Page 15 of Breaker

Chapter 5

Delilah

Sleep never visited melast night. Even after Striker deposited me into my bed and I screamed at him to leave, and I wept until I was exhausted. Even after I laid in bed, watching the room turn from black to gray with the sunrise, feeling like I was made of nothing but bones and tears, sleep didn’t rescue me from this nightmare. My mind feels like it’s cracking open. My body feels like they’ve taken it, used it, fucked it, and then set me on fire.

And I’m burning up with rage. Rage over the unfairness of it all.

Logically, I know they had little choice. These things are practically blood packs. I’ve heard whispers of them, though I never was subjected to one. Rune is progressive in some ways, breaking away from traditions. He allowed my marriage to Dave. Said little when I filed for divorce. I’m set to inherit his company and everything he built. He’s trained me for years like he would have a son, to be ruthless enough to keep his name, his company, going, even after his death.

Now I’m not so sure I want it.

Not when I know what his company was built on.

It’s just after sunrise, and my head swims with fatigue. Tiny rocks and flecks of mud stick to my boots as I stalk down the long road stretching along the cliff’s edge. With the morning came a bitter wind, turning the ocean a metallic gray and the waves violent. Dark clouds roll in from the east, blocking out the yellow rays of the sunrise, making it feel like the world is prepping for the Apocalypse.

I almost expect my four horsemen to chase me down and drag me back to the house, but no one bothers to come after me. Maybe they think I’m still in my room, crying into my pillow. Maybe they think I can’t, or won’t, try to leave.

How they’ve underestimated my drive to get what I want.

And what I want is Cora. Safe with me. Back in my arms, away from danger.

Away from Rune.

I stop in front of the weathered building, hands shoved deep down into the pockets of my knit sweater, looking from the door with the window to the large swinging doors of the garage. The handles on the garage doors are gone, but rust stains run down the old paint-flaked wood, like dried blood from where they were screwed in.

Knowing I can’t open the massive doors, I head for the smaller one with the rippled glass window. I spotted the large carriage house from the window at the back of the house last week but paid little attention to it. Why I didn’t, I’m not sure. Then again, I was so busy walking around wishing the men would talk to me I didn’t care about much else.

Certainly not escaping. I never once thought about what the carriage house may contain.

Like a vehicle.

The men got us here somehow. I doubt they had a chopper drop us off, and since the house is stocked with food and supplies at all times, I know they were leaving to go on runs to gather items.

The door creaks when I swing it open, and I’m blasted with the scent of smokey wood and male. Sweat and something that reminds me of leather and cleaner. Lemony like Striker and Viper and smokey like Reaper.

My stomach clenches. He had promised he’d get her when he’d planned to send her away.

He fucking better not have lied.

When Reaper showed me what Rune was doing, he said they have a plan but failed to mention what it is. Only that they needed me to help them. If they want my cooperation, they’re going to listen to me for a change.

Theyneedme.

I hold the cards now. If they want my help to take Rune down, if they want my help to exact revenge for their dead brother, they will not stop me from making sure Cora is safe.

And I need to get to her, to make sure she is. I’m tired of waiting for them to tell me their plans. I want Rune stopped so he can’t hurt anyone ever again. I want answers.

I want Cora.

Stopping in the center of the homemade gym, I take in a breath, trying to cool my anger. Seeing the obvious hold their father has over them, it is apparent that these men have become accustomed to following orders without question. They’re either too used to taking orders, or too scared to defy them.

Rune was never too harsh with me. Not by his own hand. I learned my lessons from him in other ways. Not to break rules or go against his wishes because I wasn’t the one to suffer the consequences. Whoever I was with did. Boyfriends. Associates. Coworkers.

Shoving the useless thoughts away, I scan the room. Off to the side, next to a shelf lined with small weights, I spot another door that must lead out to the garage. It sticks as I try to open it, but when I ram it with my shoulder. It gives, spilling me out into a dark, musty garage. I stumble down, nearly twisting my ankle at the sudden drop, but catch myself on the door.

It’s dark in the garage, barely any light bleeding in from under the doors and the faint daylight spilling in behind me, but I see it right away.

A large, solid black SUV.

---