Page 12 of Under the Influence
“I’m going to go to the ladiesroom…”
I nod for Sharp and Paxton to accompany her. No one would dare fuck with her here. Everyone well aware the death sentence that even speaking to her would invoke. But I’m not willing to take any chances. Especially with the update I suspect Tucker’s about to giveme.
As soon as she hits the bottom step of the white marble staircase leading down from the balcony, he tosses the cell onto the table. Narrowly missing her ginger ale in his frustration. “Savage attacked Randich. It was a fuckingmassacre.”
Closer and closer this damn bastard gets to my territory. My fucking city. Cutting an enormous swath of viciousness harsher than anyone has attempted in a very long time. I knew he was gunning for Randich, but being correct garners no satisfaction. “It’s not our fault that cock sucker wouldn’t listen. Stupid motherfucker was too damn arrogant. Savage didn’t get his name from fucking hosting cocktailparties.”
“Fuck!”
Tucker pops the huge knuckles on his right hand before moving to the clenched fingers on his left. More furious than I’ve ever seen him. My stomach turns from what he hasn’t relayed yet. Well aware that I don’t want to fucking know. But I have no choice. “What?”
“They got to hiswife.”
Motherfuckers. Both of them. Savage for attacking her, and Randich for allowing him to get close enough to touch her in the firstplace.
“Tortured, raped, and killed her with him watching the entire time.” His head shakes as his lip curls in more disgust. “Then they got hisdaughter.”
He barely whispers, but I can still hear the almost unspeakable words amidst the deafening music. Still feel the fury raging in his tone. God fucking damn sadistic bastard. She’s only fucking twelve years old. Achild.
“He’s coming for you Gio. He wants this..." His arms spread wide, conveying the power and the wealth my status as king of the night represents. "...and he’s not going to stop until he starts a damnwar.”
Fuck that. Adrenaline burns through me. My body already buzzing from the anticipation of taking this motherfucker out. “Then we’ll give him one.Tonight.”
The perfect time to attack. He’ll still be celebrating his triumph. Defenses low thinking everyone’s running scared. Except for me. I don’t fucking run. And, I’m never fuckingscared.
“What aboutChryseis?”
God fucking damn it. Except about her. My confidence instantlydissipates.
"When Ramon hacked their server he found the files Savage has on her. He's got photos of the two of you together, her class schedule, lists of her co-workers and professors, Sheena’saddress..."
Stupid. I'm so god damn unbelievably fucking stupid. To think I could have her without exposing her to any danger. Love her without any threats against her. I knew better. I knew fucking better. And being the greedy fucking bastard I am, I still took heranyway.
"There was also a download from the DMV with her doctoral advisor’s vehicle information.”Incredulity drips from his tone, mimicking the suspicion rocketing through me. "It was dated two days before Dr. Coy got ran off theroad."
Son of a bitch. “It wasn’t anaccident.”
I know the answer before he shakes his head. Savage fucking loves torturing his targets before he actually attacks. Sneaking closer and closer, hurting those closest to you one-by-one until you realize he's after you. Too many assaults to be a coincidence. Fucking psycho serial killer mentality. Despite practically ruling the world, I don't have the manpower to protect them all and bring down Savage at the sametime.
“Do you want me to put her in a safe house until this isover?”
Not sure if there really is such a thing with a beast like Savage. He won’t quit until he’s dead. Hopefully, that will be soon. But what if it’s not? Rare self-doubt coils through me. If I fail, he’ll still come after her. She’ll be the gorgeous reward for his victory. The ultimate prize to celebrate his success. If I succeed, I'll still have to hide her away to keep hersafe.
Fuck me for being a dumbass. She won’t ever be free. Won’t start her new job. Or buy the little house she’s been pinning shit about on that idea website she likes. Or travel to all the cities on herlist.
Because ofme.
Because of this vicious life I so selfishly drug herinto.
“Let me see thephoto.”
Tucker blows out a deep breath. Not that I don’t fucking believe him. But I have to see the sickening proof. Force myself to face the brutality. Make myself accept the harsh reality. Because this could be Chryseis. This could be my Books. Raped. Beaten.Dead.
He holds up the cell, and I gag at the image. My gut rolling from thedepravity.
Although I can't see Randich's face from the angle of the shot, with the absence of the back of his skull I can pretty much imagine the damage to the front of his body. Wrists sliced to the bone from the wire restraints binding him to the metal pole. Rivers of crimson pooling from his hands and feet, trailing toward the bodies sprawled on the drenched concrete. Almost unrecognizable from the swelling. Impossible to tell the difference between the mother and the daughter. But, the abuse inflicted between their legs is more than fucking clear. Sick fuckingpsycho.
I stare at the image until my eyes water. Burning the details into my brain so I can recall the savagery anytime I’m weak. Branding the horror into my psyche to remember anytime my resolve begins towane.
