Page 64 of Ruthless Desires, Vol. One (Ruthless Desires Series Extended Editions #1)

Rhett

Oliver seems happier.

No, not seems. Is. I think I know why, but I don’t ask. That’s between him and Wren. All I care about is that I get to see him smile more.

Obviously the kidnapping traumatized Wren the most, but I’m not stupid enough to believe Oliver isn’t dealing with the aftereffects as well.

He had to watch her almost die while he was tied to a chair, completely helpless. Hell, it’s possible he almost died himself.

He’s a master at redirecting conversations away from himself or hiding behind jokes, but Ell and I know better.

We all need to heal from this, but Oliver and Wren do the most.

Still, his footsteps are lighter, and his eyes have gained back the sparkle that Wren’s haven’t.

It’s an odd cocktail of feelings, being relieved for Oliver yet concerned for Wren. But I’m not sure how to help her.

Until Thursday morning, that is.

We’re all in the kitchen eating breakfast, and Wren is staring into her coffee. Our doctor came and checked on her yesterday, saying she was much better, so she practically demanded coffee this morning.

Oliver nudges her with his elbow. “Tell them what you told me yesterday, princess.”

She looks up, first making eye contact with me and then Elliot. “I want to kill Jordan today.”

I didn’t realize how tense I was until my whole body sags. I lean against the counter to disguise the movement, but I think Wren is the only one who falls for it.

I wanted to give her the time and space she needed, but I’ve hated having Jordan here. Every time I remember he’s locked up in that room, I have to stop myself from storming in there and beating him to within an inch of his life.

“We can get everything set up,” Elliot says. “There’s actually an old clawfoot tub in the basement. It’s chipped on one side. A little sharp, so we’ll have to avoid that spot. But we can fill it with water.”

She nods slowly. Her eyes flit to mine again. “You’re still…?”

“Absolutely, sweetheart.”

With a relieved sigh, she takes a sip of her coffee. “I want to talk to him beforehand. Alone.”

“No,” all three of us say at the same time.

“Jesus,” she mutters.

“That’s a horrible idea, princess.”

“Fine. With Rhett, then?” She gives me a questioning look.

I nod.

“When?” Elliot asks.

“After breakfast?”

“We can make that work.”

It doesn’t take us long to finish eating and clean up. Then Oliver and Elliot head to the basement. Wren takes my hand, and we walk toward Jordan’s room silently.

Once we reach the door, Wren stops.

I’m not sure what she wants to say to him, but she seems determined to have this conversation.

Just as I’m about to remind her she doesn’t have to do anything she doesn’t want to, she takes a deep breath and unlocks the door.

Inside, Jordan is awake and seething. “What, no breakfast today?” he spits out. When neither of us answer, the resentment on his face morphs into realization. “No.”

“You knew this was coming,” Wren says.

“I didn’t think you’d follow through!” Jordan shakes his head. “No, you don’t have to do this. I was just avenging my brother. You understand that.”

“If you wanted revenge, then you shouldn’t’ve gone after an innocent person,” I snap. Wren grabs my arm, and I realize I’m halfway to the bed, my fists clenched. I step back. “And you should’ve gone after the person who ordered the kill, not the people who fulfilled it.”

Jordan ignores me, looking Wren up and down. “This is what you want? You can’t wash this kind of blood off your hands. I hope you’ve thought long and hard about whether you really want to take my life.”

I’m about to spit out a retort when Wren holds up her hand. It’s hard to stay quiet, but this is for her, not me.

“How much thought did you put into killing me?” Wren asks, walking right up to him.

Jordan clamps his mouth shut.

“None, right?” Wren says, crossing her arms over her chest. “I was just a means to an end for you. A way to inflict pain on them.” She gestures to me. “You didn’t care that I didn’t deserve it.”

He refuses to look at her, staring straight ahead. Fucking coward.

God, I can’t wait to kill him.

“I want you to know,” Wren says, “that even though I won’t be the one to kill you, it was my decision. I say when you die, not them. I’m sorry you lost your brother. Truly, I am. But it doesn’t redeem what you did.”

For a second, I’m afraid Jordan will try to latch onto the scrap of compassion Wren offered him. But he glances at me, and my expression must make him think better of it. So instead, he accepts his fate.

“I don’t regret it,” he says. “I may not have been able to execute all of you, but I had all three of your men scrambling to get to you like scared puppy dogs. I got to see the downright terror in Oliver’s eyes while I drowned you. He was so desperate, he begged—”

Wren slaps him across the face, which takes me by surprise. “Say Oliver’s name again, and I will put you through so much pain that you’ll be begging god to erase you from all of existence.”

I can’t help the smile that spreads over my face.

Protective rage looks good on you, sweetheart.

“Fuck you,” Jordan seethes.

Ignoring him, Wren turns to me. “I’m ready.”

I untie Jordan from the bed.

His wrists are still bound, so I yank him to his feet.

The idiot tries to get away, but it’s barely an inconvenience for me.

I keep a firm grip on him as we head to the basement. The stairs are a little tricky, but I make Jordan go first so he has no choice but to descend.

Oliver and Elliot have dragged the tub into the middle of the floor and filled it to the brim with water.

When Jordan sees it, he starts struggling again, but it’s in vain.

I force him forward until he’s standing in front of the tub.

Then I look to Wren for instruction.

She moves to stand in between Oliver and Elliot. “Get him on his knees.”

I push Jordan to the ground in front of the tub. He tries to get back up, but I don’t let him.

Wren continues hovering a couple yards away. I’m not sure why she doesn’t want to get up close for this, but I suppose it’s a lot for her. Jordan may have almost killed her half a dozen times, but this is still quite an adjustment to the life Wren was living a month ago.

“Put him under,” she whispers.

I oblige, grabbing the hair at the base of Jordan’s neck and shoving his face into the water. He thrashes, trying to get free, but I cage his body to the tub in the same way he did to Wren.

When Jordan’s movements slow, Wren says, “Up.”

Once I’ve pulled him out of the water, Jordan sputters and coughs. “Fuck you,” he growls once he’s gotten enough air.

“Maybe you should stop struggling,” Wren says dryly. “You’re making it harder on yourself.”

“You bit-”

I don’t wait for Wren’s permission this time, forcing Jordan underwater before he can finish his sentence. She watches with a hardened gaze, lifting her chin after a few seconds.

When I pull Jordan out of the water, he’s shaking.

“Please,” he gasps. “I’ll leave you alone. I’ll give you whatever you want. Money, my inheritance, anything. Please just give me a second chance.”

Wren is silent for a moment, and I begin to worry she’s actually considering Jordan’s offer. But then she asks quietly, “Were you going to give me a second chance?”

He doesn’t answer.

“Were you?” she shouts.

Jordan cringes and shakes his head.

“Then you don’t get one. Rhett.” She points to the tub.

When I push Jordan down this time, he doesn’t fight. I keep my eyes on Wren, waiting for her to tell me to pull him up, but she doesn’t. She’s frozen, holding onto one of Elliot’s hands and one of Oliver’s.

“Sweetheart?” I say.

“Keep him down.”

Eventually, Jordan’s body sags against the tub. He’s unconscious, but he’s still not dead. I look to Wren, but she doesn’t give me any indication that she wants me to move him yet.

“How long… how long does it take?” she asks after a couple minutes.

“He’s not coming back from this, princess,” Oliver says.

With a shuddering breath, she says, “Let him go.”

I pull Jordan out and lay him on the floor. Then I check for his pulse. Non-existent.

“He’s dead, sweetheart.”

Wren stares at Jordan’s body, almost as if she’s waiting for him to reanimate or something. But then her gaze moves to me. She steps forward, but then she pauses. “Come here. Please.”

I do, searching her face for any hint of regret. But all I find is a trust so deep it could rival the ocean.

Grabbing my head, Wren pulls me down and slams her lips to mine. I don’t miss a beat, gripping her waist and matching the intensity of her kiss. I use so much force I’m afraid I’m hurting her, but she doesn’t back down. And then she’s practically crawling onto me, and I’m picking her up so she can lock her legs around my torso.

She pulls away to catch her breath, but it’s only a second before she descends on me again. Her tongue enters my mouth in a gentle caress before I practically shove mine down her throat.

When we break off the kiss, my chest is heaving. I stare into her eyes, and there—I can just make out a sliver of brightness shining in them, resurrected because Jordan is dead.

Fuck. I’ll kill every person who’s ever hurt her if it means I get to see her full of happiness and life again.

“I want you,” she breathes. “All three of you.”

“You have us, sweetheart.”

She shakes her head. “At once. Now.”

I glance at Elliot and Oliver, who look equally relieved and concerned. “You’re sure, sweetheart?”

Resting her forehead against mine, she says, “I’ve never been so sure of something in my life.”