Page 17 of Vengeful Union

“But—”

“Say one more word, and I'll twist your balls so hard that you’ll never be able to have children.”

“Who—”

Fucking moron. I pull my hand back and punch him in the face, knocking him out.

Breathing hard, I let out a long breath and crouch down near the girl.

Lara winces, flinching away from me, too, and I feel like shit.

I never would have allowed this to happen, but it has, and now I have to deal with the consequences.

I take out a pocketknife from my back pocket, and Lara lets out a reedy scream.

“I’m not going to hurt you.” I cut the zip ties around her wrists.

She rubs at them, stretching out as she scrambles back against the wall. She brings her knees up to her chest, trembling.

I stay where I am to let her know I’m not a threat. “Look. I’m sorry. That... that wasn’t supposed to happen."

“Who are you? Are you with Murphy?”

I grimace. “Not exactly. My name is Rory.”

“I’d like to say it’s a pleasure to meet you, but it really isn’t.”

I almost bark out a surprised laugh.

She’s funny, even in this kind of situation.

“Let’s get you cleaned up.” I go to her and take her hand, but she wrenches it away from me.

“How do I know you won’t just finish what he started?”

I bite my lip, my brow furrowing together. “I guess you don't. But you’re bleeding. And not just on your thigh.”

Lara slowly puts her hand to her eyebrow, and it comes away sticky with blood.

“Fuck.” She starts to get up, but then braces herself against the wall, her knees giving out.

I grab her around the waist to steady her, and she yelps, pushing away from me.

“Sorry.” I don’t know what this girl has been through before I got here. I should be careful.

She trembles, looking at me like a cornered, wounded animal, and guilt washes over me.

It isn’t my fault that she’s been taken, but Murphy blood does run in my veins. And I have to figure out what’s happened to my sister.

Oscar comes inside the room, and she shrinks against the wall.

I turn around, rage still rocketing through me, and Oscar holds up his hands as if in defense.

“I heard a commotion and was just checking to see what happened. Where’s Scott?”

I tilt my chin at where he is still knocked out. “He tried to touch her.”

His eyes widen. “Some of the guys?—”

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