Fractured Kingdom (Rapture & Ruin 3)

“Family is all that matters,” he said coldly. “You’ve lost sight what’s really important. You let yourself get distracted by our enemy’s daughter. You’ll be punished for that.”

“Then get it over with,” I gritted out, bracing myself for the acrid scent of my own flesh burning, the fire searing the skin from my bones.

Then I heard her tremulous voice drift down the corridor, and my heart stopped beating. “Where is Max? What have you done to him?”

Father’s mouth twisted in a cruel parody of a satisfied smile. “I sent your sister to get her as soon as you left that shithole you call home. The fire clearly hasn’t made a lasting impression. I’ve had to find another way to bring you in line.”

I twisted against my restraints, the pain in my shoulder nothing compared to the agony that rent my soul. “Don’t,” I choked out, unable to find the air to beg. This couldn’t be happening. Allie couldn’t be here. Father couldn’t…

“Max!” She wrenched free from Francesca’s grip on her upper arm, ignoring the threat of my sister’s gun as she rushed toward me.

Father’s fist tangled in her copper hair, yanking her back. Her shocked cry was drowned out by my roar of rage. I tried to surge to my feet, but Paulie’s meaty hand clamped down on my bullet wound. Bright lights danced over my vision, blurring the nightmare that was unfolding before me.

“Let him go!” she demanded, fury making her voice quake as she challenged my father. For me. She wanted to save me.

But I wasn’t the one in danger.

“Touch her, and I’ll kill you,” I snarled. “I will gut you.”

Father sneered and locked a restraining arm around her waist, holding her fast so that she couldn’t get to me. His grip on her hair tightened, wrenching her head back to expose her vulnerable throat. Still, she twisted in his hold, fighting to try to save me.

“You murdered your cousin,” Father seethed. “You killed your own blood for this cunt.” He cupped her breast, squeezing hard enough to make her whimper.

My enraged bellow echoed through the study, more anguished than my screams on the night he’d shoved my face into the fire.

“He took my brother from me,” Paulie growled. “I want a turn.”

“No!” Francesca’s shout clashed with mine.

“Not like this,” my sister said, voice brittle.

Father dismissed her demand with a sharp shake of his head. “He’s brought this on himself.”

He released Allie, shoving her forward. Paulie caught her, brutal hands closing around her shoulders and tossing her against the wall like a ragdoll. Her head cracked when she hit the bookcase, and she crumpled to the floor. Glassy green eyes searched for mine, and rope burned my wrists as I struggled madly against the restraints.

I screamed her name, cursed my father, threatened my cousin with all the vicious ways I would make him bleed before I finally let him die.

But I couldn’t stop it. I couldn’t get free. I couldn’t save the woman I loved.

Paulie’s hands fisted in her shirt, tearing the cotton with one sharp jerk of his brawny arms. He towered over her delicate frame. She was so fucking breakable, and my cousin would tear her apart.

She raked her nails across his face, scoring red furrows down his cheek. He reared back, and she struggled up onto her elbows, reaching out for me. He grabbed her hair and yanked her back under him. Her shriek of pain sliced into my brain.

“Father, stop this!” Francesca insisted, face pale and voice wavering with horror.

He eyed her coldly. “Your brother has to learn. He deserves this.”

My sister’s hands shook, and she clenched them to fists as she took an angry step toward him. “If you let this happen, you’re no better than the Russian scum who murdered Mom.”

Moving faster than a snake, he backhanded her across the face. She went down, sprawled out on the bloody rug.

Allie screamed, thrashing beneath Paulie. He had her wrists pinned with one hand, and his other groped at her jeans. My chest caved in. I couldn’t find the air to bellow my fury.

Silver flashed in the firelight. Francesca had grabbed my fallen knife. She surged toward me, and for a moment, I thought she’d drive the blade into my ravaged heart.

She reached behind me and sliced through the ropes that held me captive, helpless to rescue the woman I loved. I lunged for Paulie, the pain in my shoulder burned away by the incandescent rage that fueled my every move. I slammed into him, tearing his grasping hands from my Allie.

I threw him across the study, disorienting him when his head cracked against Father’s mahogany desk. Blood welled from a gash on his forehead, and he stumbled when he tried to get to his feet. I was on him in an instant, my hands bracketing his skull. With a murderous snarl, I twisted hard. His neck snapped, the popping sound dancing with the crackling flames.