Page 118 of Monsters Carve Thrones

I held him tighter.

And I whispered the only thing I knew would matter: “You’re safe now. And I’m here.”

He stayed like that for a long time.

Chapter 22

(TW: Consensual non-consent sex)

It had been three weeks since we came home, and peace had begun to feel a little more like a lie. The more time passed, the more I wanted blood.

Rafe and I settled into a soft and familiar routine. We’d start our day with coffee and breakfast together, then the gym, and then come back together for a peaceful dinner. He’d been so good with me, especially after finally opening up about his own struggles. I felt closer to him, and I really appreciated it. It was wild to think how intimate I knewThe Dark Monster of New York City.

My body healed. The bruises faded. But the rage did not. I remembered the faces of the men who laughed while Waylon paraded me around like a pet. Those who had entertained horrid thoughts of me when I was at my most vulnerable. They’d rethink that real fast when they realized I had my fucking powerback. They believed that there were no consequences for being the shitbags they were.

I stood in front of the tactical map in our study, a pen spinning between my fingers. Red circles bled across the world–Budapest, Zurich, Prague, Naples. Each one marked the location of a man who had stood beside Waylon. There were more, but unfortunately, I couldn’t remember every single one he met with. Just the ones who grinned while I was suffering.

Rafe stood behind me, his arm finding the small of my back. “We’ve confirmed the last name,” he said quietly. “Zdenek Varga. Eastern weapons contractor. Waylon’s former associate.”

I didn’t look away from the map. “He’s going to be the bait.”

His eyes narrowed beside me. “He’s going to be well-guarded. Paranoid, probably.”

“Good,” I said, finally straightening, my eyes locked on the cluster of red pins on the map we’d marked over the past week. “Because he’s going to die first. Him and every single one of his men.”

He turned his head slightly, watching me. “Why him?”

I met his gaze, cold and unwavering. “He raped me, too.”

Rafe went still, his jaw clenching instantly. I hadn’t told him about Varga because I needed fresh fucking rage from him. Was I wrong for that?Absolutely not.

“Waylon owed him a favor, and offered me up as payment,” I continued. “He was… quite aggressive.”

“Are you alright?” he asked gently, even if cold fury was now running through his veins.

“I’m fine, now,” I confirmed, kissing his cheek. “And he likely holds the connections to everyone I want to kill. These men, these fuckers who watched and enabled what happened to me, they’ll crawl to him when they’re nervous. They’ll take his invitation seriously.”

He crossed his arms casually, turning to face me. “Why do you say that, baby?”

I sucked in a deep breath, remembering a few names being tossed around at one of the meetings where I was chained like a dog at his feet. “He’s important to them. A high-level guy.”

Rafe’s brow lifted. His mouth curved slowly like a predator. “I like where you’re going with this.”

“I want to take him out myself,” I said, stepping closer to the map and tapping a pin labeled with his name. “Quick. Clean. Then we actas him. His contacts will think he’s summoning them for a meeting. A discreet but urgent one.” I paused, allowing the puzzle pieces to fall into place. “To finally take down the Vaughan empire.”

My husband looked at me through tousled black hair, his icy eyes searing into mine.

“They’ll come,” I said confidently.

Rafe chuckled darkly. “You brilliant, bloodthirsty little thing.”

I turned, meeting his eyes. His grin was wicked, all teeth and adoration, and the pride in his expression hit me harder than any blade ever had.

“I married the right woman,” he said, dragging his knuckles down my arm.

A fire roared in my chest. However, unlike before, this was not a matter of desperation or fear. This was purpose and righteous fury.

My voice was steady when I spoke again. “They’ll think they’re coming to destroy us. But they will have no idea we’re already inside the walls.”