Page 123 of Sardonic Burn

Just a little longer, baby. I’m coming for you.

“Hudson,” Lyla screams. “Slow down!”

“Slow down?” I repeat with a bitter laugh. “I would drive faster if it were possible.”

“Yeah, but if you kill us in the process—or worse if we get pulled over—no one can save her. Slow the fuck down while I’m being nice.”

Over the past few excruciating days, Lyla has been the voice of reason. She’s not personally connected to Noelle, and her unbiased stance helped. However, now that I’m this close to finding my girl and bringing her home, her voice of reason is no longer needed.

So why do I slow down?

The thought of not being able to save Noelle because of my reckless driving makes me listen to my cousin. She releases a deep sigh of relief and then stares straight ahead.

“Good,” she comments. “Now, do I leave any of them alive, or not?”

I shake my head. “Absolutely not. Unless it’s that motherfucker Dylan. You are going to save him for me, understood? And keep an eye out for Niko. He’ll go berserk.”

“Right.” She nods. “I’ll do my best. This will all be over soon. What are you going to do then?”

“What do you mean?”

“The alliance will come to an end, and the hunting game between the De Santis’ and the Campbells will resume. Can you do that?”

I forgot about that.

In fact, I forgot that her family is someone that I was raised to hate.

“No chance in hell. That woman will wear my ring as soon as humanly possible.”

From the day I got my first sweet taste of her, she was mine. She got under my skin like no other and spread her honey-glazed poison through my veins. I’m addicted, and it’s an addiction that has no cure.

I’m prepared to take down anyone who dares to threaten my relationship with Noelle, even if it’s her. Even if it means putting both of our fathers six feet underground. No one is taking her away from me.

And anyone who tries will be dealt with accordingly.

I park the car a street away from the location. Another four cars pull up behind me, and the assassins from both families rush to Lyla and Niko. Their faces are masked, and they are all prepared to listen to instructions.

“Hudson.” Lyla turns to look at me. “You take the house in the middle. Somehow, it’s giving me creepy vibes. I think it’sthat one. Just in case, Niko and I will cover the other two. Have five people with you.”

Why the fuck is she ordering me around?

I let it slide and just nod my head.

There are far more important things at stake right now.

“How do we proceed?” one of the men asks. “If we knock the door down, they might run away.”

“That’s why you will surround the house. This one doesn’t have any secret tunnels so if they try to go through the back, wait for them. Kill all of them. Show them no mercy.”

They all nod.

Just like we were all trained to do, our footsteps are silent. The cold air doesn’t bother me, and the streets are empty. It’s late, so only a few select homes have their lights turned on. And this one is no exception. The bottom floor is lit up like Las Vegas.

The men scatter around, blending into the night. They all wait for someone to leave the house, their weapons prepared. Unless you look for them, you can’t see them. They’re the true ghosts—the scary ones from nightmares.

And if they’re ghosts, I’m the monster that rules them all. I’m known as the king of the underworld, and, as stupid as the nickname is, it’s fairly useful. I’m going to show the bastard just why The Silencer is going to be silenced for the rest of eternity.

He operated a sex ring in my city. He kidnapped my woman. He wants to marry the woman I put my claim on.

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