Page 137 of Saint

The slightest hitch in his voice gives him away.

And I’m not the only one who noticed. Because the second Brax asks the question, Saint’s cheeks warm with evil amusement.

“What do I mean, Declan?” Saint asks.

Declan doesn’t answer with anything more than a sadistic grin. And the moment he starts to move, the entire room goes pitch black.

With the lights out, I can’t see what’s happening. But I hear a shuffle and chains rattling around.

The knife at my throat slides along my skin, and Brax must have stepped back because he’s no longer touching me. One moment I feel him, and the next, he slips away entirely.

To my right, there’s a clatter of chains, and I imagine that’s Declan. Rattling around and hopefully breaking free.

“What the fuck?” I hear Brax yell to my left, and something crashes across the room.

In the darkness, I have no idea what’s happening. I don’t know who is who, and when someone grunts in pain, I can only hope it’s not Saint.

A body presses closer to the table, and at first, I tense, thinking Braxton is going to use me as a shield in this madness. But when fingers brush my hair from my face, and I realize I know those hands—I know that scent—I relax.

Saint leans down and plants a kiss on the center of my forehead.

“You’re safe, kitten,” he whispers.

And then his touch is gone.

A moment later, the restraints at my wrists are tugged free, and I pull my arms down. My sides ache from being stretched for so long, and I almost fall off the table when I pull myself to sit.

There’s another loud bang, and then the lights come back on.

It’s so sudden and bright; I shield my eyes and blink my vision back into focus. I grind the heel of my hand on my eyes, and when I can finally see clearly, I spot Saint, Declan, and Brax in the center of the room.

Declan has a chain wrapped around Brax’s neck, and he’s pulling it so tight that Brax is blue in the face. He’s trying to claw at Declan, but each time Brax’s nails draw blood, Declan grins.

Declan is at Brax’s back, and Saint stands in front of him, so calm that if someone walked in, it would almost look like they’re having a conversation.

But when he glances over at me, down to where I’m rubbing my raw wrists, I see it. No more mercy.

“Stop fighting,” Declan says, only loosening his grip on the chains when Brax drops his hands.

Saint toys with his blade, watching the exchange, and I’m nervous, not knowing what he plans to do.

“Take from the house, and we take from you.” Saint narrows his gaze. “That’s how it goes, right? Except this time, you fucked up. You tookfrom me.”

Brax has lost the air of confidence he had only a few moments ago. His eyes are on Saint, watching every spin of the knife in his hands.

Saint chuckles, turning his back on Brax and walking over to me. For a second, Brax tries to use the advantage to fight, but Declan tightens the chain around his neck.

“String him up,” Saint says, squatting down and releasing one of my ankles and then the other. And when he stands again, he tips my chin up. “You should leave for this.”

My eyes dart to where Declan has pulled Brax to the wall, securing the chain around his neck first, then one hand and the other. Finally, his feet, so he’s in a wide X, unable to move.

Glancing back at Saint, I swallow hard, shaking my head. “I need to see this.”

It might be because of what Brax did. Or it might be because I need to see what Saint is truly capable of. But I can’t walk away.

Saint brushes his thumb up over my lip. “Whatever you wish, kitten. But stay here.”

I don’t move. I couldn’t if I tried. My body is frozen with the same anticipation I’m sure Brax feels as Saint walks over to him.

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