Page 128 of Lethal Vengeance

The smell of farm animals and manure permeates my senses. Lifting my head a tiny bit, I see straw nearby. A barn?

A snuffling sound from my left confirms it. Without a doubt, that’s a pig.

“Oh, look who’s awake,” Rodrigo says cheerfully.

The snuffling sound comes again. “A pig barn, huh? How appropriate.”

He backhands me, and pain explodes across my face.

Damn it.I had almost healed.

When the pain recedes, I raise my chin and spit at him. He stalks forward, but this time, I lift my leg in a roundhouse and kick him across the face.

Cursing, he stumbles back, cradling his cheek for a few minutes. With a grin, he spits blood on the floor and pulls out my knife.

He cackles. “For the first time, I don’t have to worry about Armando finding out about me. He kept me on a tight leash. Always threatening to go to the cartel and tell him about my little playthings.” His hand caresses the knife. “For months, all I dreamed about was you, but he refused to give you to me. But now, you’re mine. I’ve been waiting for you for so long.”

The crazy look in his eyes is worrisome. He might just kill me before the others can track me down. I start swinging my legs to get momentum, preparing to give him the fight of his life.

The coldest blue eyes I’ve ever seen comes up behind him. Raider quickly slices across Rodrigo’s wrist several times.

Howling, he drops my knife and turns to face his attacker.

“Where did you come from?”

“The same place you’re going… hell,” Raider says, striking in three new places. “Pick up the knife. Go ahead, I’ll wait.”

Rodrigo picks up the knife, and Raider slashes across his face.

“Good one,” Rodrigo says, slashing out with the knife in his hand.

Zane, Cruz, and Sterling enter the barn.

Rodrigo panics, but Raider steps in front of him. “It’s just you and me. They’re here for her.” He slices him three more times.

Rodrigo slashes out wildly with the knife. When he can’t hit Raider, he pivots and rushes toward me. Zane steps up and smashes his fist into his face.

Rodrigo falls to the ground, nose bleeding profusely, but quickly scrambles back up. He searches for the nearest exit, but it’s blocked by Cruz. Squaring up, he runs toward him, knife raised, but Cruz grabs his wrist and twists until the knife is pointing at Rodrigo. Cruz uses sheer strength to make Rodrigo push the knife into his own stomach inch by inch. Rodrigo starts screaming, but with Cruz’ hand wrapped around his, he can’t let go.

The murderous look in Cruz’ brown eyes is utterly captivating.

Cruz shoves Rodrigo back to Raider.

Sterling gets the rope untied from the wall and lowers me down into Zane’s arms. Who then gives me a kiss and sets me down on my feet.

When Rodrigo sees me standing nearby, he scrambles in my direction, a plea for mercy on his lips. Sterling steps in front of me and brutally lays into him, hands and feet flying, until he’s crumpled on the ground.

Rodrigo laughs. “Looks like I’m going to hell tonight.”

I walk over to the sick bastard. “Get up.”

He shakes his head no.

Raider grabs him by the hair and jerks him into a standing position.

Without another word, I move to Raider’s side and take his hand. Together, we slice across Rodrigo’s throat. Blood sprays everywhere, and he’s dead before he hits the ground.

The pride gleaming in Raider’s eyes makes me smile.