Page 13 of Ruined

“It’s fine,” Cutler said, cutting him off. “I appreciate you finding the culprit. I had forgotten all about the Warren thing. But it honestly doesn’t matter who they are. They’re still dead.”

Cutler’s voice sounded empty and cold. Lazarus got it. Cutler’s man had been in surgery for hours. There was a very good chance he wouldn’t make it. He couldn’t be in two places at once. This needed to be taken care of so Cutler could have quick and brutal vengeance, and he could return to Gable without fear of this happening again.

Their destination came into view. It was a gorgeous house in a secluded area with private beach access. It was the perfect spot for a rich man’s right-hand man to live, complete with a watery escape route. They would have to move fast before the guy had time to get away or hide. No doubt the place had a hundred ways to protect its owner,likely including guards of his own. Their window to get to Warren would be small.

It amazed Lazarus that Cutler didn’t ask questions as he parked on the street, slightly out of view. He simply slipped from the truck, prepared to go in with nothing but his bare hands as weapons. Lazarus motioned toward the bed of the truck. He pulled back a dark tarp, revealing a cache of weapons. Cutler grabbed a baseball bat, proving he fully intended to make someone suffer for as long as possible.

Every light in the house was on. No alarms sounded or gunshots rang out as they quietly made their way around the property. They circled the house, peering in windows and getting their bearings. It was eerily quiet inside. A man with dark hair sat facing away from the window and toward a TV. That was the only person Lazarus spotted. Nothing made sense other than it being a trap. Noway should Warren Legion be this easy to target. They chose the door farthest away from the man, allowing them a buffer from any slight noise picking the lock would create.

Lazarus dug his lock pick from his pocket.

Cutler took a step back and kicked the door in. He was inside before Lazarus had time to recover.

“Goddamn it, Cutler.” Lazarus scrambled after him as Cutler stormed into the house. No guards came running. The place stayed silent. No alarm blared. Lazarus knew there was a problem before they made it to the sitting room and to the man they had spotted through the window.

Disappointment ran through Lazarus as he entered the sitting room. A lone man sat upright, completely covered in blood. His dead eyes stared at nothing. A note pinnedto his chest with a knife had Lazarus moving closer. He ripped the paper away and read it aloud.

“We’re square.”

They exchanged a glance.

Cutler eyed a very dead Warren with hatred. “What in the hell is going on here?”

“I don’t know.” Lazarus read the note again and studied the corpse. “I’m willing to bet half that blood is Gable’s. So, who in the fuck killed him? Shit. I was really looking forward to a fight.” No one let Lazarus have any fun.

Cutler sighed and pinched the spot between his eyes. Before Lazarus could say more, Cutler jumped and dropped the bat, quickly pulling his phone from his pocket. His eyes moved across the screen. He snatched up the bat and headed for the door, explaining as he went. “Gable made it throughsurgery.”

It seemed priorities had shifted. All Cutler cared about now was Gable. Lazarus was the one left with the itch of an unsolved mystery. He didn’t like being in the dark. Cutler might be fine with knowing nothing more than Gable’s attacker was dead. Lazarus had to know why. This wasn’t over. He had to know more.

Chapter Nine

“I can’t believe youbought a new house.”

Cutler fluttered around him like a mother hen, trying to get him inside while causing as little pain as possible. “I’ve always wanted to live on the beach, so this gave me the excuse I needed. There was no way in hell I would let you step a foot back in that old house.”

He was so sweet and adorable. “I would’ve been fine. Honestly, I don’t even remember much.” Gable winced as he endured the last step from the garage inside the house. Agorgeous kitchen came into view. Everything was blue, and cabinets lined the walls from floor to ceiling. “Oh, wow. You definitely have some storage.”

Cutler barely spared a glance for the kitchen. “Some cabinets are actually doors. One is the fridge. Another is a pantry. There’s one more that leads to a panic room.”

“A panic room? Nice.”

Cutler laughed. “Well, some people might call it a storm shelter.”

Gable laughed. He immediately regretted it. With a gasp, he grabbed his stomach, trying to keep his insides inside him where they belonged. “Shit.”

Cutler somehow managed to look twice as worried. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you laugh.”

“Stop apologizing.” Cutler hadn’t stopped saying he was sorry since the moment Gable opened his eyes in the hospital. “Nothing about this is your fault. I knew my job was dangerous when I took it.”

“I should’ve been there.” It also wasn’t the first time Cutler had grumbled those words under his breath.

“Oh my gosh. Just help me to the bedroom before I start shaking from being upright too long.”

Cutler immediately rushed to help him. “I still say they should’ve kept you longer.”

Gable fought an eye roll. That was a new complaint Cutler hadn’t stopped uttering. “Wouldn’t you rather I be somewhere where you can take care of me?”

Cutler didn’t sayanything.

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