Page 77 of Ruthless

“Been a long time, Z.” Grady chuckles, looking every bit the wolf he calls himself. The deep sound sends shivers down my spine. “How’d you find me?”

“Your cousin squeals like a bitch.” Zane’s face is a blank mask as I squint to try and see him clearer. It doesn’t work. They’re both blurry outlines. “He never would have made it through basic.”

“I’m surprised it took you this long to figure it out.” Grady cranes his head to the side, keeping his gaze planted on Zane and ignoring the remark about his cousin. “What gave me away?”

“Your tattoo.” Zane scowls.

“Always did have a thing for theatrics.” Grady’s grin widens.

“Nelson’s dead because of you.” A vein bulges out on the side of Zane’s neck as his face reddens.

“It was business.” Grady’s face hardens. “It wouldn’t have happened if Wallace did what he was told. He thought he could just quit, and the bosses didn’t like that.”

“So you took his daughter to keep him in line.” Every muscle in Zane’s body is tight.

“It worked, didn’t it? We’ve made millions.” He slams a hand into the center of his chest. “And we’ve lived like kings.”

“Off the blood of the innocent.” Zane’s hand squeezes the handle of his gun, keeping it aimed at Grady.

“No one is truly innocent.” Grady’s mouth pinches together. “Ever.”

“Tell that to Isaac. He trusted you to have his back out there.” Zane steps closer, encroaching on the space between them. “You killed his woman. She had nothing to do with any of this.”

“He stuck his nose where it didn’t belong. Sacrifices had to be made. You both were a liability. I don’t expect you to understand that. You’ve always been blinded by your moral compass. You never did have the balls to do what needs to be done.” Spit flies out of the corner of his mouth as his temper flares.

“Never knew you were such a pussy that you off old ladies.”

“That old cunt had it coming. Thought she could try to save your bitch and her friend.” Grady curls up the corner of his lip, and my heart drops at the thought of what happened to Mrs. Baker.

Zane does a quick once over of my body, and when he lands on my face, his nostrils flare. Then he turns his attention back to Grady. “I’m gonna skin you alive for touching her.”

Grady’s body goes rigid. “It’s your fault. All you had to do was fucking die.” He squeezes the trigger, but Zane manages to duck out of the way before the bullet can hit him. He kicks out, slamming his foot into Grady’s shin. The bone snaps, and Grady groans as he goes down, grabbing Zane by the shirt and pulling him down with him.

“Fuck you, Z.”

“No. Fuck you.” Zane slams his fist into Grady’s chin, knocking his head back and making his teeth rattle together, but it doesn’t loosen Grady’s grip on his shirt.

“You hit like a bitch.” Grady chuckles.

The two of them roll around on the ground kicking up rocks and bits of Georgia clay as they throw punches. Some land on their intended target, while others hit the dirt.

I crawl backward to keep out of their way, but I don’t move too far. Otherwise, I won’t be able to make out who is who.

Zane punches Grady one last time, and his body goes limp. He releases his grip and stands to his feet, making his way over to me when Grady moves.

“Zane, behind you.” I bite at my fingernails, helpless to watch with my hands bound together.

“Catch.” Grady throws a snake at his face, but Zane manages to dodge out of the way in time before it can get him and uses his booted foot to toss it farther out of the way.

“You’re done, Grady.”

“The fuck you say.” Grady sits up and wipes at the cut on his lip. He bends down to pick up his gun, and I hold my breath.

“Remember me, asshole? You killed my woman.” Isaac strolls out from under cover of the trees and steps on Grady’s hand until I hear it cracks.

“Get out of here, Ken.” Zane spares me a glance as he and Isaac close in on Grady.

“No! I’m not leaving you.” My pulse pounds in my throat as a million different scenarios race through my mind. None of them are any good.

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