Page 4 of Ravaged Saints (BloodHawks Duet #1)

I jump as Dante lunges to hold Max back. Knox is right behind him.

“Where’s Bryn?”

My hands clench, and I can feel my heart pumping in my ears.

“Reaper!”

Dante barks, and Knox grabs Max’s arms, pulling them behind his back, but Max thrashes against him, muscles straining; Knox holds him firm. Dante steps between them, his focus on Ethan, whose face is red, his breath labored, and a cut visible on his lip.

Bryn walks in, her cheeks flushed, her eyes locked on the floor.

“Bryn!”

I run to her, grabbing her shoulders. “Are you okay? Say something!”

She nods, but her gaze doesn’t meet mine.

“That fucker was all over her!”

Max snaps, his words like thunder, the veins in his neck bulging as his shirt strains against the tension in his muscles.

“Oh my God!”

The words slip out as I storm toward Ethan without thinking. He’s glaring at Max, oblivious to my approach, until my fist slams into his cheek and his head snaps to the side with a grunt.

“Fuck!”

Knox’s voice cuts through the chaos. I freeze, expecting Ethan to retaliate, but Ryker steps in, shoving Ethan against the wall and positioning himself between us.

“Don’t even think about touching her.”

Ryker growls, his posture rigid, his chest rising and falling like a wolf ready to attack.

“She fucking wanted it!”

Ethan barks, his hand rubbing his jaw.

All eyes shift to Bryn. Her face is so red it looks sunburned, and her blue eyes meet mine; embarrassment pools in her gaze.

“I’m sorry,”

she whispers. “I just…”

She lets out a small cry, and my chest tightens.

I step toward her, forcing myself to keep my tone soft. “Did you want to…”

I pause, trying to find the right words without sounding judgmental or intrusive.

“I did,”

Bryn says quietly, her breath catching as her hands tremble. “After those Hunters, I needed it to be on my terms, and it was just a kiss!”

Her chest rises and falls with each word, the weight of her emotions heavy in the air.

Her words hang in the air, and I nod, understanding settling in my chest.

“It’s fine, Bryn. I was just scared that he…”

My eyes flick to Ethan. “Forced you.”

She shakes her head quickly. “He didn’t.”

I exhale, the tension in my shoulders easing. Turning to Ethan, I mumble, “I’m sorry for—”

“No problem, sweet girl,”

Ethan interrupts with a grin, rubbing his cheek.

Knox’s eyes are on Bryn. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

He asks, and she nods.

Max, on the other hand, doesn’t say a word and storms out of the room. “I’ll talk to him,”

Ryker says before following Max outside.

“Can we go to the bedroom?”

I ask Dante, and he nods. Bryn walks beside me.

We enter the room, and Dante closes the door without saying a word.

“Bryn,”

I sit on the bed, rubbing my temples.

“I know, I fucked up!”

She throws herself onto the mattress. “But Ethan was so nice, and he asked me if I wanted him to kiss me,”

she says, sitting up. “No one ever asked me. He was sweet and kind, so I said yes, .”

My head hurts, and my heart’s still pounding in my ears.

“We need to leave this place, Bryn; it’s not safe,”

I murmur, and she jumps off the bed.

“Did you hear what I just said?”

She snaps at me, “I said yes!”

“I know that! But still…”

I trail off, “There are five of them here! How long before they don’t wait for consent?!”

“Girl, come on! Not every man is like Cash or those Hunters!”

She is pacing back and forth. “You saw how Max protected me, and Ryker placed himself in front of you!”

I know all of that, but still, I don’t trust them. I need to get out of here!

I get up, my movements slow, and my words drop to a whisper. “You can stay, but I’m leaving.”

Her eyes widen, her breath hitching. “.”

“I don’t belong here. I need to leave. I won’t force you to come, but please don’t make me stay.”

My words feel like a plea, my chest tightening as I search her face for any sign of understanding. She takes a deep breath, her gaze locking with mine, searching for something in my eyes.

“Fine,”

she says, her hands reaching out, and I lean into her for a hug. I hate that I’m leaving her here, but I can’t stay; this is all too much for me.

We head upstairs after a while, and I can see the sadness in Bryn’s eyes. I wish she would come with me, but I get it. She was in a community before being kidnapped; she is used to this, but I’ve been alone for years; I can’t imagine myself being stuck in this place.

We sit on the couch. My hands feel ice cold, and my breathing increases.

I need to leave tonight.

“Are you girls okay?”

Dante stands in front of us.

Bryn’s eyes travel to me and back to him. “Yes.”

She finally says.

Dante turns to me, and I just nod.

“How does your ankle feel?”

He kneels in front of me, his hand gently lifting my leg, his touch is warm and steady. I don’t move, his proximity calming yet intense. “Max told me you got injured. I took a couple of courses in the army.”

His words are soft, his gaze focused as he meets my eyes. “Can I take a look?”

My skin bursts into goosebumps, and I nod. His touch is soft, and a smile crosses his lips as he moves my ankle around.

Part of me wants to kick his teeth out, but the other enjoys his gentle touch. I need a therapist…

He is the nicest one here; I almost feel safe around him, but Knox and Max are too authoritative, too physical, too…animalistic. But Dante seems different.

“Where are Recon and Max?”

Knox asks, sitting on the couch next to Ethan, right in front of us.

“Recon?”

Bryn raises an eyebrow.

“Ryker,”

Dante answers while still holding my ankle. “They’re downstairs, probably in Max’s room.”

Knox just nods, and I notice him looking at Dante, his eyes trailing from my ankle up my leg, stopping at my hips. His chest rises and falls faster, and my heart speeds up in response.

What on earth is wrong with me?

He looks up, meeting my eyes, and he smirks before leaning back into the couch. His blue eyes gleam, and I feel my thighs clench involuntarily. Dante looks up, his brows furrowing slightly, and my cheeks burn. I know he notices.

Dante glances over his shoulder, then lets out a low chuckle before turning his attention back to me.

“Interesting,”

he says with a whisper; my whole body shivers.

Jesus Christ…

Am I getting turned on by this? By Dante’s touch? By the way Knox is looking at me? The way his muscles tense, the veins in his arms pulse, and his tattoos shift as he cracks his neck.

Still kneeling, Dante shifts to the side, pulling my leg with him to adjust the bandage. There’s a devilish glint in his smirk, and before I realize it, my legs are open, right in front of Knox.

Knox spreads his legs on the couch, resting his arms across the back; the fabric of his shirt pulls tight, highlighting every inch of his broad chest and muscular shoulders.

He’s huge and the tallest of them. I’d guess around 6’6”, and like Dante, he’s covered in tattoos.

That smirk doesn’t leave his face as he licks his bottom lip, his gaze dropping to the space between my legs, and I feel a heat between them.

I could close my legs; I probably should, but I don’t want to…

No man has ever looked at me the way he is right now. I feel desired for the first time in my life.

“Fuck,”

Knox growls, his hands tightening on the couch, his knuckles white with the pressure. My breath hitches, the gravel in his voice sending a shiver down my spine.

Dante’s hand slides a little higher, from my ankle to just behind my knee, and I shiver at his touch. I look at him, and his eyes are locked on mine, pupils so blown I can barely see the hazel in them; my breath catches.

He just smiles, his hand still moving softly against my skin.

“Shit, Dante,”

Knox mutters as he adjusts his hips on the couch, spreading his legs and leaning forward slightly, his elbows resting on his thighs, and there it is, the bulge in his cargo pants. But, instead of feeling disgusted, like I always did with Cash, my mind betrays me and imagines him sitting there while I strip off my jeans and panties, straddling him—

“Are you okay?”

Bryn’s tone slices through my thoughts, and I snap out of it, yanking my leg away so fast I almost kick Dante.

He stands quickly. His gaze darts to Knox; both of them are breathing hard.

Knox runs a hand over his head before getting up and heading toward the kitchen after Dante.

“I need to use the bathroom,”

I mumble, getting up quickly. Ethan nods, unconcerned, and Bryn follows me.

I run down the stairs, and the steel echoes under me. I reach the hallway and look around. There are only three doors here, but there are five guys. Do they share the rooms? I shake my head and head to the bedroom. I don’t have time to even care about that stuff!

I pick up a pair of cargo pants, a dark green t-shirt that I already know will be too tight across my breasts, socks, and combat boots. The clothes left behind by the women who used to work here are comfortable and ideal for this environment.

I head to the bathroom and turn on the faucet for the shower. The water isn’t hot, but it’s warm enough to relax and wash away the day.

“Are you really leaving?”

Bryn asks from behind the door.

“Yes, Bryn,”

I say softly. “You can come with me.”

I try again, but she whispers a quiet, “No,” and walks away.

I close my eyes and take a deep breath, leaning against the cold tile wall. My mind replays the scene that just happened in the living room. Knox’s blue eyes burning into me, Dante’s warm hand on my knee, and my fingers moving down instinctively. My breathing quickens as I circle my clit.

Shivers shoot through my core as I lean harder into the cold tiles, my fingers teasing the heat building inside me. I can feel the slick arousal against my skin, and I slide a finger inside, moving faster, in and out, my eyes closing to the memory of Dante’s smirk and Knox’s piercing gaze.

A soft whimper escapes my lips, and I quickly cover my mouth with my free hand. I can’t believe I’m doing this. I can’t even remember the last time I touched myself.

Rocking my hips, a fiery sensation snakes down my spine, and I slide in another finger, my walls tightening around them, and for a brief, shameful moment, I wish it were Dante’s or Knox’s thick fingers instead.

It takes every ounce of control not to collapse onto the shower floor.

God, this feels so good.

My legs start shaking. My heart pounds in my ears, and my fingers move harder and faster, my back arching away from the wall, and my head snaps back as pleasure crashes over me like a wave.

I stifle the loud moan threatening to escape by biting down on my lip.

When the high fades, I turn and press my forehead against the cold tiles, my breathing ragged, mind racing, and for one fleeting moment, I consider staying, but then I remember Cash. How charming and kind he seemed at first, how he made me feel safe when my family and I first arrived, and how quickly that mask dropped when I was left alone.

The memories claw at me, and tears sting the corners of my eyes.

No. I’m done crying. I’ll get out of here. I’ll keep going, just like I always have.

I wash myself thoroughly and even shave, something I haven’t done in three years. When I’m done, I dry off, put on the cargo pants, the snug green t-shirt, and one of the coats left behind.

Back in the bedroom, Bryn is sitting on the mattress, her knees drawn to her chest, and I sit next to her, trying one last time to take her with me.

“Are you sure you want to stay?”

I ask quietly.

“Yes, I can’t be out there, . I just can’t,”

she responds immediately. “And are you sure about leaving?”

I nod, leaning to hug her. “I’ll miss you, Bryn.”

I hid my face in her neck, and a tear fell. “Please be careful.”

She sniffles against my shoulder, her arms tightening around me.

Standing up, I pick up my bag; my gun and knife are gone. Knox took them when we got here, but I’ll manage like always.

I need to find a way to leave this damn place, so I head upstairs, leaving my bag behind the door.

It’s getting late. The sun has already set.

Looking around, I see Max and Ryker are still downstairs, Dante and Knox are talking by the kitchen counter, and Ethan is reading a book on the couch.

“I’m going to feed the animals and get the eggs,”

Dante says, grabbing a bag from one of the cabinets.

“I’ll be right there,”

Knox replies, heading toward the door that leads to the basement.

No one pays attention to me. Everyone is still lost in their own thoughts after what happened, and I follow as Dante leaves the door to the base open, so I head outside and see Dante punching in the code at the back gate.

He’s going to feed the animals he talked about earlier, and he left the gate open, probably for Knox. This is my chance!

I grab my bag, sneaking through the door and making sure Ethan doesn’t see me.

Outside, I see Dante opening the back gate. and he also leaves it open. It’s my only opportunity, and I take it.

The darkness is thick as I step outside, so I move slowly, using the night and the bushes near the gate to hide. Step by step, I reach the trees, and then I start running.

I can’t see much, but I don’t care. I follow the faint path on the ground before darting to the left, where I think the river should be.

I don’t hear any noise behind me; they don’t notice I’m gone. I speed up, and the pain from my ankle shoots through me like a dagger piercing my skin, but I don’t stop. I can’t stop.