Page 12 of A King So Savage

“He had his reasons,” Oliver smirked. “One of his friends wanted to screw his baby sister behind his back.”

“Carson never cared enough about Ava to worry about her safety. Even then, he was only interested in exploiting her. He’s a bullying piece of shit.” Kingston blew a ring of smoke into the air. He never spared Oliver a glance. “I respected her father so I stayed away from her. That’s all.”

“Ah, yes. The saintly, dedicated,honestGarett Blue. The father we should have had. Some people get all the luck when it comes to parents. You and I? We got the worst of the worst.”

That was certainly true. Alan Winter was a complete bastard. When his second wife shot him before turning the gun on herself, it was generally agreed the world was a better place without him in it.

Kingston did not blame Oliver’s mother for killing the man. His father was an abuser of women, children, and animals. There was nothing redeeming about him. Nothing whatsoever. Kingston only wished his own mom had been alive to see the man’s demise.

A clever criminal, his father concealed money and assets behind legitimate fences the DA could never tear down. But the benefits of Alan’s death took a while in trickling down. While Kingston finished college with only the barest of necessities provided and Oliver shuffled through the Bitter Springs foster care system, his father’s fortune languished in limbo. Nothing could be released as long as authorities investigated his criminal activities.

That was until Kingston dismissed the attorney his father employed and placed Garret Blue on retainer instead. It was a wise decision. Within a year, Kingston became heir to it all. Every penny of Alan Winter’s fortune and the secrets to his unlawful schemes were left to his oldest son.

Which explained why Oliver hated him so much. Being dependent on Kingston for financial support infuriated his little brother.

“She’s a fucking feisty little thing. Caught you off guard, didn’t she?” Oliver laughed. “If you could have seen your face when she clocked you with that paperweight… It was fucking priceless.”

“Have you sent Carson the message?” Kingston’s stare was cold and unattached as he regarded Oliver over the expanse of the desk.

“Right after I snatched her.” Oliver chuckled, still amused by his brother’s injury and the cause of it.

“I want his response the instant it comes in.”

Oliver smirked again. “No doubt, you do. You know, there are a few of us who’d like to sample her if you decide to keep her. Once you’ve gotten your fill, of course. Don’t deny us that, King.”

“I might give you pups a taste.” Kingston blew a ring of cigar smoke in Oliver’s direction. “Maybe. We’ll see how things play out. If Carson pays up, I’ll return her untouched. Well, relatively untouched. Honestly, I have a feeling he won’t pay a damned dime.”

Oliver’s laughter was cruel. “Hell, King, you’re more than likely right about that. I think that girl is as good as ours.”

“Mine, Oliver,” Kingston reminded him calmly, fists clenched at the thought of his brother with Ava. “Ava Blue is mine. Maybe I’ll share. Maybe I won’t. We’ll see.”

ChapterFour

The whispers are so loud

They drown out all reason

Ava shookthe cobwebs of sleep from her eyes and swung her legs over the side of the cot. Her wrist hurt, but she ignored it while she examined her surroundings.

It was definitely a cell.

Her eyes darted around the space, heart galloping as apprehension strummed inside her bones.

The cot she was on was placed in the middle of the cell, the iron headboard flush against the wall. A small table was beside it, the lamp upon it emitting a soft glow. On the wall opposite the cot, iron rings set higher than her shoulders were embedded into the wall. Matching chains with attached manacles hung from them. They were not rusty, but they appeared authentic enough.

The rings were the perfect height for a person to hang between.

Ava sucked in a breath at the track of her thoughts. Her panicked gaze skittered away from the implements.

Ohmygodohmygodohmygod.

This was real. She was Kingston Winter’s prisoner. Imprisoned in a cell somewhere deep in the bowels of God only knew where.

Shewashis captive.

As soon as that terrifying reality sunk in, practicality washed over Ava. She must settle herself. Think things through. Find a solution to the problem at hand. Reason a way out of this.

Remain calm. Collected. Focused.

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