Page 133 of Saint

She had my attention long before she asked for it, and she’ll have it now.

My protection.

My devotion.

I’m here, kitten.

I let go of the leash on my control and step into the room, pausing only when Brax spins his attention back to Violet. He gets behind her, holding the blade to her throat to use her as a shield.

She flinches as it pierces her soft flesh.

The smallest bead of blood drips out.

I’ll spill from him in retribution for each one he draws.

Just because I don’t believe in damnation doesn’t mean I won’t offer it to him here on earth. These walls will be his church, and I will cast judgment upon him. I’ll slice the repayment of his sins from his bones. Flay them off. Count them down until I’m left with one.

He. Touched. Her.

It took me too long to get here, and my mind is still swimming. Between the concussion and the fact that Brax is using Violet against me, my temples are pounding.

Braxton lured me to his room with a question about Liam. He said he wanted to show me something. I turned my back for a split second, and he used it to his advantage.

I didn’t see him coming when he knocked me out cold.

I’ve been so busy focusing on the doubt my stepdad planted when he mentioned Declan that I didn’t suspect what was right in front of me. It wasn’t until I woke up, my head pounding as I lay on the floor, that it all became clear. But there wasn’t time to process.

I picked up my phone and saw the missed calls and messages from Violet. She needed me, and I was almost too late getting to her.

Brax grins, glancing from Violet to me. “You’re a little early, Kole.”

Kole.

There is no Kole here.

Only Saint.

And he won’t leave until the room is painted in blood.

“Doesn’t matter,” Brax decides, standing up tall and refusing to relax his hold on Violet. “Once they find out you killed Liam, they aren’t going to let you live long. And with two more bodies added, they won’t even feel guilty about it.”

He grins, looking at the three of us, and it makes sense now. Brax wants to kill them to pin it on me. Let me take the fall for all of them to tidy this up with a pretty little bow. He wants me and Declan out of the way so he can put into motion whatever twisted plan his family concocted when Liam lured Violet and me to the forest.

Brax waits for me to respond, and when I don’t, his face turns a deeper shade of red. He wants me to argue, to feed into this scene he’s playing out for us. But I’m not here to justify anything. I don’t care what pissed him off. The only thing that matters now is sending him to hell, where he belongs. Where he’ll burn beside his brother.

Maybe I lied when I told Violet I don’t believe in life after death because right now, I’d like to think the two of them will spend purgatory with their flesh being ripped from their bones.

He deserves that and worse for touching her.

If Brax’s knife was anywhere but on Violet’s artery, I’d have already made my move. But all it would take is one nick in the wrong spot for this to all go downhill. And even if I don’t walk out of this room,she will.

“Fine, don’t talk.” Brax shrugs. “You can stand around and enjoy the show with her brother. It’ll make it that much more satisfying anyway.”

Brother?

For the first time since walking in, I glance down at Declan, chained and bloody on the floor. His glance confirms what Brax said as all the pieces click into place.

Violet’s absent father. Declan’s dad fucking around on his mom every chance he gets.

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