Page 62 of Don't You Pucking Dare

"Good morning, Reapers." His voice carries the casual menace of a man who orders deaths over breakfast. "You made a critical error dragging my flesh and blood into this. See, the Kemper name isn't just for show. My daughter proved quite useful in getting us inside. We've been here all night, boys. You just didn't know where to look."

Noah's eyes find me, accusing.

"An eye for an eye." Rick continues, elegant even in this dungeon. "Your precious Jackson Black destroyed something irreplaceable of mine. But he made me an interesting offer—another life in exchange. Brody Black." His smile widens. "Come say hello."

Lola's scream cuts through me like a blade. My brother sold me out?

"You believe this psychopath?" I snarl, but the guys hold me back.

"Don't." Noah's command carries steel. "My men are coming."

"Tick tock." Rick approaches Lola, hand cracking across her face. "And you—just like your whore mother."

Jack stops me in my tracks when he offers, "Let me go out there."

Rage fills me as I slam him against the wall. "What the fuck did you just say?"

"I'll be you." His eyes hold something I can't read. "I know Kemper's compound. I can protect her."

"She's not yours to protect." I almost break my teeth.

"If you go out there, you're dead." Jack's voice drops. "My redemption for being on probation."

Noah nods and unlocks the door. Jack slips out of my hold and walks out before I can stop him.

Through the remaining cameras, we watch them beat Jack to his knees and put a black hood over his head.

"I know who your father is," Rick Kemper chuckles. "Quite the corrupted politician. Dirtier than you would ever know."

I flinch, wondering what the fuck he’s talking about. My father is in politics to make a difference. Yes, not everyone agrees with his views, but it’s impossible to please everyone with such a powerful position. My dad always said that difficult decisions need to be made daily, and he does his best.

"Let Lola go," Jack demands, which is an interesting turn of events.

Rick Kemper tilts his head and then his guys beat him as Lola’s curdling screams fill the room. Then he flicks his head at his struggling daughter. His men remove her from the tight straps I had on her.

When they release Lola, they force her to her knees. Rick Kemper pulls the gun from his back and points it at Jack’shelpless face. Lola screams and automatically throws herself over Jack, shielding him with her body.

"Don't you fucking dare!" Her scream echoes through the speakers. "Don't you fucking dare!"

Rick lowers his gun, disgust twisting his features. "Take them both."

"No!" I shout.

"Hold," Noah orders his men.

"We're just letting them go?" My rage makes the control room feel too small, too confined.

Noah grabs my shirt, slamming me against the wall. "Shut your fucking mouth. This isn't your game anymore."

He releases me, turning to his phone. "Now!"

Footsteps echo down the stone stairs, deliberate and unhurried. Nico appears like death personified—Noah's brother, the man even Reapers fear. Rick's men swing their weapons toward him, but he doesn't flinch.

"Quite the entrance, Kemper." Nico's voice carries the calm of a practiced killer.

Rick turns, his composed facade cracking for the first time. "Nico."

I catch Noah's slight smile. This was the plan all along.

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