Page 106 of Hunted By Valentine

“Shut up!” he shouts.

He cocks his fist, but I’m faster. I deliver a quick jab to his ribs, making him grunt as he doubles over, but before he can recover, I lock him in a headlock, applying just enough pressure to make him listen.

“Stop,” I grunt. “Fucking stop.”

Jack’s hands claw at my arms, his nails leaving angry red trails in their wake. I can practically feel his rage pulsing through his veins, his sorrow and fear for his sister fueling his desperation.

My own emotions mirror his, a boiling cauldron of anger, grief, and terror, but I force myself to maintain control. I fight to keep my focus, to push aside the chaotic turmoil threatening to consume me.

He taps out, and I release him. He stumbles back, gasping for air, sweat mixing with the shards of glass on his skin. “We’re not done,” he says, his voice a hollow echo of its former self.

“No,” I agree. “But Ruby comes first.”

Jack hurls me against the wall, and I see stars. I wipe the blood from my split lip, meeting his glare with my own.

Since I knew Jack was in the hospital forever, and only recently got out, I’ve clearly underestimated him. Even though we’ve been at it for half an hour, he’s showing no signs of tiring so I guess his anger must be overpowering any pain he’s in.

The entire room is a mess. The bagels and coffee he brought for his breakfast with Ruby are littered amongst the table and whatever else we’ve broken.

“Fine. But remember this, Valentine,” he warns, wiping blood from his split lip. “If anything happens to Ruby, I’ll make sure you pay for your part in all of this.”

The words hang in the air between us like a dark promise, one I have no intention of letting come to pass. But for now, we must put aside our differences and work together to find Ruby. I nod curtly, the tension between us simmering with unresolved anger and distrust.

Jack’s fist shakes with unbridled fury, itching to release a devastating blow. But before he can strike, the door crashes open and Nicklas charges inside like a furious hurricane.

Right, I’d forgotten Jack called his brother when he couldn’t find Ruby.

Nick’s sheer force is palpable, emanating from every muscle in his body as he roars. “What the hell is happening here?” he demands, his voice slicing through the tense air like a searing blade. Despite his own anger, there is a calmness in him that Jack and I lack in this moment, making him all the more formidable.

Jack takes a step back, wiping sweat and blood from his forehead. I lean against the wall, trying to steady the spinning in my head.

“Have you both lost your minds?” he asks incredulously.

“Tell that to him,” Jack spits, nodding in my direction. “He’s the reason Ruby’s missing.”

All color drains from Nicklas’ face, and I feel like I’m being sliced open. “Missing?” he echoes. “What the hell do you mean? Why would she be missing? Ruby? Answer me, Ruby!” He keeps shouting as he walks further into the house, but stops as he almost kicks Michael’s corpse. “Oh, shit.”

“Yeah, no kidding,” Jack seethes.

“Who would take her when Michael is dead?” he demands, scratching the back of his head. “I thought killing him would—”

“You knew?” Jack asks, interrupting his big brother. “You fucking knew she was going to kill Michael?”

“Of course,” Nicklas replies. “I promised to help. That’s why I left Marco behind, and he even helped her get a poison doing exactly what she wanted.”

“Fuck!” Jack’s scream echoes off the walls as he violently shreds at his dark hair, leaving tangles of ebony strands in his wake. His frantic pacing only intensifies as he rants, “You goddamn idiot, Nick! By murdering Michael, our sister has sealed her own fate.” A sinister glint flashes in Jack’s eyes, a clear warning of the consequences to come.

“What?” both Nicklas and I ask in unison.

Tremors wrack Jack’s entire body as he takes a deep, shuddering breath, trying to steady himself. His steely gaze bores into us with a ferocity that cannot be contained, his voice quivering but seething with an underlying rage that threatens to burst forth.

“Because of Michael’s fucked up marital contract,” he says, voice low, barely concealing the depth of his anger. “In the event of Michael’s death Ruby—”

“Becomes a widow and she’s free,” Nicklas says, interrupting. “Dad told me all this.”

Jack’s jaw clenches, and he gives his brother a look that sends a cold jolt through my chest. “You really believe that? If you trusted Dad you’re a bigger fool than—”

“Careful, Jack,” Nicklas growls.

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