Savage Heart (Wreck & Ruin 2)

Her hand is slick and wet inside my own palm, and I feel the tremor in her fingers. Her breathing comes out in rough, hard pants but she remains calm even though I can feel the tension radiating from her in waves.

I coax her towards the light in the ceiling, towards the rusted ladder leading up into the property above ground.

“Get to the top, there’s a latch on the right side,” I whisper gently, “It opens up into the basement.”

She nods.

I kiss her, “You’re doing so well, baby.”

“I hate you,” she chatters, but her hand squeezes mine before she lets go to grip the rusted bars of the ladder.

I hold her waist and then her legs, following her body up until I can no longer reach and then I hear the grating sound of metal on metal, and the hinges creak as she pushes open the door. I watch as she pulls herself through the hatch and then I follow, finding her sat on the dusty basement floor.

“He’ll shoot you the moment he sees you,” she breathes, steadying herself.

“We’ll see.”

She was probably right, I just hoped he hit somewhere not vital.

I close the hatch and help her from the ground, “You did well.”

“Yeah, let’s use the front door next time,” She snaps.

“Where is the fun in that?”

She rolls her eyes and heads to the stairs, brushing off dust and dirt as she goes. From here she knew where to go, but if I was right, Kingston and his men would be in the study or the dining room. They’d spent all their time here since Tobias attacked the penthouse, and Eleanor would be here too, Kingston’s girlfriend. He’d do anything to protect her so I had to be careful, because if he wasn’t going to protect Isobel, he would protect her.

Women made men do crazy things.

We exit the basement and enter the main house, and I hear voices coming from the dining room at the front of the house, a couple of male voices plus Eleanor’s, sweet and feminine. I guide Isobel towards it, stopping just shy of the semi closed door.

“Are you ready for a reunion with your brother, Snow?”

She doesn’t answer so I push the door open hard enough it slams on the back wall, “Where was our invite to this little party?” I ask, entering and keeping Isobel tucked behind me even as she scratches and claws at my arm.

Within seconds three guns are pointed at my head, another two on my chest.

“I wouldn’t do that,” I warn, “Not unless you want to harm her too.”

I reveal just a slither of Isobel and King falters, just like I knew he would. The others follow.

Eleanor, the sweet brown eyed girl watches from where she’s tucked behind Kingston.

“Let her go!” He demands.

“You say that like she isn’t willing to be here,” I mock.

Kingston’s brows furrow, “Kingston, put the guns down.” Isobel says gently, still attempting to get in front of me.

“Isobel, what are you doing?”

She pushes on me, “You’re not helping,” she growls at me, “Let me out.”

I glance down at her to see she’s already staring up at me.

“He won’t hurt me.”

My nostrils flare and my teeth snap together, grinding but I relent, letting her out but keeping her close. Bodies move quickly, Isobel is grabbed by the one named Micha, a big fucker really and Kingston has me pinned to the wall, the barrel of his gun pressed into the underside of my chin.

I laugh, “How predictable of you,” I whisper, leaning into the weapon, it presses into my face, pain sliding up the side of my jaw, “I’m not scared of death but are you ready to die too?” My blade presses into the underside of his ribcage, a direct line to his heart.

He doesn’t back down.

“Kingston!” Isobel screams, fighting Micha who holds her tightly. She claws at his arms, drawing blood.

“I’d tell your man to let her go before I do something you won’t like.”

“What do you want?” He growls.

“I’m going to count, Kingston,” I say calmly. “One…”

“Kingston!” Isobel shrieks. Micha tugs on her hard, slamming her back against his chest. I can feel my anger rising, a deadly wave building. I’d kill him. I’d kill them all.

“Two.”

We stare at each other, I press my blade in harder, cutting his skin deep enough for a bead of blood to roll down the edge.

I open my mouth to say the final number but King cuts me off. “Let her go!”

He does immediately and she lunges forward, slamming into Kingston. He stumbles to the side, gun falling away and Isobel positions herself in front of me, using her body as a shield.

“Stand the fuck down!” She orders, “All of you! Now!”

Kingston tilts his chin, staring at his sister before he waves his hand, dismissing the others in the room. The only people that stay are Micha and Eleanor who rushes to King’s side, forcing his t-shirt up to look at the wound in his chest. It was nothing, a mere flesh wound that would sting more than anything. Eleanor throws a glare my way.

“You need to start explaining, Isobel,” King demands, “Now. Why are you with the Syndicates gun?”

“He’s not…” she trails off, “It’s not like that.”

“He hurt you!” King bellows.

My hands curl into fists.

“Not like that, he didn’t! They did, but he didn’t!”

“So, that makes it okay!? I thought you wanted him dead.”

Eleanor grips King’s arm, keeping him back while Isobel remains in front of me. I wouldn’t do anything, but him, he just might if he believed he was defending his sister. It was honorable, truly. I respected him.

“I did,” she admits, “But I was wrong, okay? It wasn’t him.”

Micha stands back, one hand resting on his weapon. I forget there should have been a third man, Ace, but Tobias killed him a few weeks ago. That loss seemed to still weigh in the air.

“I thought you were doing better, Isobel.” Kingston shouts, “But this, clearly you’re not! Are you insane? Do you want to end up back there?”

“You fucking asshole,” Isobel seethes, “Don’t you fucking dare.”

“Kingston,” Eleanor whispers, “Calm down, let’s just talk.”

Her brown eyes flick to me and then she looks behind me as if waiting for more people. “They aren’t here.” I tell her.

“You shut your mouth,” Kingston orders.

I laugh. “You can pretend all you like that you’re the most dangerous man in this room, Kingston, but we both know that isn’t true. You think I didn’t come without precautions?”

Isobel stiffens. “What did you do?”