Page 39 of Poisonous Savage

I’mgonna kill that cockroach.

Theworld narrowed to this moment, to the space between us, filled with hate and the promise of violence.Myhand twitched toward my gun, itching to end this, to rip him apart.Butone wrong move, one slip, and it could beRosalindpaying the price.

Herbreath came in shallow gasps, her chest brushing against the handle as he pushed the tip further into her neck.Bloodpounded in my ears, a drumbeat urging me forward.ButIheld back, each muscle screaming to unleash hell.

"Comeon,Angelo.Youreally want to be known as the great, big leader who used a girl to win?Ithought you were a man, but it turns out you’re just another fucking spineless bastard,"Idared, voice low, dangerous.Everyfiber of me screamed for retribution—for the right to tear him apart with my bare hands, to show him the kind of pain he'd inflicted on her.Butnot yet, not whileRosalindwas his shield.

Angelo'sgrip onRosalind, that fucker thought he had the upper hand.Myinsides twisted, rage a living thing clawing up my throat.Watchedevery quiver of his fingers on the blade, every hitch in her breathing.Angerseared through me, hotter than the bulletsI'dtake for her.Waitedfor an opening, but hell, there wasn't any.Notwith her pale as death and him smirking like the devil himself.

Outtathe corner of my eye,IsawMarcoslink into the shadows.Bigbastard moved silent as death.Aflicker of hope sparked in the pit of my gut.Ihad to trustMarco—Ihad no fucking choice.Heunderstood the stakes and knew whatRosalindmeant.Hell, he loved her, too.Hiseyes were hard, locked ontoAngelo'sback.

Marcocircled closer, the ghost of a predator.Theair prickled with tension, thick enough to choke on.Timeslowed to a crawl;Icould've counted the beats of my heart, hammering against my ribs like it wanted out.

Thenhe struck.Quickas fuck,Marco'sfist was a blur, a goddamn force of nature.CrackedagainstAngelo'sskull with a thud.Angelocrumpled, his knife clattering to theground.Rosalindstumbled forward, gasping, her knees giving out.Iwouldn’t make it there in time to catch her.

Marcocaught her before she hit the dirt, wrapped his arms around her before he stood, and cradled her to his chest.Shewas precious.Somethingto be protected.Fuck, he was good to her.Shewas right.Sheneeded us both.

"Gotyou, sunshine,"Marcomurmured, kissing her head.

Stoodthere, heart slamming against bone, watchingMarcohold her.Sawthe way her body leaned into his touch, seeking solace in the chaos.Wantedto ripAngeloapart limb by limb for every bruise marring her skin.Butfirst things first—Rosalindneeded safety, needed away from this hellhole.

Myboots crunched over gravel and spent casings asIclosed the distance between me andRosalind.Hekissed her forehead before handing her to me and surveying what was left to do.

"Finishthese fuckers off,"Marcobarked over the slowing pop of bullets, "and burn this shithole to the ground."Hisvoice was a commandment, one none would dare disobey.

IsweptRosalindto my chest like she weighed nothing more than a child, but fuck, she was everything.Herbody shook against mine, her skin cold and clammy, but sheclung to me, burying her nose into my bloodstained shirt.Ifelt every bruise, every tear in her clothes, and it fueled a dark, rolling fury within me.

"Gladto have you back, beautiful,"Imuttered against her hair, my grip tightening.Nomore fear for her;I'dbecome the goddamn reaper beforeIlet anyone touch what was mine ever again.

Thetrek to theSUVwas a blur of red and rage.Bulletsflew, men shouted, and lives ended.Fuckinganarchy all around us, butIwalked through it unseeing, unfeeling, except for the woman in my arms.

Marcowas right beside me, dragging that treacherous piece of shitAngeloby his hair like he was no more than yesterday's trash.Heworked fast, tying and gagging the bastard with brutal efficiency before tossing him in the trunk like a sack of meat.

"Meetback at the mansion,"Marcoyelled.Itwas a sight to behold—the loyalty, the power, the raw fucking masculinity.

IbundledRosalindinto the backseat, the leather cool against her damaged skin.Shewas safe, for now.Goddamn, in the light of theSUV, she looked so small.Sodamaged.Hercurls splayed across the seat, her head tilted to the side, one strand daring to caress her bruised cheek.Myfingers grazed over her skin, a whisper of touch, tucking the rebel behind her ear.

Slammingthe door shut,Irounded the vehicle, the driver's seat waiting.Myhands wrapped around the wheel, knuckles white, control absolute.Istole a glance atRosalindin the rearview mirror, her face a ghostly pale contrast against the black interior.Marcoslid into the passenger seat and shut the door with a thud.

TheSUV'sripped out the moor and hummed asIgunned it home.Sheneeded a doctor.Ikept thinking about what the fuck they might have done to her.Thefact they laid hands on my woman was enough to make me see red.

Goddamnanimals thought they could take what was mine, lay hands on myRosalind.Herpain etched into every fucking fiber of my being, fueling a rage that was all-consuming.Bloodfor blood, life for life—I'ddismantle their empire brick by bloody brick.Ididn’t want to absorb their clan.Iwanted to eradicate it.Eradicatethem.

"Restup, baby,"Imurmured, more for my sake than hers. "Gonnaneed you strong when we killAngelo.MaybeI’lllet you peel the last slice of skin from his face after we’re done."Iglanced over atMarco, quiet and brooding, already texting the doctor to meet us at home.

“He'son his way.I’llget the chamber ready forAngeloonce we’re there.”

HUNTER

"W

herethe hell is the doc?"Ibarked at one of my guys who stood too close, his eyes wide and useless.

"Wasn'there when we arrived, boss."

"Gethim on the fucking phone.Now!"Mycommand was a growl, my patience a thin wire about to snap.IlaidRosalinddown on the couch gently, trying not to jostle her.Herbreaths came shallow and pained, a rib stuck out at a weird angle, and after lifting her shirt, her stomach was dark.Fuck.

Ipaced back and forth like a caged animal, the need to see her well again clawing at my insides.Everysecond ticked by with the weight of a damn anvil.

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