Page 86 of Sadistic Retribution

“And you apparently do now too.”

He pulls back slightly, Synn standing next to him. It’s Synn who starts speaking. “My father—well, all our fathers—ordered us to do it. We had no choice.”

I go to open my mouth, but Frost cuts in. “Mine, Purge’s, and Ghost’s families are Bratva—Russian mob. Synn’s, Razor’s, and Trikk’s are Mafia. We're all heirs to the throne.”

“Yeah, Iskra, we were commanded to destroy you. We tried to say no, but they threatened to do it themselves. They are a type of ruthless and vicious you wouldn’t believe,” Purge explains, wringing his hands in nervousness.

“They set the whole thing up. All of it,” Razor says.

“And Val? What did you do to her?” I demand.

“She was slipped a paralytic drug. One that made her appear dead, but she could see and hear. We set up the scene from there. It was animal blood,” Synn explains.

My jaw opens, then slams shut again. “It was fake? Do you have any fucking idea what you did to me? To Bryan? The fucking torture we were subjected to?”

Valley makes a choking sound. “Bryan! Where is he? Is he okay?”

My eyes fill with tears as I say softly, “Last time I saw him he was alive. They took him away, though. I don’t know where he is, or how he is.”

She whips her head around, glaring at the guys. “Find him! Promise me! You owe me!”

Before anyone can answer, arms come around me from behind. “Pretty Girl? Valley? What the hell? Are you alright?”

My tears pour down my face fast now. “Hun... Hunter? You... you came back? I thought you left me!”

He turns me around to face him. “I never left you, my love. I had to temporarily leave the premises, but never would I leave you.”

My lip starts to tremble. “Answer me one thing—did you know about this... setup? It being fake, and Valley being alive?”

He holds my gaze, and I drown in his soulful eyes. “I had no idea. None whatsoever.”

I cry out, throwing my arms around him. “I love you, Hunter. Take me away from here, please?”

He scoops me up bridal-style, walking me away from everyone. “Val! Wait for me, please?”

“Yes, yes, always, Nyx!”

“Wait a fucking minute,” Synn bellows from behind us.

Hunter pauses, just long enough to say “No, Synn—you wait. You broke her. Now, I’m going to heal her.”

Chapter 30

Phoenyxx

Hunter carriesme all the way to his apartment. I burrow into him, taking comfort in his heat—his scent.

He's the only one who didn’t fuck me over—at least that's what he said. I will be asking, that’s for sure!

Now that all my emotions are back, I’m completely overwhelmed with them all. I still feel anger and rage, but now sorrow, fear, and love all take up space in my heart and my head.

I’m almost frantic to get 3, 6, and Bryan the fuck out of The Morgue. I have to tell them we need to get them out. And I will, when we’re all together.

Valley. I am ecstatic I have her back. The love I feel for that girl goes beyond mere words. I have so many questions. But talking to Hunter is first.

“You okay, Pretty Girl?” he asks.

“I am now. I lost my shit when you left. I couldn’t believe you would do that to me.”