shoulder, tucking her close. Her heart pounds against my side, its rhythm synching with my racing pulse.

“We’re going to be okay,” I say, my voice steady. “He’ll die before he touches you again.”

The tunnel’s lights whizz past in a blur as we pick up speed through the darkness. Amethyst grips my thigh as if it’s the only thing keeping her tethered to the present.

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