Page 38 of Breaker

“I’ll take the rear,” Roulette said.

That left Hornet and Slider going in with me. “All right. Let’s do this.”

We moved as one, our steps silent on the soft earth. I could feel their presence at my back, their determination fueling my own. We entered the cabin, guns drawn, but I knew immediately if she’d been here, she was gone now.

“What the fuck? I thought for sure she’d be here,” I said. “Where the hell could they have gone? Do you think they circled back and got into a different vehicle?”

Hornet shook his head. “From the splinters in the doorframe, looks like someone slammed their fist into it. You think Juniper would have found an opening and took off? Maybe he walked away long enough for her to escape.”

I could only hope that’s what happened. “Then what now?”

Cotton came in and tipped his head toward the woods. “Think your girl went this way. Found some blood smears on a few leaves, and broken branches like someone quickly ran through there.”

Jesus. So now she was alone in the woods at night, with a fucking psycho on her heels? We had to find her, and we had to do it fast. Otherwise, I’d never get to hold her again. Her uncle hadn’t killed her yet, which meant he had a plan for her. But if she pissed him off anymore, he’d kill her the first chance he had.

It only took us half an hour to find them. Robert had pinned Juniper against a tree as she struggled to break free. It looked like he’d hit her a few times. Her lip was bleeding, and she had bruising on her cheek. I also noticed what looked like fingermarks around her neck. This asshole was just begging for a painful death.

He hadn’t noticed us yet, and neither had Juniper. I surged forward, closing the distance between us in a heartbeat. My fist connected with Robert’s temple, his head snapping to the side as he released Juniper and staggered a few steps. I didn’t let up, didn’t give him time to regroup. I gave in to my pent-up fury and let my fists fly. From the corner of my eye, I saw Slider pull Juniper out of the way.

I rained blows down upon Robert, each one a testament to the pain and suffering he’d caused. He fought back, his movements fueled by desperation, but he was no match for my rage. It didn’t matter that he’d put two holes in me. Nothing was going to slow me down or keep me from saving Juniper. He aimed for the wound on my stomach, and I twisted out of the way. When I saw his fist flying toward my shoulder, I dropped it and sent an uppercut to his jaw.

“That little bitch isn’t worth it,” he said. “Just give her to me. You can get any woman you want with a face like yours.”

“The only one I want is my wife, you psycho! You can’t have her.”

He spat blood on the ground and came at me again. If he’d had a weapon, it looked like he’d lost it before we’d caught up to Juniper. Which gave me an advantage. I shot him in the knee, sending him crashing to the ground. He cursed and whined like a little bitch.

While he was down, I kicked him in the ribs, then shot his other knee, making sure he wouldn’t be able to stand.

“Just take her!” he screamed, trying to scoot away from me. “She’s not worth the trouble.”

“In case you haven’t caught on yet, you aren’t getting out of here alive.” I glanced at Slider. “Get her to the truck. I don’t want her to see this.”

Juniper tugged free from him. “No, Breaker. I’m staying.”

“Juni, this is a side of me I don’t want to show you. Please. Go with Slider.”

She stubbornly shook her head. Fine. She wanted to see that I could be a monster too? Then she’d get her chance. I shot Robert in both shoulders, elbows, and in his hands, rendering him helpless to defend himself.

“What was it Juni said? You raped a girl nearly to death, stabbed her repeatedly, and slit her throat? Was that how it went?”

He paled and glanced in her direction. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I never did any of that around her.”

I laughed, but it lacked humor and came out sounding cold as ice. “Yeah well, she saw you anyway. She was hiding in the damn closet. So, shall we get started? You’re lucky I’m not a rapist, so we’ll skip that part.”

Hornet handed me a large knife. “Here, brother. Make this asshole suffer.”

I dropped to my knees and slammed the knife into his gut. Once. Twice. By the fifth time, I could see that he wasn’t going to last much longer. Blood pooled on the ground, and he coughed and sputtered. Leaning down to hold his gaze, I gave him the cruelest smile I could manage.

“Time to meet the devil. Be sure to tell him I said hi.” With that, I sliced the bastard’s throat and watched him bleed out. Once the light completely faded from his eyes, I stood and went over to Juniper.

She sobbed and threw herself into my arms, nearly knocking me off my feet. I grunted and tried not to show how much it hurt. “I knew you’d find me.”

“Did my best,” I said. “But you have to thank Surge. He did all the work. Then Freak drove me here. Found your note. Someone threw it away without calling us.”

“Fuckers,” Hornet muttered. “Maybe Surge can figure out who. I think they need to be taught a lesson.”

I nodded. “Sounds good.”

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