Page 96 of Depraved

“Dick.” I smirk as we walk toward the door.

The guys at the front greet us and open the door, stepping aside as I enter. The place is small, but comfort isn’t what I care about. It’s safety. And nobody knows about it.

Two more of my guys sit at a small gray fold-up table with tired looks in their eyes, but they stand as we walk inside.

“Everything’s good, boss. Girls are still asleep. We took shifts, but it’s been quiet. I think the babies woke up a few times, but Drew seemed to be fine.”

Dom pats the guy’s shoulder as he walks past him and points at the door, getting a nod before walking inside.

Luca comes up next to me. “Where’s my wife and daughter?” He sounds as tired as I feel.

The guys point to the back room, and Luca wastes no time making his way to the room. I turn as Matteo walks through the door, the cabin lights making him seem even more bruised than before.

I look back to my soldiers at the table as I shrug off my trench coat and toss it over a chair at the table. “Put Matteo on the couch. And then get some rest. The guys outside can switch with you.”

I turn and walk to the only other bedroom that’s left. With each step, my body calls for her, needing her close and in my arms. I want to wrap her up, let her legs tangle around me, and sleep like I’m dead.

Reaching the door, I grab the handle, but it doesn’t twist. My eyes dart down, needing the visual to make sense of the action. I try it again, twisting it harder, back and forth, as it rattles in place.

My eyes are fixed on the silver knob as my voice raises, demanding over my shoulder while I jerk the door against the frame. “Why is this fucking door locked?”

My body spins around, and the men’s eyes grow wide. They exchange a look, landing back on me confused.

“We don’t know. She said she was going to bed…” one of the men tosses out.

Fuck. Fuck!

Panic sets in as I turn back around and rattle the door with all my strength, calling out her name. “Sarah. Open the door.”

My palm pounds against the wood, my voice louder this time. “Sarah! Open the fucking door!”

I push off the handle, shaking my head and my mind begins to split in two. All I want is to get through the goddamn door. Nothing stands between me getting to her. Nothing.

I can’t lose you, Billy. You chose me. I won’t fucking lose you.

Pain ignites against my skin as my shoulder connects with brute force against the door, and a loud crack sounds through the oak, splintering the wood, leaving jagged edges and frays.

Her name pulls from my throat as I take a step back and charge the door again, splitting it open. The hinged part flies open, bouncing off the wall, and back into my hand that’s up to stop it.

There’s commotion behind me, but I’m focused on what’s in front of me.

“What the fuck is going on?” I hear Dom yell almost on top of Luca’s voice booming through the space.

“What the fuck is happening?”

I stand silent inside my room, letting my eyes take in the unmade bed…the high heels on the floor, and the window that’s still cracked at the very bottom.

Because closing it completely from the outside is near impossible.

It’s as if I can’t catch my breath as I look around. I know this all means something, but my mind won’t let me think it. I can’t know this because I told her…

I told her she could never leave…

My eyes drift around the room until I see it. I see her goodbye because it doesn’t matter that I already knew she left by the other pieces of the puzzle. It’s the diamond choker and bracelets on the nightstand that hold my attention, paralyzing my breath.

I take a step backward, feeling the rage settle itself inside my bones, guiding me toward what I’ll do next. I turn to my brothers, hollowed and emptied of my heart.

“She’s left. Sarah’s gone.”