Page 26 of Revenge Saints (BloodHawks Duet #2)

I run down the stairs. Roman is out looking for the BloodHawks with half of his men and, once again, I’ve been left behind with Sean, Miles, and whatever’s left of Roman’s trust.

I’m bored. And pissed.

I still can’t believe Miles let Dante go. Even if Roman needed Sean alive, this base is more important than any man. This is our future. My future. Don’ t they see that?

There are hundreds of men like Roman, but places like this? Safe, fortified, water, electricity, weapons? One in a million.

I spent almost a decade living in a community of wannabe tyrants. They talked about being strong, about surviving, but we drank from rivers. Lit fires with sticks like it was the goddamn Stone Age.

And when I said we should leave, that I could lead us to something better, they called me delusional. Dangerous.

When I stabbed their leader just to prove how fragile their little system was, they turned on me. Dragged me out. Tried to trade me for weapons. Like I was nothing but currency.

Aspen saved me. She told me what happened to her, what she survived. I thought she was like me. I thought we could take them all out together. But she fell for Dante and Knox.

At least Ethan was already working on his own betrayal. That made it easier.

And now, here I am again. Under Roman. Waiting like some sidepiece for orders. And the only thing on his mind? The BloodHawks.

We should be building defenses. Stockpiling food. Finding more women. Creating a village. Something real. Something permanent.

“What are you doing?” Miles breaks my line of thought, and I blink. I’m standing still in the middle of the hallway.

My mind is spinning, working overtime, calculating an escape. Because this? This is worse than being with the BloodHawks.

And I won’t go down like this.

I turn to him, giving him a soft, anxious smile .

“I’m so worried, Miles.” I tremble just the right amount, my hand clutching the fabric of my shirt. Puppy eyes, trembling lip.

I should win a fucking Oscar.

“About?” He crosses his arms, suspicious but watching.

“Roman.” I shake my head, lips curving down into something delicate and sad. “His health,”

“What?” He cuts in, grabbing my arm and dragging me into the nearest room. “He told you?”

I nod, like it hurts to even think about it. “Of course. He knows I’m here for him, Miles.” I yank my arm free. “You’re the one who doesn’t trust me… over some kid . ”

He stares at me. I hold his gaze.

“I was in the room when Roman was being treated.” I air-quote the word “treated,” and his eyes narrow.

“No one can know that.” He leans in, whispering fast. “You know that, right?”

“Of course,” I say quickly, glancing around. “We shouldn’t be talking about this here. Let’s go outside. The BloodHawks are long gone.”

He’s still unsure, but I press forward.

“Listen, I want what you want, stability. Safety. That only happens if the men keep following Roman. If they find out he’s weak…” I wave my hands, showing the chaos we’d face.

He nods slowly, finally whispering, “I know.”

“Coming?” he asks as he starts to walk.

I smile and follow. Too easy.

“We are going to check the traps,” he tells the guards. “Sean’s in charge while I’m gone.”

They nod as we head out. We walk in silence, the woods closing around us. I drift closer to him, just enough to guide him subtly, changing his direction without touching. He moves to avoid me. I belong to Roman, and no one wants to cross that line.

“Will Sean’s blood keep Roman steady?” I ask. “He wouldn’t talk about it, you know how he is. Always so… invincible.”

Miles sighs. “I don’t know. For now, yeah. Sean has one of those blood types that works for everyone. Roman’s blood is… weird. Rare. We were lucky to find Sean.”

I nod. Interesting.

“It started last year. He got tired all the time. Pale. Sick. When we heard there was a doctor in a nearby community, we raided it. Sean didn’t know what was wrong, but his blood worked. It kept Roman strong enough to lead.”

He shrugs.

“Sean’s a damn good doctor,” I add, nudging him slightly to the left again. “We need to keep him alive.”

Because Sean could save Roman… or be the key to ending him. Either way, I’m not lying. He needs to survive.

For now.

“If Roman goes…” Miles hesitates. “I don’t know if I can keep the mercenaries out of the base. They’re stron—”

I stop walking.

He doesn’ t.

He takes one step too far and the ground beneath him shifts—a soft click, barely audible—then snaps.

A spring-loaded spike swings up from the brush, fast and brutal, impaling him clean through the side.

His scream tears through the trees, raw and feral, and blood sprays the dirt like spilled ink. My ears ring with the sound of it.

He screams so loud my ears ring.

“You fucking bitch,” he chokes, collapsing to the ground.

I cross my arms, tilting my head. “This is all on you, Miles. I told you to believe me.”

He gurgles, writhes.

It takes longer than I expected for him to die.

When he finally stills, I walk up and drag my hand across the bloody spike, letting it slice me, and smear the blood across my arms and my face.

Then I start to run, screaming straight for the gate.

The guards see me, their eyes wide.

“Oh my God! Someone help!” I collapse, knees hitting the ground hard.

“Miles! He hit a trap!” I sob, pointing behind me.

“Call the doctor!” One of them yells, already running.

Sean steps out. His bag in hand. His eyes find mine.

There’s something in them.

He knows, but he won’t say a word.

He knows what I’m capable of.

I followed them, and of course it’s too late. One of the men pulls the spike, and Sean does some CPR, but he’s long gone .

We head back to the base; I head for the shower, and Sean follows me.

“You shouldn’t have done that.” He speaks low so no one will hear him.

“Do what?” I move into the shower and take my bloody clothes off. “He walked into a trap; it could’ve been me.” I say it, but I’m not even trying to convince him. I don’t have to.

“Let’s hope Roman believes you.” He leaves the showers.

He will; I’ll make sure of that.

It’s late. Roman got back hours ago, but I stayed in my room. I refused to eat in front of them, made a scene, cried on the stairs, all of it. Let them think I was fragile. Let him think I broke.

Now I wait.

The door clicks open, and I roll on the bed, facing him.

Roman steps inside, and just like I thought, he doesn’t look sad or worried.

Dante was right. Roman doesn’t care about anyone but himself. People are only valuable as long as he needs them.

“What happened, Bryn?” His voice is cold silk as he stops beside the bed .

I sit up slowly. Tears still fall, but I don’t look away.

“He stepped on a trap,” I say, wiping my eyes.

He watches me, his smirk creeping in. “You didn’t know about that one?”

“I knew most of them,” I say, annoyed. “But Knox was getting suspicious of Ethan. Probably put more when he changed the bunker codes.”

Roman nods. “Yeah. Makes sense.”

Then his hand is under my chin, tilting my face up. His lips brush mine, but he doesn’t kiss me yet.

“I’m glad it was him, not you, princess. I can’t fuck him , can I?”

Then he crashes his mouth to mine. I pull back and glare at him.

“You better make me come, Roman.”

He chuckles, unbuckling his belt with that slow, arrogant grace that always makes me clench.

“I will,” he murmurs. “You’ve had a long day.”

It doesn’t sound sincere.

I don’t care.

He may be cruel, twisted, dangerous, but he fucks like a goddamn demon , and tonight? I welcome the destruction.

I lay back and watch him pull his cock free, already thick, half-hard, pulsing.

“Open your mouth and suck,” he orders.

I kneel, crawling to the edge of the bed like a good little whore, his gaze darkening as I wrap my fingers around him. Two pumps and he’s hard in my hand, precum glistening at the tip.

I lean in, tongue swirling over the head before I take him deep.

He growls, grabs the back of my head, and shoves in.

My throat stretches, choking slightly, but I open wider. He fucks my mouth in harsh, brutal thrusts, hips snapping, balls slapping against my chin.

“Fuck, you’re a goddamn expert.” He groans, eyes locked on me.

I moan around him, gagging slightly, my pussy already wet and aching.

I stroke him while sucking, swallowing around him until he pulls me back, strings of spit still clinging to my lips.

“Open your legs, my little slut.” I shiver and lie back, spreading wide for him, breath catching when he slides my panties down, then wraps them around my throat, yanking until the pressure makes my pulse pound in my ears.

“This might hurt, princess.”

He slams into me in one savage thrust, stretching me wide, and my back bows off the bed.

“Roman!” I cry out, pain and pleasure crashing over me.

His pace is brutal, no teasing, no warmth. Just relentless, punishing thrusts. He grips the makeshift choke around my neck and pounds into me like he’s claiming every inch.

“You like this, huh?” He hisses. “You like being fucked like a filthy little toy?”

He slaps my thigh, and I moan louder.

My walls squeeze him, greedy for more, and he feels it. His cock slams deeper. I’m gasping, clawing at his back, legs wrapped tight around him .

“You think you’re in control, Bryn? You think anyone’s ever gonna fuck you like this?”

He growls and bites my shoulder, hips slamming harder.

I’m coming undone, the pressure building, my clit throbbing. “Roman, please!”

“Not yet.”

He pulls out suddenly and flips me onto my stomach. I cry out, but he grabs my hips and slams back in, deeper this time. One hand in my hair, the other still tugging my panties against my throat.

He fucks me like he owns me. Like I’m not human, just a vessel for his rage and lust.

And I fucking love it.

I scream into the pillow as my orgasm slams into me. He curses, pulls out, strokes once, twice, And comes all over my ass and back.

We both collapse. My thighs tremble. My pulse is erratic, and for a moment, I forget I’m plotting to destroy him.

“Fuck, Bryn.” Roman’s tone drags against my ear. “You can be such a good girl when you want to.”

I chuckle, letting him tilt my face toward his. Our eyes lock.

“Don’t think you can fuck me up like you did with Ethan,” he warns. “I won’t trade you like your old community did. I’ll lock you in a dark room and let my men use you whenever they want.”

His words are poison wrapped in silk. I study his eyes. He means it.

“I’d never do that, Roman.”

Well… I would. And probably will, but I’ve learned from my mistakes. Miles was a clean kill. Didn’t even have to touch him. Ro man will take more effort, but I think I can manage it when the time comes.

For now? I need him. If anyone can hunt down the BloodHawks, it’s him.

I turn, rest my head against his chest. His heartbeat is steady, but his breathing is still ragged.

“What’s the plan?” I ask, fingers idly tracing circles across his abs, watching the goosebumps rise in their wake.

He sighs. “I need to find them. They probably went to that town again. The one they always used.”

“The one where you bumped into Ethan?”

He nods.

“You never told me what happened…” His eyes shut, jaw tightening.

“One day Knox, Dante, and Ethan were in town. I didn’t even know they were alive. I saw Ethan go off to take a piss. I caught him, was about to slit his throat when he said he was with Knox Archer . ” His voice is full of acid when he says the name.

“So you used him,” I finish for him. He nods.

“Ethan was already tired of them. When it came down to survival or loyalty, he didn’t even blink. Gave me intel. Schedules. Weapons. Traps. And eventually…” He looks at me. “He mentioned you.”

I arch a brow. “You wanted to have me?”

His smirk is slow and filthy. “He told me how you looked. How you felt. How you tasted.”

Roman licks his lips, and I feel his cock twitch beneath the sheets again .

“I told him to bring you along to one of the meetings in the woods. He resisted, but I had to see you for myself.” He leans in, kissing me slow and deep, his tongue claiming mine until I moan into his mouth.

“When I saw you, when you told me about Aspen and the guys… I knew Ethan would become a liability. And when you fucked me the next day… you proved it.”

I smile, remembering that day. I met Roman the day before. Ethan told the guys we were gathering herbs and fruits, but he led us deeper into the woods, near the river. Roman was there, waiting like a wolf dressed in leather and blood.

One look, and I knew. Roman would never share power. Not with Ethan. Not with anyone .

So when Ethan left to report to Miles, I made my move.

I told Roman about Aspen. About Knox’s obsession. About how she could be the ultimate weakness.

And then I kissed him.

“Meet me tomorrow,” he whispered against my lips. “Right before sunset.”

The next day, I snuck out when the guys went to set traps. Met Roman again.

He fucked me against a tree like he was claiming the first piece of the war, and just like that, our plan was born.

The missing ammo. The map. The chaos we fed into their safehouse. It was perfect. If Roman’s men hadn’t let Aspen escape…

But now? Now I have the base. The control .

Soon, the BloodHawks will be dead.

Aspen… I’ll try to make her see the vision. Join me. But if she doesn’t,

“Roman!” I whimper, caught off guard as his fingers thrust into me hard.

“Round two, princess.” He snarls darkly.

He rolls on top of me, eyes burning. One hand around my throat, the other spreading my thighs wide.

His cock is thick and angry again, dragging along my soaked folds as he smirks down at me.

“Are you thinking you can manipulate me, Bryn? Huh?”

I grin. “I know I can.”

He slams into me, no warning, no tenderness, just brutal, possessive force that knocks the air from my lungs.

I cry out, nails digging into his back as he pounds into me.

“Manipulate this,” he growls.

And fuck, maybe I’ll kill him.

Maybe I won’t.

But I’m going to let him fuck me until I can’t walk.