Page 129 of Brutal King

This is my shot.

I kick him in the shin. He screams in a note that would make an opera singer proud and releases me. I don’t wait to see what he’s doing. I run like the dickens, glancing at the crimson water, now devoid of a body, all the way to the dark room. I slam the door shut behind me and set the bolt. Moments later, he’s there, demanding I let him in.

As if.

Fast as I can, I search for the knives I hid under the shelves when Gideon first gave me this space. It was a security measure I intended to use if he ever came in here after me. However, when he did, I completely forgot they were there, my mind and body preoccupied with other things.

Crouched in the corner, two blades ready to cut anyone that comes near me, I wait. Because I don’t believe what Henry said.

If Gideon is alive, he will come for me.

34

GIDEON

“You are your father’s son.”

“You were this close to Briar House, and we never knew it.” Luca slams his palm against the steering wheel of his Tahoe.

“I’d take credit for finding a hiding spot right under your nose, except that Father bought the estate long before you came into the picture.”

He hits a bump in the road and I grimace. I grab my bandaged shoulder and adjust my position to alleviate the pain.

“Are you sure you can fight?” Scarlet, who’s sitting in the back, asks. “You’re pretty beat up.”

“As long as I have one good arm, I’ll be fine.” Maybe. Hopefully.

The caravan of five vehicles stops before coming to the first obstacle. A set of motion detectors. Once we cross those, we will have mere moments to reach the hidden garage door and plow our way into the house.

Guns are loaded and checked. Scarlet counts her knives, her face hard as she shifts into her assassin mode.

Grabbing my radio, Luca opens the channel to all the cars behind us. “You all know the layout of the house now. Remember, Scarlet and Gunn will go in search of Henry.”

“Fucking dick,” she interrupts. “I always knew there was something off about him.”

“I will search for Sofia,” he continues. “Get her the hell out. Gideon, you find your Father and turn him over to me. Assume anyone you don’t recognize is the enemy.”

“Except for the cats,” I say. “Don’t touch my cats.”

Luca rolls his eyes. “Gavin and Arran, you’re going through the woods. Take out the gatehouse. Noah and Rowan, you have the first floor.”

“Understood,” everyone says.

“Ready?”

“Ready.”

“Let’s fucking do this,” Gunner says, a little too much enthusiasm in his grin.

We’re off. Luca steps on the gas, crossing the boundary of my land and setting off the motion sensors. At the same time, two of the SUVs split from our caravan and plunge into the woods.

“There!” I point to the hidden path to the garage. On the side of a hill, is a well camouflaged entrance that can easily be missed by anyone driving by.

But we don’t miss it at all. We plow through it. Steel and glass explodes all around us with a deafening boom. Almost instantly, bullets begin to rain on us.

The element of surprise is on our side, and we’re able to take out most of the threats quickly. We disperse from the cars. Scarlet and Gunner are at my back as I limp toward the door that leads into the manor. I enter the code and we slip inside.

Guards are waiting for us here too. We fight our way into the basement. The sounds of fists against flesh and shots being fired, bounce against the grotto’s walls.

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