Page 58 of Rebellion of a Kingdom

From the intel we gathered, I know we need to move to the back of the club. The entrance to the top floor is over to our left, but we won’t find what we need there. What we came for, I’m sure awaits us in the basement. We push through the gyrating bodies until we get to the other side, and Ash again uses the card to swipe us through. As the door opens, another guard appears and moves to grab me. He’s quick, but I’m quicker. I dart back from his arm at the same time as I kick out my leg, hitting him in the stomach. Another guard steps up to help, but I know the boys have my back.

Lincoln and Jace tackle the other guard, just as Marcus drags back the one on me before I can do anything. I huff, “I had him River.”

Marcus smiles, as his fist connects with his face, “I know baby, just let me, okay?”

I roll my eyes and he laughs. Once both the guards are down, we quietly make our way down the stairs. I expect to come across more guards, but it seems to be strangely quiet. Shivers dance up my spine when we reach the bottom, because this place is like a maze. There are a few doors in front of us, and then numerous hallways, leading only the lord knows where. We all exchange a look knowing that until Max and his guys find us, we need to split up.

Before I can even say anything, Lincoln hauls Jace to his side and nods, “we got this,” he says gesturing to one of the hallways, “you guys go.” He taps his ear and I nod, turning on my comms and watching as they take the first hallway, leaving one for us and another unmanned. I take a deep breath and pull my gun from my waist and Marcus does the same. Asher looks between the two of us and then heads to the third hallway.

“Ash, what the hell?”

“Don’t worry about me, Hells Bells, I’m the only one they won't kill on sight.” He gives me a sadistic smile before turning and heading out of sight. I would be worried, but I know we all have our earpieces in to alert anyone if something goes down.

Marcus and I move down the hallway, and when we reach the first door, he presses up right behind me, “don’t make me have to punish you again.” He whispers into my hair and I smile, even though he can’t see me.

“You wish, Riviera.” We kick open door after door, coming across empty rooms and men in the middle of acts I won’t wish to recall. When we get to the sixth door, I push it open and nearly choke on surprise, when the first eyes I meet are that of Rebecca O’Sullivan. She is slumped in a chair, wearing nothing but lingerie, and a silk nightgown that's open, showing off her tanned physique. She looks slightly out of it, but still her stare widens as she takes me in. A guy turns towards me, raising his gun just as Marcus shoots him right in the head. Carter moves quickly, grabbing Rebecca by the throat and dragging her body to cover him. Gun to her head.

When I see there is no one else in the room I focus on him. He’s handsome, brown hair that is tousled perfectly and brown eyes that are warm like chocolate. Even the smile he offers me now seems kind and friendly. That perfectly, polished, practiced face of a politician. Oh, he’s good. His three-piece suit is clearly designer and tailored to perfection, and his shoes look freshly shined. Always putting on a public show.

“Miss King, you just ruined my business meeting.” His voice is calm, controlled and completely lacking any fear. I sense the same relaxed nature in him that I get from Greg Donovan. Like they know they are completely untouchable. If the gun to her head scares Rebecca, she doesn’t show it. In fact, her hand curves around the grip he holds to her throat. Interesting.

“I’d apologize, but I don’t like to lie.” I toss back and his smile widens. I knew it. Just like Greg, they get off on defiant women, but only on their terms. They would never fully relinquish control. I know it, he knows it. He won’t let her go without a fight.

“Greg said you were exquisite,” he purrs, his grip pulls Rebecca further into his body, she doesn’t even react. Like this is completely normal behavior for him. He whispers into her ear loud enough for us to hear, “She’s beautiful, isn’t she, my little rose.” She flinches slightly on the word rose, but it’s gone so quick that I don’t know if I even saw it. “I wish we had time to play.” He says talking to me again now, “but seems like the fun is over.” His finger tightens on the trigger, Marcus mutters my name, but I ignore him, keeping my eye on Carter's hand.

“Hurt her and I will kill you.” My voice is calm and steady which is the exact opposite to how I am feeling right now.

He smiles the most genuine smile I’ve seen on him yet, dark, with a hint of evil. “I believe that, Miss King, you are your father’s daughter after all.”

The way he delivers those words sparks my interest. He wants to talk. Men like him always do and if I keep him talking, maybe I can distract him. “What do you know of my father?”

He smiles again, taking the bait, “I know he wanted a son, a son to be just like you.” His gaze travels over my body, up and down. He pauses on the knife at my thigh and groans, “he’d be so proud of everything you've done.” He takes his time dragging his eyes back to mine. “If it weren't for that cunt between your legs, that is. Jonathan King never knew how to treat a woman. Stick around in one of these rooms and I’m sure you’ll find out.”

My father’s here. That is the only thing that sticks in my mind, but I don’t want him to know how much his words are distracting me. Instead, I snort, “yeah and because of this cunt everyone presumes I'm a pussy.”

Just as my words echo into the room, the fire alarm begins to blare. It startles me, as sprinklers spray out immediately and, in a flash, Rebecca is thrown to the floor and Carter disappears. What the fuck? I rush towards where he was standing and find a slim line in the wall, indicating a secret entrance. I push against it, but nothing happens. Fuck.

I turn and see Marcus looking at me as he wraps Rebecca in his black cloak, before lifting her into his arms. Her face is still a blank mask, like she has perfected the art of no emotion. Two years with that sick fuck, I can’t imagine what she has had to endure. But there is no time to worry about that now. We need to get out of here and fast.

I ignore my drenched clothes as we leave the room. There are men in suits rushing past us, some alone and some dragging along half naked women. We follow them down the hall through the rain of the sprinklers, but just as we are passing the last door before the stairs someone grabs my arms. I whirl around raising my gun, but find Lincoln staring at me and I sigh in relief.

“Why is the fire alarm blaring?” I ask him, raising my voice slightly to be heard over the commotion.

Jace steps up beside me, completely wet and dripping, and shrugs his shoulders, “because there’s a fire.” He says it so casually that I almost want to laugh, almost.

I huff muttering, “of fucking course there is.” I shake my head slightly, and then look between the two of them, wondering where Ash is. “Now what?”

Lincoln smirks and it’s the biggest smile I have ever been gifted from him. “Now we do this quickly and get out of here before we burn.”

I frown, we already have Rebecca, what more can we do when Carter has already escaped. “Do what?”

He ignores me and instead looks to Marcus, “you and Jace get Rebecca out of here, we will join you in a few.” He eyes him with a serious look, knowing that Marcus will want to fight him, but before he can, Linc adds, “don’t worry brother, I got your girl.”

As my eyes meet River’s I let him see the plea in them. He has to go. He has to get Rebecca out of here before someone comes for us, “I’ll be fine.”

Instead of arguing, he maneuvers so he only has one hand holding Rebecca, and he uses his other hand to drag me by the neck so he can claim my lips in a quick, searing kiss. “Don’t make me come back for you Ells.” His tone is dark and filled with filthy promise, his lips curling into a sinful smile, making sure that I know just how serious he is. He looks to Lincoln then, “ten minutes.” is all he says before Linc nods. Jace and Marcus disappear into the crowd of people and we watch them go.

Turning back to Linc, I give him a playful glare. “What trouble are we getting into now, Superman?” I tease with a smile, and he laughs, shaking his head slightly to clear the water from his face.

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