Page 34 of Revenge Saints (BloodHawks Duet #2)

S lam.

The door finally gives, and I don’t waste a single second. If they thought I’d stay locked in there like some helpless girl, they’ve clearly forgotten who the fuck I am.

I grab the bag they left, ripping it open and dumping most of it out onto the floor. No way in hell I’m hauling all this weight. I keep only the water, the gun, the knife. The essentials .

Then I run.

The wind slices at my cheeks, my legs screaming, lungs burning, but I don’t stop. They can’t be far. It didn’t take long to kick the door down.

If I just keep moving, I’ll catch up.

I have to.

Each step slams into the ground like a drumbeat, pounding in rhythm with the mess in my head.

I’m going to fucking kill them. They promised; they said they trusted me. That I was strong enough to be part of the team. Family.

But then I remember,

I did the same thing to Knox; I promised I wouldn’t run. That I’d stay. That I’d wait, and I left anyway.

I stumble to a stop. Bent at the waist, hands on my thighs, sucking in breath like it’s going to fill more than just my lungs.

God . My body aches. My thighs, my stomach, my—Jesus, after last night I’m lucky I can walk at all. Who the hell has group sex before a suicide mission?

I inhale deeper. Stand straighter and shake it off.

The guys can handle this. They’re the fucking BloodHawks. They’ve survived worse, fought harder. But something

Something feels off.

There’s this pull in my gut. A tight, cold knot that hasn’t left since Knox looked at me this morning like I was the last thing he’d ever see.

That wasn’t just sex; that was a goodbye.

And then there’s Bryn. She’s a liar and a manipulator, but still there’s this sliver of doubt lodged under my skin like a splinter .

She screamed for me to run that day. She took the bullet. She looked scared.

But was she trying to protect me?

Or keep her asset alive?

I don’t know, and I can’t live with not knowing.

I keep moving. Fast. Pushing my body harder even though it’s already failing me.

I’m running on anger. Guilt. Love.

Because the truth is I can’t lose them.

Not one.

Not now.

They’ve ruined me in all the best ways. Broken me open and shown me everything I never thought I could be.

They let me live. Let me want. Let me feel.

And if something happens to them, if I don’t make it in time,

I will never forgive myself .

A tear cuts down my cheek.

I don’t wipe it.

I just run.

There’s a sound to the left.

I drop to the ground without thinking, my chest hitting the dirt as I slide behind a fallen tree, leaves sticking to my skin. My breath stills .

Then I see him, one of Roman’s men, all alone.

He’s not alert. Just walking, casually, like this stretch of woods is his fucking backyard. He steps behind a tree and unzips.

He’s taking a fucking piss.

My heart slams against my ribs. I glance at my gun, but if I fire, everyone within a mile will hear it. It’ll blow my cover. Blow everything .

I slip the knife from my boot and tighten my grip. My hand’s shaking, but I steady it. I remember Ryker. The way he moves low to the ground. Fluid. Fast. Like a fucking shadow.

Let’s see if I paid attention .

I lower myself flat, crawling on elbows and knees. Inch by inch. The dirt grinds into my skin, sticking to the sweat on my neck. My breath stays shallow.

He’s still facing the other way, still pissing, still vulnerable.

I get close, close enough to smell him, and I move, spring up, and wrap one arm around his throat, slamming the blade into his side. He gurgles. Tries to fight, but I twist the knife up and pull.

His body jerks once.

Then drops.

I cover his mouth with my hand, holding him to the ground until he stops moving.

My chest heaves. I stumble back. Wipe the blood off on the grass. My hand’s shaking again.

Holy fuck. I just

A twig snaps behind me.

I spin .

Another man.

He’s wide-eyed, just as shocked to see me as I am to see him.

He fumbles to get his gun, and I charge—no time to think, just move .

I dive forward, slamming into him with everything I have. We crash to the ground. His weapon skids across the dirt, and I land on top of him, knee to his chest.

He grabs my wrists, trying to stop the blade, but I’ve already killed the other one. I’m not hesitating, so I ram the knife down into his throat.

Once. Twice.

Hot blood sprays across my face.

He gasps. Chokes. Tries to speak, then nothing.

I fall back, breath ragged, hands shaking, but it’s not fear this time.

It’s rage.

For the men I love. For everything they’ve done for me. If anyone gets between us now, I’ll tear this fucking forest apart with my bare hands.

I run.

Then,

BAM.

An explosion hits just ahead, the shockwave throwing dirt and bark through the air like shrapnel. I duck, a twisted smile curling despite the chaos.

My guys are here .

I move again, slower now. More careful.

Another blast, farther this time. Behind me.

I freeze.

Two detonations. Opposite sides.

My chest pounds as I stare at the rising smoke. Which direction?

Where’s Knox?

I bite my lip, heart screaming behind my ribs.

What would he do?

He’d send Dante somewhere safe—he’s still healing, barely back on his feet.

Max and Ryker? No chance he’d separate them. They work best as a team, and Knox knows it.

That leaves only one option.

The river.

Open terrain. No cover. No high ground. It’s the worst of both worlds—vulnerable and exposed.

He’d take that one himself. Of course he would. He’d rather bleed alone than let anyone else take the hit.

I turn toward the river, legs already moving. Faster. The ground trembles again from a distant blast, and I nearly trip, but I catch myself. I’m close. I can feel it.

When I reach the edge, I stay in the trees, crouching low, eyes scanning.

Then I hear it, a shot and I creep forward, and then I see it.

No.

Knox is on his knees. Blood pools beneath him. His body sways slightly, head bowed. Roman stands in front of him, gun pressed to his temple. Bryn’s beside him, smiling.

My lungs forget how to work, and tears fill my eyes.

“You know why I didn’t want her to fuck you that night?” Bryn says, her tone twisted into something dark and gleeful. “Because I knew if she did, you’d fall. You’d be harder to control. But if she never touched you, you would eventually seek me out.”

Knox laughs; there’s blood on his lips, but no fear—it’s just rage.

“Bryn,” he says, grinning through the pain. “I’d rather stick my dick in a shark’s mouth than touch you.”

My Reaper.

She slaps him, and something inside me snaps.

I move, circling left. Quiet as I can.

I could shoot, but what if I miss?

What if he shoots Knox the second he hears the noise?

I can’t risk it. I need a distraction. Something to make Roman move that gun. Just for a second.

I take a deep breath and slam my boot into the ground. Loud.

Bryn jerks. “Are the others here?” She sounds scared now.

She should be.

Not of the BloodHawks but of me.

“BloodHawks?” Roman calls out. “Come out or I blow your precious leader’s brains out.”

Fuck.

My heart nearly caves in, and I walk, step by step, appearing from the shadows. with my gun raised and aimed at Roman.

Knox’s back is still to me, and I can’t see his eyes. That is killing me; I need to see him, see that he’s okay .

“Aspen!” Bryn squeaks.

My stomach turns.

Knox hears it. “What?” He tries to stand but stumbles, falling back to his knees.

Roman presses the barrel to his head.

“Don’t.” I say, calm and loud.

Knox turns his head, just enough to glimpse me. His face is white with blood and pain, but his mouth pulls into something that looks like relief.

I smile at him, even as my throat burns, even as I want to fall apart.

“Oh my God, Aspen!” Bryn takes a step toward me, smiling like she just found her best friend in a cafe.

She opens her arms to hug me.

I raise my gun and aim it between her eyes.

And I smile back.

“Don’t move, you fucking bitch,” I snap.

She flinches. Halts. Her hands twitch at her sides, but she takes a single step back.

“Aspen, don’t believe anything they told you!” She shouts, pointing straight at Knox, like she’s still got the power to twist my mind.

And I smile, but it’s the kind of smile that burns on the way out.

“You’re alive, Bryn.” My voice shakes, but I hold it. “That’s proof enough they were telling the truth.”

Her face flickers. The mask falters .

“You don’t get to act like a sister now.” That stings her. “You said I was your sister. That I saved you.”

“I meant it,” she says, softer. “But I was wrong. You’re just like them now. You belong to them.”

“No,” I whisper, eyes wet. “I belong with them. That’s different.”

She sneers. “Come on, Aspen. Be real. You really think you can live like this? With four guys constantly wanting to fuck you?”

I glance at Knox; his eyes meet mine, full of pain but also of pride.

I chuckle through the sting behind my eyes.

“Actually, I can’t imagine living without four guys who fuck me so hard I forget my name.”

Bryn looks like she’s unraveling.

“You said they were different,” I whisper. “And you were right. They are. They protected us. I protected you.”

Her mouth opens, but I don’t let her speak.

“You destroyed the one thing we had left. And for what? To play matriarch of some burned-out kingdom?” My hands are shaking, but I hold my aim. “You sold us out for power. And the worst part? You did it with a smile.”

Roman shifts.

I whip my gun toward him, and he stops mid-step.

“Don’t,” I hiss. “I don’t know if Bryn mentioned it, but I’m a damn good shot.”

He glowers. The hatred in his eyes is palpable.

Bryn turns to him and nods .

A whistle pierces the air.

Roman reacts first, spinning toward the sound.

Knox whistles back, a different tone. The signal.

“They’re here!” Bryn yells, panic twisting her, but it’s already too late.

Gunfire cracks through the trees.

One bullet slams into Roman’s shoulder. He stumbles, but he doesn’t fall. He runs.

I fire. Miss by a fucking inch.

Bryn dives, grabs his fallen gun, and points it at Knox.

“Bryn!” I scream. “Don’t,”

But I see it in her eyes; she doesn’t care. The hate in her eyes—she is going to kill, so I shoot.

The bullet hits her square in the chest. She gasps, staggers, and falls, but the gun’s still in her hand.

“The gun!” Dante shouts.

She raises it, bloody fingers tightening on the trigger, and I don’t hesitate.

BAM.

Her body jerks and crumples.

I walk up to her. Stare down at what’s left; there are no tears left for Bryn, not anymore.

Not after what she did.

“Knox!” Max’s voice breaks.

I spin, and my heart shatters .

He’s on the ground, sprawled on his back. Blood everywhere. Soaking into the dirt. His chest is rising too fast and shallow .

“No.” My legs give as I drop beside him. “No, no, no, no, Knox —”

His head turns, eyes fluttering until they lock onto mine.

“You never obey a fucking order, pet.” He grins weakly, lips stained red.

“Don’t talk, save your strength.” I hold his face, blood covering my hands. “Please, I couldn’t save you,”

“You saved me the day you stayed, Aspen,” he whispers, breath hitching. “You gave me… us, something we never had. That’s more than I ever,”

“Shut up,” I sob, rocking into him. “You don’t get to say goodbye. You don’t—”

Ryker drops beside us, silent tears streaking his face, hands shaking but reaching for Knox’s.

Max’s breathing is rough behind me, and when I glance back, he’s crying too.

“This can’t be happening,” Max whispers.

Ryker clutches Knox’s shoulder like if he just holds tighter, it’ll all go back.

Dante’s just standing there.

I curl over Knox’s body and kiss his forehead.

“I’m here,” I whisper.

He’s fading.

I can feel it, beneath my hands, in the way his skin chills beneath my touch, in the way his breath rattles through blood and pain and too much silence.

“Stay with me, Knox, please ,” I’m shaking, sobbing, holding his face between my hands.

Then, with a breath so shallow I almost miss it, he turns his head.

“Dante,” he rasps.

Dante steps closer, jaw locked, fighting back everything he won’t say.

“You’re in charge now,” Knox murmurs. “Keep them safe.”

“No,” Dante growls, shaking his head like he can push it all away, but Knox doesn’t flinch.

His gaze flicks to Max and Ryker.

“Max. Ryker.” He swallows, coughs, blood on his lips. “You two are the brothers I never had.”

Max’s lips part, but no words come. Just a choked sound and the kind of look that break s me. Ryker drops to his knees, grabs Knox’s hand, and squeezes it like maybe that’ll stop the bleeding.

Then his eyes land on me.

I fall apart the second he reaches for me, bloody fingers brushing my cheek, a smear across my jaw. He grips my shirt, pulls me close, chest rattling beneath mine.

“You,” he breathes.

One word.

Like, it means everything.

“You were the first thing I ever wanted that I didn’t want to destroy.”

A sob rips from my throat.

“I’m not scared to die, pet,” he whispers, mouth near my ear, breath trembling. “I’m scared of not being here to protect you, to love you.”

“No, don’t say that, please,” I press my forehead to his, tears falling freely now, mixing with the sweat and blood on his face.

He chuckles.

“Your love made me stronger,” he murmurs. “And I fucking loved every second of it.”

He presses his lips to my cheek.

“Fight,” he growls, the last edge of command. “You hear me? You fight , pet. Burn the fucking world if you have to.”

My chest caves in.

I can’t breathe.

“I love you,” he whispers. “Always. Fucking. Will.”