Page 26 of Poisonous Kiss
“Fuck!” I yell asI throw my whiskey glass across the room.
It shatters across the wall, and I drop my head between my shoulders and look down at my desk. Briar’s dad has done well not letting too much slip about her location. I’ve had my menlooking constantly, and we just can’t find her. There is someone keeping an eye on each possible location. I’ve gotten increasingly more irritable, not that I had much patience to begin with. My men are giving me a wide breadth and don’t talk to me unless they have to.
I’m itching to shed some blood, and I borderline don’t care whose it is right now. I’d prefer it not to be one of mine, but if they don’t get me some damn answers, then I can’t make any promises.
Vincent walks into the office and clears his throat.
“Unless you want to die,” I say. “I suggest you have some good news. If you don’t, turn around and fucking run.” I flex my fists as I try to take some deep breaths. I’ve had maybe six hours of sleep in the last six days. I’ve eaten enough to keep myself running, and I’ve drunk enough whiskey each day to keep the feelings from hurting so much.
“I have good news,” he says.
I whip my head up and stare at him dead in the eyes. He’s not bullshitting me, not that he would anyway.
“Well? On with it.”
“We know where she is. We’re figuring out the logistics now.”
I was patient enough apparently, waiting for someone else to fuck up and lead my men to where she is being held. I didn’t want to ambush the the wrong location and fuck the entire plan, but I should have gone with my gut.
“Well go!”
We have her, and she’s been at her childhood home this entire time. Now to figure out how the fuck to get in and get her safe.
I hope she’s still holding on.
Briar
I’m losing hope. It’s been six days, and I thought Ezra would have been here by now. Every day I try to escape by making a run for it, but the stupid fucking collar continues to zap me. Theskin on my neck is raw, aggravated, and tender. At this point it’s refusing to even try to heal. I’ve been trying to remember to adjust the prongs so it doesn’t sit in one spot for too long. No matter where I move it though, it keeps falling back to that first spot. The only pro to being trapped in my room is the access to my everyday items. I have my shower supplied with my favorite shampoo and conditioner. I have razors, fluffy towels, and a toothbrush. I didn’t keep much in my room besides necessities since I had the rest of the house as my oyster, or whatever that saying is. I haven’t had a legit conversation with someone, since my dad was laughing in my face holding a remote that causes pain.
My original plan should have been to kill my father, and then I could have dealt with Ezra. Ezra is fine, though. I mean, he gives good orgasms. And he’s pretty good to look at with all the muscles and tattoos. He can read my body like a picture book and makes sure I’m pleased when he actually lets me come. I miss him.
CHAPTER17
Ezra
Seven days after abduction
Today is the day.I’m going to go and take my River back and kill every motherfucker that thought it was okay to touch what is mine. If I’m being honest, she’s been mine since I first saw her. I knew she was different when she didn’t immediatelyfight me about us marrying each other. She just came up with an elaborate plan to kill me instead, and that’s truly something special.
“Are you ready?” I call to my men. We’re getting ready to get into the SUVs and head to her house.
“Don’t forget where you’re supposed to go once we get there. Let’s go, men.”
We all load up and start the thirty-minute drive to her house. Some of us have handguns, while others have larger semi-automatic rifles slung across their chest. Everyone is armed with something though. We’re not going to have a chat. I’m going to exterminate. We had someone staking out the property and they have been relaying information back for the last twenty-four hours. Her father left about fifteen minutes ago and shouldn’t be back for another couple of hours. We just have to take care of the people at the house, and then find my River. I have something special planned for her once she’s back in my arms.
We finally make it to about a block away from her house. They’re on several acres of property so we are going to be able to torch the fence and make our way through the side. That way, they’re less likely to be notified we’re here. They have someone riding an ATV around the perimeter with the acreage, but once they do a lap, they will wait another hour before they do another. We cut the hole into the fencing with a torch and have it placed behind some shrubbery. We take a moment to collect ourselves before moving forward. We stick to the dark shadows as long as possible before going into our assigned positions. The guys are all around the house to prepare to go in from every angle except from the second story. Our goal is to kill every last person and keep River out of harm’s way.
I give the signal and we all ambush. People are going in through every window and door possible and all hell breaks loose. There’s a combination of bullets, dust, and smoke in theair from all the gunshots. People are dropping and screaming. I get my bearings about me and look toward the staircase. I know she has to be upstairs somewhere because of the men running in that direction. I take aim at the one climbing the stairs and hit him in the leg. He clutches the wound and goes tumbling back down the stairs as I creep closer.
I keep my gun raised as I take out another guard running toward the banister, but no one is going to make it past me.
I watch another two running toward my location drop as I turn to run up the stairs. My guys downstairs know to watch this area. They’ll make sure no one else makes it up here. I keep my head on a swivel as I start looking for where Briar could possibly be when I see a foot peek out from a doorway. In the same breath, I hear a hiss from that room, and I take off. She is on the floor, pulling at something around her neck. She looks up at me and tears well in her eyes.
“You came for me,” she says.
“Of course I did,” I say as I lower myself to her level. I grab her and pull her into me. I breathe her in as she wraps her arms around me and clings to me. She still feels like my River although there is something about her that seems a little more frail. She still smells like my River, although my scent has been washed from her.
I pull back to look at her and notice the collar and angry-looking marks all around her neck.
