Page 25 of Retribution
He sits on the bed, and I glance at the other two looking like lost puppies and laugh.
“Yes. You too.”
I know this has been hard on them. Finding me the way they did was traumatic, and me asking them to leave probably caused them to be unsure about things.
“I’m okay. It’s going to take some time, but I’ll get back to normal.”
Grabbing Knox’s hand, I place it on the bed beside me, over the blanket, before putting a hand on top of Carter’s and the other on Killian’s.
“So what’s the plan? Kill people and then run away to a tropical island?”
I look at Carter and his expression is serious.
“It rains a lot in tropical places. Seventy to one hundred inches a year, typically.”
I squeeze his hand and gaze at him. I would never choose between them because I love all of my men for who they are. Carter is the only one who understands what I’ve been through. We are trauma bonded in a way I will never be with Knox and Killian.
“I just want to be with all three of you. Everyday for the rest of my life. I’d give up the sun for you because even in the dark, there’s light as long as you’re near.”
He shakes his head, appearing to disagree with me.
“No, Little Heathen. We will make sure you have the sun and anything else your heart desires.”
Chapter Thirteen
KNOX
Ten Weeks Later…
It has been almost three months since Noah took Heather. We were all relieved when her test results came back negative. No sexually transmitted diseases. She has been in therapy since we found her and it has been a struggle for all of us but none of us more than her. The brandings fuck with her head constantly. It’s a physical reminder every time she looks in the mirror. It’s a mental torture he continues to inflict on her, even from the grave. I’m positive that was his intention.
Finally it’s time for her to get what she wants. Bones gestures to Benji who has been doing a lot of work with the Morte Mafia gang to gain intel on her family.
“Grave is out of the hospital. And he has been staying with Jedediah.”
Finding out that fucker did not die was a beautiful fucking day. Heather got the news and fell to her knees as she sobbed. She was relieved he was alive, and we were too. He didn’t deserve an easy death. We could’ve gone after him a lot sooner, but we wanted him to heal first so we could prolong his misery. Heather was initially concerned about people coming afterKillian since it was a death match and nobody died. That’s the one rule with a death match. There has to be a death. However, since we killed one priest and have the other as our captive, we aren’t worried. By the time this is resolved there won’t be anybody left.
“He will be at the Morte Mafia compound tonight, but I want to give you a heads up—he won’t be alone.”
Benji clears his throat as if he knows the next bit of news will be hard to swallow.
“He will have Abigail with him. And-“
Heather jumps out of her seat, balls her hands into fists and yells, “What?”
Bones finishes for Benji.
“All reports suggest it’s a consensual relationship. She is in love with him.”
Heather moves closer to Bones, placing her hands on his chest and shoves him.
“Fuck you, Luca. Fuck you. She is brainwashed. That is what my family does to women. There is no such thing as consensual. Don’t you understand? That’s why they control these women with mental torture. It doesn’t require a physical fight to be rape.”
He shocks the hell out of all three of us when he pulls Heather into a hug.
“You won’t call me Luca again. It’s Bones. I understand why you’re upset. And I know she’s brainwashed. I just thought you should know she claims to be in love with him, so you’d be prepared for what you’re walking into. If she tries to protect him, what will you do? Figure that out before you storm in there. Hesitate and you’ll get yourself killed.”
Psycho echoes his thoughts.
