Page 62 of Serena (Shattered Queens #1)

The phone on my nightstand rings. I knew the space next to me on the bed would be empty. Serena was going to an early kickboxing class. So when I see her calling, I immediately panic.

“Baby, is everything all right?”

“Yes.” She hesitates.

“I’m going to send you an address. Can you head over?”

“What’s going on?”

“I’ll explain when you get here.” She hangs up, and moments later, an address is delivered. It’s a location I'm very familiar with.

My cousin has a couple of places where he does his dirty work. He has a particular favorite. It’s located behind the family gun range. Right where I find Serena waiting for me, and next to her is Damon. I turn off the car and make my way to her.

“What the fuck is going on?” I turn to my cousin, who’s grinning.

“You have quite the woman here.” He walks away without saying another word. I turn to face her.

“Serena, what the fuck is going on?”

“I’ll show you, but don’t get mad.”

“I’m already mad.” She places her hands on my chest, and I immediately start to calm down. Her touch soothes me, and she wraps her arms around me.

“Don’t be mad,” she repeats. “Remember, I love you.” She knows how to calm me. She can do no wrong. My cousin, on the other hand, has some explaining to do.

“Ian, before we go inside, I need you to take a picture of me.” She hands me her phone with her camera ready to go.

She pulls her shirt up and exposes her scars.

“Make sure they are all in the frame.” I do as I’m told.

She takes my hand and leads me to the hidden dungeon, as my cousin likes to call it.

“Serena, what the hell is going on?”

“Please just wait, you’ll see.”

I enter the dark space. In the center of the room, Byran Carson is hanging, shirtless and gagged.

I turn to look at Serena, who’s staring at the man.

There’s so much hate in her eyes, but when she looks at me, I see a sparkle.

Next to Byran is a plastic container. I walk to it, and I see shards of glass with what looks to be protective gloves.

I turn to Serena. “Explain, now.”

“I can help with that.” I hear a familiar voice and turn to see my uncle.

“Isaac, what the hell are you doing here?”

“I was given instructions to help this beauty. We gave her the drug necessary to knock this piece of shit out, and we picked him up and brought him here. It seems like Damon and I did our part.” He turns to Serena and smiles.

“Let us know when you need to clean up.” On his way out, he turns.

“Family dinner next weekend.” I look at my brown-eyed beauty, and she’s smiling. What the fuck?

I see Damon appear from the shadows. “Have fun.” Then he follows after his father.