Page 32 of Always A Villain (Revenge Duet #2)

He steps closer, his fingers brushing my chin, tilting my gaze up to his. “You won’t have to, little siren,” he promises, voice rough but soft in a way that makes my chest flutter. “I’ll keep him far away from you. He won’t even know you’re here.”

Every step down the hall feels like I’m walking to my execution.

Arsen’s gruff voice is the first thing I hear when the doors open to the Command Center.

“Jesus, Axe, heard you crashed your damn bike. How the hell are you not dead yet?” Arsen grumbles, eyes glued to a map sprawled across the table.

“Can’t get rid of me that easily,” Axe replies, pulling out a chair for me.

Arsen just shakes his head, muttering in Russian under his breath.

Axe’s tone shifts as he moves to the other side of the room, his words low and clipped. The mood darkens instantly, but I let my mind wander while they talk.

Griffen drops into the seat next to me, already half-tuned into a conversation with some Sovereign I don’t recognize .

I grab my phone, quickly firing off a message to Dom about missing rehearsals and shows. Just as I hit send, my phone flashes the dreaded 1% battery remaining warning.

“Griffen, do you have a phone charger?” I sigh.

“There’s one in the car,” he replies, standing up and tossing me his keys before returning to his conversation.

“Thanks,” I mutter, already moving.

I quickly walk through the hallways. The elevator doors slide shut behind me, and I jab the button frantically.

By the time I reach the parking lot, the storm outside has ramped up. Rain crashes down in sheets, soaking the pavement. I pull my hoodie tighter and make a break for the car.

Just as I fling the door open, a black BMW screeches into the lot, tires skidding to a stop.

My breath catches.

The tinted window rolls down, revealing Creed’s frantic face.

“Rory!” His voice is sharp, edged with pure panic.

“Creed?”

“It’s Spencer!” he shouts. “He was in an accident—with your nieces!”

The words punch the air straight out of my lungs.

I stumble forward. “What?”

Creed’s hands are tight on the wheel, white-knuckled. “They’re in an ambulance, on the way to the hospital. Get in. Now.”

I don’t waste a second. I leap into the car, slamming the door shut behind me.

“What happened?!” My voice cracks as panic overwhelms me. Creed jerks the car into gear, peeling out of the lot, weaving through traffic like a madman.

Heart hammering so hard it hurts, I grip the dashboard. “Are the girls okay?!”

“Heather called me. She didn’t give me details, just that they’re hurt.”

“How badly?”

“I don’t know!” Creed snaps, swerving through traffic as we veer away from the Iron. My mind races, and I realize my phone is dead. Before I can even ask for a charger, Creed yanks my phone from my hand and tosses it out the window.

“Hey! What the hell!?”

“Rory, this wouldn’t have happened if Axe hadn’t interfered. It was the easiest way to get you to come with me.”

Unease slithers through my veins. “What are you talking about? Interfered with what?” It suddenly feels like I can barely breathe, only worsening when he doesn’t answer. “Creed, turn around and take me back right now.”

“Can’t do that,” he says, a sickly-sweet smile stretching across his face.

“Creed, please.” Tears prick at my eyes as reality crashes in. This isn’t good. “What are you doing? Turn around and take me back! Now!”

His expression remains frozen, eyes locked on the road ahead.

“It’s already done, Rory. But don’t worry; you’ll be with them soon enough,” he says, his voice flat, devoid of any trace of warmth.

“Be with who? What the hell are you talking about? Creed, stop this car right now!” I shout as tears spill down my cheeks.

“The Dolore.”

“No, no, no,” I whisper, my body trembling with disbelief.

“Creed, what are you saying? What the fuck are you talking about?” I grab his arm, desperation surging through me, but he swerves, jerking the car back onto the road.

His fist connects with my face, sending me reeling against the seat.

Pain explodes across my jaw, and the metallic taste of blood fills my mouth.

“I will fucking hurt you,” he snarls.

“Why are you doing this? Creed, please! Stop! Don't do this!” I scream, my voice cracking under the weight of hysteria. Blood trickles down my chin, splattering onto my leggings.

“It would have been much easier if Axe hadn’t gotten in the way. I never thought the Reaper would fall for a girl, but it doesn’t surprise me that you were his weakness.” He sighs, and my stomach plummets to my feet.

“Please, take me back. I’m begging you, Creed. Whatever this is, whatever you’re doing, please don’t. Just let me go! What about Spencer? You’re his friend! Please, Creed, you can’t do this!”

“Death Bonds are hard to pass up, Rory, especially when the payment comes from your father,” he explains, his tone utterly bored.

“Payment? For what?!”

“For you. You were always supposed to go to the Dolore. Axe marrying you just slowed it down.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Your father issued me a Bond to deliver you to the Dolore. And he paid generously. I guess you can say it’s a win-win. For me, anyway.” He shrugs. “Your father gets his deal, and I get the money.”

My heart shatters.

“No, no,” I sob, the truth dawning on me like a nightmare I can’t wake from. “He wouldn’t do this. He couldn’t…” My voice trails off. “Why?!”

“I didn’t care enough to ask,” he replies, utterly unbothered. “I’m tired of talking, love.” He pulls out a syringe, uncapping it with a flick of his wrist. “Don’t make this harder than it needs to be,” he warns, his tone flat.

“Creed, please don’t do this!”

“It’s already done, Rory,” he states, unyielding. “Now, hold still.” Without hesitation, he jams the syringe in my thigh and presses the plunger.

I gasp, my eyes wide with horror. “What the hell?—”

“Sweet dreams, love.”

My body grows heavy, and then everything fades to black.