Page 61 of The Hellkeeper

Someone tried to take what’s mine. And now? I’m going to take everything from him.

I break into a sprint, my blood boiling over. The bastard sees me. He fucking sees me and runs.

He bolts through the alley, his feet slamming against the pavement, but I’m faster. I was raised on blood and violence. Raised to hunt. Raised to kill.

He turns a corner. I turn with him.

He jumps over a fence. I scale it.

He makes the mistake of looking back.

I lunge.

I yank him back so hard he stumbles. Before he can recover, I slam him into the nearest wall. He groans. I don’t give a fuck. I grab the back of his head and smash it again. And again. And again. Until he’s barely conscious, slumping in my grip like a ragdoll.

Then I pull my gun, pressing the barrel to his forehead.

"You picked the wrong fucking man to pull this shit on," I growl, pressing harder. "You have two seconds to tell me who sent you before I paint this wall with your fucking brain."

His pupils are blown wide. He tries to form words, and I cock the gun.

"One."

His mouth opens.

"Two—"

I rip the mask from his face. That’s when I realize I fucked up. It’s a fucking ploy. A distraction.

This is one of Richard’s men. I’ve seen him a shit ton of times. Which means Linda planned all this.

Linda that has her eyes set on my girl.

Fuck.

How could I have been so stupid? He was planted outside for a reason.

Linda wanted me to run. To leave.

Amelia.

My whole body goes cold.

I let go of him instantly, his body hitting the pavement like a sack of meat. I shoot him in the head. He doesn’t matter anymore.

I turn and run back; faster than I’ve ever run before.

My lungs burn, my chest crushing in on itself, my vision going black around the edges. My gun is still in my hand, my fingers twitching around the trigger.

If I get back there and something happened to her—

If she’s hurt—

If she’s gone—

I will burn the whole world to nothing but ash.

I shove past the bodies crowding the restaurant.

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