Page 30 of Corrupted By the Shadow King (Hope Runs Deep #3)

Kevin

I t feels good to be a man of action instead of holding myself back, waiting for the moment when I could take Nikki away from that asshole.

The first day he showed up at the hospital, I saw him from a distance and swore my eyes were playing tricks on me.

They weren’t, though. Nikki really did get involved with Alejandro Martinez, the leader of the Luna Cartel, but he claimed his name was Alex Wolf.

Wolf? How original, considering his title as the don is El Lobo.

I have been itching to get her away from him, to show her the error of her ways, but I had to bide my time.

In the meantime, I tried to go out with someone else, and that ended in tragedy.

She wasn’t Nikki. I took care of her and dumped her body.

Imagine my luck when I found out the construction site belonged to Alex.

Too bad the cops turned their heads and looked the other way instead of bringing his ass in and pinning the whole thing on him.

Hundreds, if not thousands, of people would have finally gotten justice for the things he has done in his life.

Nikki thought he was perfect, but he hasn’t been innocent since the moment he took his first breath.

He was born and bred to kill and rule without care for the people he hurt.

He has never cared about anyone besides himself.

I’ve heard all the stories about how he gets off whenever he tortures someone, or about how he will put a bullet in someone for the smallest infraction.

But she is safe now. I rescued her.

Turning down a dirt road, I come to a black fence and approach a keypad.

The gate swings open the moment I punch in the code, and I drive through as soon as I can, pausing only to make sure the gate is closing.

How long will it take Nikki to realize her luck?

Immediately? Probably not. Alex has her brainwashed.

I quickly park in front of the large house and get out of the van. Before I open the door, I take a deep breath, wiping away my grin. I can’t let them see how happy I am.

With my gun at the ready, I yank the door open. I took my mask off as soon as I had them inside. There was no longer any point in it. Too bad I couldn’t disguise my voice, but it doesn’t matter. I have my prize.

“Don’t try anything and I won’t do anything.

Get out and head to the garage. I’ll be following, and if you attempt to make a break for it, know you will be the reason your friend is killed.

I’d hate to send either of you to an early grave, but I’ve done it before, and I have no qualms about doing it again.

There is such a rush when you see the blood spill out of a body and watch life leaving their eyes. ”

Nikki’s eyes grow wide, and Erin cries, folding in on herself. Wrapping her arms around Erin, Nikki gets out of the van, dragging her friend out with her. They are both shaking and scared, unsure of their fate, but they have no need to fear that. They are destined to live and love us.

They move slowly, both crying, their steps heavy. I hear Nikki whisper, “Don’t worry, Erin. Alex will find us.”

That pisses me off. No, Alex will not find them. How can she want to turn to him right now when he is the devil incarnate? She left him. She doesn’t want him any longer. “Alex? Really, Nikki? Last I heard, you left him.”

“I…” She doesn’t continue, but the arm around Erin stiffens before pulling the other woman closer.

“He is evil. You don’t know what he has done. Besides, he has been called back to Mexico for business. He gave up on you.”

“He wouldn’t leave me. And what about you? What do you think this is, Kevin?” she snaps. I love her backbone.

“This is me saving you from yourself. You just don’t see it right now. We will be good together. Alex has blinded you to the truth. Even your sister and your mother can see it. They told me not to give up on you, and I never did.”

“I don’t think they meant for you to kidnap me!” I can hear the tremor in her voice.

Shaking my head, I chuckle. “I haven’t kidnapped you. I rescued you and am saving you from yourself. You don’t make good choices. Alex was able to get past your defenses. He is a killer.”

“He might have killed people, but he would never force me to do anything against my will. He is sweet and cares about me.”

Her words are pushing my buttons, and I can feel the rage bubbling up inside me. I’m close to losing it, but I am better than Alex. I won’t hurt her. Erin, on the other hand… “You don’t know what you’re talking about. He has done unspeakable things. He is El Lobo. Don’t you know what that means?”

Erin’s head pops up. Interesting. She doesn’t know who Alex is?

Considering she is a Sol princess, that shocks me.

Mateo’s little sister may not have grown up in Mexico like her brother, but surely she knew who Alex was when she met him?

I did, and I have no ties to either cartel. “El Lobo?” Erin asks quietly.

I nod.

“It means the wolf,” Nikki answers, stopping in the middle of the garage.

“Yes, the wolf. The leader and most dangerous of all the Luna clan. Although, from what I hear, his brother is just as vicious. And his sister…she grew up around them, so I imagine she has her share of notches on her belt.”

“He cares,” she insists.

Erin lifts her head to look at me. “He is a killer, but he is respected.”

“Respected,” I scoff. “That isn’t respect. Everyone fears him! How can you take his side when he killed your uncle?”

“My uncle probably deserved it. He was always greedy and trying to take things that did not belong to him,” Erin speaks up, her voice a little stronger.

I glare at her. “You would take the side of your mortal enemy over your own family? You are a Sol princess!”

“As you said, I am a Sol princess. My brother will hunt you down and skin you alive!”

I snap and slap her, smirking when her head flies back with the force. “Shut the fuck up.” I move over to the wall and reach around a shelf, pulling a string. A door opens, and I point to it. “Both of you: in. Now!”

They move without another word. There is a small light in the room, but other than that, they only have a bucket and two sleeping bags to keep them comfortable.

This is to break them. To break the spell Alex has on Nikki and to punish Erin a little.

She must pay for her brother’s sins, and in the end, she will.