Page 62 of Torment

Hunter closed his eyes while he tried to remember every last detail of what went down before Riggs knocked him out. But the fear on Scarlet’s face, her screams, and her pleading for him to help her was all that played over and over inside his head. It hurt. It fucking hurt so damn much it felt like someone had tied a ten-inch chain around his chest, tightening and tightening it until Hunter could no longer breathe right.

Hunter pulled his hand through his hair, rubbing vigorously. “My God, Baxter, just…how do we save her? Where is she?”

“Do you remember Brent mentioning Rex?”

“Yes!” Hunter blurted out. “What about him? What does Rex have to do with Brent taking Scarlet?”

“That’s the deal Colton made with Brent. Scarlet, for a way to get close to Rex. We’ve been trying for years to infiltrate Rex’s circle, but no matter how hard we tried, how much we invested in it, the man is untouchable.”

Hunter’s head was starting to hurt again. “So how the fuck can someone like Brent do what your entire organization failed to do in, like, what, twenty years?”

“Rex hasn’t always been in control. He took over a few years ago when his father died, and we believe Brent might have had a hand in that.”

Hunter narrowed his eyes. “In what? This Rex guy’s father’s death?”

“Yes. Rex’s father was assassinated.”

“By whose orders?”

“Rex’s.”

Hunter rolled his head and shoulders, unable to process all the bucket loads of shit that were currently being dumped on him.

“Okay, this shit is real fucked-up and all, but right now the only thing I care about is finding Scarlet and killing Brent…slowly.”

James leaned his back against the wall and rubbed a hand over his bald head. “It’s not that simple anymore. From the information we managed to gather over the last few months, it seems that Rex and Brent knew each other before Rex took over for his father. Brent offered to hook Rex up with the right people to ensure he took over sooner rather than later.”

“Let me guess, soldier boy is using Brent to get close to Rex.” Hunter turned around and felt like he could bash his own fucking head open against the wall. “The motherfucker! I knew he was trouble!”

“Yeah. Colton saw an opportunity and took it. If anyone knows where his sister is, or if she’s even alive, it’s Rex. Nothing happens inhisworld without him knowing about it.” James shook his head and closed his eyes. “Rex is cunning, ruthless, and a fucking genius when it comes to running his empire. He’s one clever son of a bitch.”

“Okay.” Hunter turned around and walked up to James. “Enough. We’ve wasted enough time. I don’t care who the fuck this Rex guy is, or about whether Colton finds his sister or not. I don’t give a shit about anything right now other than finding Scarlet. So where the fuck is she?”

James pushed away from the wall. “Brent took her back to Bella Vista Estate.”

“What? Are you fucking kidding me? That’s only a few hours away. What the fuck are we still doing here?”

Hunter rushed to the door, but James intercepted and blocked his way. “He’s there, Hunter.”

“Who? Brent? Good, then I can kill him while I go get your daughter.” Hunter tried to sidestep around James, but James moved in front of him again.

“No. Rex. Rex is there too.”

Hunter stepped back. “What the hell is he doing there?”

“We don’t know. We got tipped off about half an hour ago that Rex entered Bella Vista. We don’t know why, and we have no idea what the setup is, which is why we haven’t been able to go get my daughter yet.”

Hunter cocked a brow. “I don’t get it. You said this guy’s circle is impenetrable, so who the fuck tipped you off?”

James placed his hands on his hips. “Unfortunately, I can’t tell you that.”

“Are you fucking kidding me?”

“Even though this has now become a personal matter, there is still information I’m not at liberty to give you.”

Hunter wanted to fucking roar. “Your daughter’s life is in danger and you’renot at libertyto give me information that might help me keep her safe?”

“What do you think I’m doing, huh? All I’ve ever done was try to keep her safe.”

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