Page 37 of Savage Revenge (Savage Sins #1)

Cash

FAMILY BONDING

I thought I knew what heartbreak was. I thought it was losing my mom and then my dad. But those are nothing like knowing I’m going to let Jordyn go when she wakes up in a few hours.

Here she is, in my arms, breathing softly while her perfectly shaped eyebrows twitch as if she’s having a dream.

My heart is breaking right down the center in slow, excruciating cracks that will eventually sever it completely.

The thing about cracks is you can fill those in, but once it’s in two, it can never be whole again.

And once I let Jordyn walk out of my life, I’m going to know what that feels like.

The delicate morning light gives me just enough to study her closely and memorize every freckle, every gentle slope, everything.

Even if Thomas Kingston killed my father, Jordyn doesn’t deserve to pay for his sins. And neither does Jacob. The only responsible party is the person who did it.

I’ve continued holding Jordyn because of my own possessiveness and selfishness.

I knew the first time she spoke that she knew nothing.

She truly has no idea whether it was her father or not.

I could have let her go then. I should have.

But she was too much of everything. Too beautiful.

Too smart-mouthed. Too strong. Too smart.

And Jesus, she makes me feel alive. All while I’ve been holding her back.

Keeping her locked up when she has dreams and aspirations that she deserves to fulfill.

If it were as simple as her wanting to run some casinos, I’d give her a handful of mine.

It’s more than that for her, though. It’s her family.

Her name. Just because Thomas Kingston is a bastard, doesn’t mean the entire Kingston empire is dirty.

Hell, I’d love to compete with a CEO like Jordyn. She’d make me a better businessman.

She already makes me a better everything . Makes me want to be good. For her, though. Only her.

A tiny hum escapes her, and she rolls over onto her side, resting her left hand on my chest and tucking the other one under her.

Long, brown, silky hair splays around her face, covering a little too much for my liking.

I reach down and gently brush it away, my calloused fingers looking rough against her soft, creamy cheek.

My gaze flicks to her hand resting over my heart, her clean, untattooed skin a contrast against my inked, scarred body. She’s an angel and I’m a monster, but when we’re together, none of that matters. She looks at me like she trusts me. Like she wants me. Like she cares about me.

I’ve never had that from a woman before.

Then again, I’ve never felt this way for anyone before.

She’s become my oxygen. My nicotine. My hit of something so addicting that I’ll never be the same again.

She’ll move on with her life, and maybe one day she’ll forgive me.

Maybe one day she’ll look back at her time with me, and maybe she’ll smile when she remembers it.

Hours pass, she doesn’t move, and neither do I. My time is running out with her, and suddenly a heavy weight presses on my chest. I let out a silent curse as my phone vibrates with a message.

Beckett: We found a suspicious transfer from a year ago in his records. It went to an account in the Cayman Islands that is registered under CK Gaming. Shall we go question the motherfucker?

A lump forms in my throat as I slowly type a response one-handed.

Cash: I’m coming. I’ll meet you there.. Tell Cassian to cut Jacob loose with the threat of his life if he so much as thinks of going to the police.

I close my eyes for a second before taking one more look at Jordyn before I gently pull myself free. She sleeps right through it, only letting out a little whimper of protest when our bodies stop touching.

Before I walk into the bathroom, I take one more long look at her, my throat tightening as I do.

Forty minutes later, I stand fully showered and dressed at the closed bathroom door for a good fifteen seconds before I open it. She’s still asleep, and I hate to wake her, but I’m not going to be a coward and not say goodbye.

My steps are quiet as I cross the carpeted floor. And when I stand beside the bed, staring down at her, I question if I’m making the right choice.

She belongs here.

In my home.

Under my care.

In my heart.

But she doesn’t want this. She wants to be free. She said it herself.

This is the right choice.

Steeling myself, I lean down and gently run my hand over her arm. She immediately stirs, her eyelashes fluttering as she sleepily looks around and then up at me. The corners of her mouth tip up slightly.

She looks beautiful. As always. Only more so now, because every second I spend with her, I fall for her a little more, and she only keeps getting more and more perfect.

I swallow painfully and straighten, tucking my hands into the pockets of my black slacks.

“Caleb is waiting outside your room. He will help you pack and escort you home. Take anything with you that you wish.” My words feel like sand against my tongue as I speak. “You’re free to go, Jordyn.”

Her eyebrows pinch together, and she sits up slightly, resting an elbow on the bed, confusion all over her face. “What?”

“You’re not responsible for your father’s sins. I shouldn’t have kept you here. I’m sorry. Caleb will see you home whenever you’re ready.”

Unable to stare into her deep green eyes for a second longer, I turn on my heel and stride out, stopping in the hall to give Caleb instructions.

“Help her pack her stuff and then take her home. Increased security measures will be installed this week in her building; until then, keep watch on her from a distance.”

Caleb frowns. “Boss?”

I hold up my hand to stop him and start to walk away. “Just do it. Make sure she gets settled at home.” Pausing, I turn to scowl at him. “But don’t spend a minute longer in her apartment than is necessary.”

He nods, understanding the threat laced in it if he so much as thinks of spending any time with Jordyn. She may be free, but that doesn’t mean she’s not mine. Because, whether I have her in my life or not, she’s mine.

“Are you okay?” Xander asks, his dark eyes studying me.

Running a hand through my hair, I try to play it cool and nod.

“I’m good.” I’m not even close to good. I’m trembling with so much rage on the inside that I can barely see straight.

But I don’t need to talk to Xander about it.

He doesn’t need to know that I’m on the verge of losing my mind because I don’t know if Jordyn is already getting on with her life or if she’s making out with Caleb in her apartment because she’s so excited to be free.

He also doesn’t need to know that I blame Kingston for all of this.

For the excruciating pain I’m experiencing or the violent thoughts I’m having from thinking about either of those scenarios.

“You’re not good.” He won’t stop studying me, and it’s unnerving.

I’ve always been closest to Xander. But for some reason, he’s the one who’s been the most apprehensive about Jordyn, and I’m not sure why. The last thing I want, though, is to chat with him about it.

Surprisingly, Beckett speaks up, his gaze scanning my face. “I don’t think it’s a good time to talk about whatever Cash has going on, bro. Besides, we have other shit to handle at the moment.”

The four of us walk in together, nodding to Cassian’s guys as we pass while moving deeper into the dim warehouse.

In the movies, they always show these types of places lit up.

It’s not actually like that. In reality, it’s dark and dingy.

Abandoned. Which means no electricity. No running water.

Nothing. And people tend to leave abandoned things alone out here.

At least it stays somewhat cool in here.

Jacob has already gone. Cassian personally drove him back to his office and made sure he understood what would happen should he do anything stupid.

There will be some men watching Jacob from a distance for the time being.

From what Cassian said, Jacob reassured him he wouldn’t say anything, but it never hurts to be extra careful.

I got the feeling Jacob might have some unfavorable feelings for his father as well. He didn’t seem shocked that Thomas had gotten himself into a mess.

Kingston is filthy. Soaked in sweat, blood, and probably piss. He’s been roughed up a bit, but there’s still plenty left for me to do to get my point across.

“Miss me?” I smile at him and, without waiting for an answer, I swing, cracking him in the nose. He howls. I laugh, and it’s a fucking breath of fresh air in my lungs.

When I hit him again, his head snaps back, and he groans, unable to brace himself with his hands and feet tied to the chair.

I roll my shoulders and glance at Xander, who’s smirking but looking at me with interest. I don’t usually come in swinging like this, but damn, it felt good. This asshole deserves it.

“We found a transfer for four billion dollars last year. Sent to the Cayman Islands: CK Gaming. Tell me what it is, or I’ll put a bullet in your kneecap right now.” I pull my gun, and Kingston immediately starts shouting.

“It’s not what you think! It has nothing to do with your father. It was a business deal.” His eyes are on the end of my gun, and when I pull the trigger, he screams as his kneecap blows out, sending bone and blood spraying everywhere.

None of my brothers move or say anything.

They won’t. I could do anything to this bastard, and they wouldn’t blink an eye.

Just like I would do for them when they have to take care of something.

This is personal for all of us, though, so I’m sure they’ll all want a turn torturing Kingston. It will be a family bonding thing.

“That was the wrong answer. The right answer would be to tell me who the fuck CK Gaming is and what kind of business deal.” I point the gun at the other knee. “General overview bullshit doesn’t help me in any way. I need specifics if you want to keep your other leg.”

Kingston groans and cries, his fists balled tightly as blood drains from his leg at a pace that tells me we have plenty of time before he bleeds out.

If he gives us what we want, we might actually get him a medic to stop it.

Maybe it’ll buy him a few extra days in here if he gives me answers. Lucky guy.

“Fuck. It sounds bad,” Kingston pants, his breath sawing in and out of him. “I swear, though, I had nothing to do with your dad’s death.”

As I raise the gun again, he starts shouting faster.

“I did a business deal with Carver! We’re going into business together.

That’s what that transfer was. We both put in four billion to buy The Sapphire.

I was losing money. So much money. I knew your father wouldn’t go into business with me, so when Carver offered, I took him up on it.

But it had nothing to do with your father’s death. I swear!”

I try to swallow, but my throat is too dry.

Carver and Kingston made a business deal?

For what? Why would Carver want to make a deal?

His family has more money than anyone in this city, including ours.

What would he get from owning more casinos?

If he’s in business with Kingston, it would mean that between the two of them, they would own the majority of The Strip, especially with The Sapphire in their clutches.

My heart slams against my ribcage as I lurch forward, gripping his shirt at the collar with one hand while I point my gun at his forehead with the other, the realization hitting me like a ton of bricks.

“You killed my father for power over The Strip!” I roar.

Thomas shakes like a leaf and shakes his head. “I didn’t!” he screams. “I didn’t kill him. I swear, Cash! Please, God! Yes, getting power over The Strip was in the plan, but I wouldn’t have killed your old man over it.”

Taking a step back, I lower my arms to my sides, glowering over him.

“The business is Jordyn and Jacob’s, too,” I grind out.

Kingston’s eyes widen. “Not yet. It’s still mine.”

I narrow my gaze. “Your parents would have had to sign off on that kind of decision. I can’t imagine them agreeing to go into business with the Carver family.”

“How do you know that?” he asks, his head shaking like he’s trying to convince himself.

“Because I’ve been holding your daughter at my house while you’ve been gone.”

“That fucking bitch,” he mutters. “She talks too goddamn much.”

“Excuse me?” I whisper, taking a slow step forward, my eyes boring into him. “What was that?”

“Nothing,” he mumbles. “I had nothing to do with Jack’s death. I’m sorry he was murdered. I didn’t do it. Please.” Fat, wet tears roll down his cheeks.

“Cash,” Beckett calls out from behind me. When I glance back at him, he’s standing next to Cassian, who has a laptop in his hands.

For good measure, I swing at Kingston one more time before I stride over to see what else they found.

As I walk across the cold, concrete floor, I pull out my phone to check my messages, and the final cut happens.

Caleb: Jordyn is home. Safe and sound. Apartment swept before I left. Posted outside the building now.

She’s gone.

My girl is really gone.

And I’m the only one to blame.