Page 72 of Savage Sin

Determination takes root and drives away my deep-seated fear of opening myself up to others. “It’s okay. They need to know what they are up against. And there’s something I haven’t told you.”

“Your sister? Your step-brother was loose with information.”

I nod. “In part, yes. That night became my living nightmare because Joaquin had his enforcers hold me down while I watched him drag my twin sister into the room and rape her in front of me. He bred her and said he would do it again and again.”

My heart is heavy with sadness. Tears freely fall down my cheeks to land on our clasped hands.

Rage takes a deep breath as he considers my words. “She’s the one you are protecting.” Understanding softens his eyes and the tight mask of pain he’s worn for the past fifteen minutes melts away.

“When you demanded I give up Cortes’ location, you were adamant you would slay everyone inside. I couldn’t let that happen. I couldn’t hand her over for certain death when there was a chance he wouldn’t kill her and I could save her.”

Rage’s expression shifts from realization to embarrassment within a heartbeat. “Lesser of two evils. Fuck,” he curses under his breath.

“He has her and my mother inside thehacienda. It won’t be long before my sister gives birth. Stefano never could lie well and I don’t for a minute believe she’s dead. But I believe Joaquin will either breed her again because he can or sell her off to the Russian for more product like he did me. What he does with the baby, since it’s half Castel, is anyone’s guess.”

“It feels like history repeating, baby,” Rage says, more to me than the rest of the room. He pulls me into his chest and kisses the top of my head. I’m careful of his bandages, but he doesn’t seem to pay them any mind.

“Yes,” I whisper, knowing he is referring to his own past.

“And Silas, is he there with your step-father?”

When I turn my attention back to Ares at his question, I find him leaning his hefty weight against a portion of the wall, his face wiped of emotion.

“Yes.” I stop cold. “Damn. What day is it? How long did you hold me at the cabin?”

Rage looks to Ares, who looks to Dragon and the few other people who have stood quietly listening to my story. Riot is the one who clears his throat. “I think this is where you owe her an apology, man.”

“No, that’s not what I’m getting at here.” I hold a hand up when Rage looks like he’s about to actually say the words again because no one heard him a minute ago.

I slip from Rage’s arm. “The night I was stabbed, drugged and put in the bottom of that ship,el Rusotold Joaquin he had two weeks before he would return. I know you men are powerful and have a small army, but the keyword here is small. We have to go in before Silas gets back. He bleeds enforcers. I’m not even joking. You would think he is the President with how much protective detail he keeps around him. But Rage is right. I don’t know this Society 69 or what you are going up against with your brothers, Ares, but I know that it’s way too much for just this crew and me.” An invisible set of fists beat against my heart and lungs. Desperation and fear want to drag me to my knees. But no. I refuse to give up just because the odds are not in our favor.

“First things first. There is nowe. It’s us.” Rage points to his Savage brothers. “Not you. I’m not letting you go back in there. Not now, not ever. Give that fucker another chance at killing you? Screw that.” Rage pushes off the table, groans and turns a pale gray.

“Whoa, slow it down before you bust those stitches. Don’t make me tie you down this time.” I’m not even half joking. I slip my arms under his and narrowly keep him from face planting off the side of the metal slab. Riot and Ares help get him back on it before we both topple to the floor.

“Shit, this sucks.” I’m growing to understand Rage is not accustomed to being the weak one in the room. Light hair falls recklessly over his forehead. Without the shoulder holsters and large guns, he looks like the bad boy next door that makes a woman want to taste all his wickedness.

After he’s settled, I razor a hard glare on Rage. “I can’t believe you. You nearly died today and you are hell bent on taking on the world.”

“Si, hermosa. If it’s to save you, I’ll take on the devil and his minions every day of the week.”

Foolish man, but I smile anyway. So he thinks speaking Spanish to me will soften my heart against his show of dominance. I tip my head down and lock eyes with him. “Tell me. How do you plan on finding thehacienda?”

“You.”

“I won’t do it. Not unless I’m right there beside you. But the last time I checked you out, you have more stitches than I do.”

The back of his knuckles are rough against my cheek. I lean into his touch, but that doesn’t mean I’m backing down. “This isn’t some battle you walk into with a bullet-proof vest and a Glock.”

Sky blue meets earthly green. We stare at each other, neither of us backing down. His change of tactics doesn’t alter the end result.

“You’re right about that. You sneak in through the tunnels and come at him from below. The Glock is optional. But you can’t find those tunnels without me. I’m going.”

“I have a better idea.”

Rage and I both turn to the unfamiliar face entering the basement. He’s an inch taller than Ares, has tousled hair, and looks like he is made for battle. He’s wide, sculpted with muscle and has a scowl on his face that looks painted on. There’s a darkness in his eyes that rivals Rage’s. He’s definitely part of this crew. The newcomer tosses a bag on the floor I recognize from the cabin. Soot covers the canvas, but the duffle bag looks otherwise untouched. It had to be fireproof.

“Wolfe.”

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