Page 58 of Tortured Souls

“Yeah, fine. The fucker ninja kicked me right in the chest.” I start making my way up the stairs, my gun aimed at the back of Mr. Giant himself.

“Trip down!” I shout. Just when he ducks out of the way, I fire two shots to the back of the head. This behemoth of a man doesn’t drop right away. He staggers a moment before falling to his knees and then to his chest.

“Do you see how fucking huge he is?” Trip asks as he’s catching his breath from going punch for punch with the guy. Trip’s upper brow is busted and blood is dripping down his face, but other than that, he looks fine.

“Have you found anyone up here?” I ask, extending my hand and helping him up.

“Nah, just giant man and two others. There is a dead woman in the main suite. Looks like she’s been dead for some time.” We make our way back down the stairs when Brooks comes over the radio.

“We found her. She’s in the basement.”

“How is she?” I ask, panicked. I need to see her. I need to see she’s okay.

“Alive, but it’s not good.” I’ve never been a runner or a fucking track star, but the moment the words leave Brooks mouth, I’m sprinting for the basement. I have no idea where it is, but I’m opening every door I pass in a frenzy.

“Saxon, here!” Saint calls to me from the kitchen, his hand resting on a door handle that leads to a set of stairs, leading to what looks like the basement. I don’t hesitate. I take the steps three at a time, damn near breaking my ankle as I finally hit the bottom. I can’t see her. Finn’s back is to me. He’s sitting in a chair, cradling something in his arms—no,someone.

No.

I hold my breath as I make my way over to him. He’s whispering something. Words of reassurance as I finally see who he’s holding. Like a child resting against his chest, Sky lies motionless.

“He’s here. He’s right here, killer. You’re safe,” Finn says to her as I peer down at the woman who has my heart in a chokehold. Looking up at me, Finn adjusts her in his arms, standing and extending her body towards me. Slipping my arms beneath her legs and shoulders, she slumps against my chest. She’s breathing, but unconscious. Her small frame feels so cold. I sit in the chair and hold her tighter against me, burying my face in the crook of her neck.

Every inch of her skin is black, blue, or purple. Dried blood is blocking one of her nostrils completely, and her right eye is so swollen she wouldn’t be able to open it if she tried. I noticefreshly peeled skin from behind her ear, where her Hellstorm brand once was. Someone sliced her brand off. Her shoulder sits at an awkward angle, dislocated as it lies limp by her side.

“Sax,” someone says to me, but I can’t tell who. Lifting my head, I see Brooks kneeling in front of me, his eyes pained as he looks me dead in the eyes.

“They assaulted her.” I can’t breathe, I can’t even comprehend the words he continues to say to me. All I can see is the blood that’s completely saturated her panties. Her tank top, the only other clothing she has on, is also covered in blood. So much blood. I wasn’t quick enough. I couldn’t save her. I’ve failed her.

“Heath!” someone calls for him up the stairs. Heath is a paramedic, and I’m lucky he’s on our side. Heavy steps follow and Saint tells him what we all know. A whisperedfuckis all I hear from him.

“Sax, let Heath take her to a bedroom so he can assess her. We need to make sure we stop the bleeding.” I can’t let her go. My grip tightens on my girl as she whimpers in my hold. I’m holding her too tight, but I can’t let her go.

“Sax, we need to hurry. Heath’s good. He can help her.” Brooks is still talking, but I can’t stop the demon from screaming his way out of my throat. A scream I can’t contain scratches its way up my esophagus echoing in the small basement. The demon in me is out, and I don’t want to cage him back up. Not right now.

“Let’s go hunting, Sax. Let’s get these fuckers that hurt her.” Saint is the one who draws me out of my spiral. Heath’s arms come beneath mine, waiting for me to hand her over, and I do. Not before I kiss her forehead and promising her I will take care of who did this.

“Be careful with her,” I manage to say, before Heath stands and cradles my girl with ease.

“She’s safe with me, boss.”

“Trip go with him. Keep watch so he can work.” Trip nods and moves in front of Heath as they both ascend the stairs.

Standing from the chair, I straighten to my full height. Black fills my vision, a narrowing path, leading me to whoever else is still alive in this fucking house. Death will be too easy for them. No, I have better plans. My entire being is absorbed by my own personal demon, the mask of a monster I usually try so hard to contain, but not anymore. Not when someone’s hurt the woman I love. This monster is ready, I’m ready, we’re ready. I can taste the blood that will spill, and it’s the sweetest dessert on my tongue.

“Everyone dies. Sergio’s mine. Bring him to me.” My voice isn’t my own. My shadow has completely taken over my body, and he’s thirsty for vengeance.

“Let’s fucking go!” I hear Finn yell from behind me as we all head back upstairs. The hunt is on, and no one is safe.

SKYLAR

If one could survive going through a wood chipper, that’s how much pain I feel right now. The sad part is, I don’t even care. I was hoping I was dead already, but the sound of a distant voice is drawing me back down to earth, and I’m pissed. I don’t want this body. I don’t want this soul or anything this life has left for me. I wanted death. I wished it would come sooner, but sometimes bad people have to endure the worst before they’re blessed with death. And I know I’m a bad person. I guess anyone who kills is a bad person. This is my punishment.

So many of my father’s men lined up to give me the beating of my life. Many who were friends of my victims, taking their anger out on me. The others were just ordered to participate—stand in line, beat the traitorous daughter, and hold nothing back. I could handle the beatings. Punch after punch, even the skinning of my brand. While that hurt—it was fucking excruciating—nothing is worse than being taken against your will. Used for someone else’s pleasure.

If I wasn’t broken before, this night ripped me apart in so many ways and left me praying for mercy. Praying an angel would swoop down and take me away from this torment, but she never came. I’ve never cried in front of my father’s men before, but when the devil stands beside you to hold your hand through the most vicious attack I’ve ever survived, nothing could stop my screams of pain. I begged and pleaded for them to kill me and get it over with. Do whatever you want with my body when I’m dead, just spare me the humiliation, the degradation, the agony of being violated. They laughed at me, all eight of them, as they abused me in the most horrifying way they could have.

Once the blackness swallowed me whole, I was able to breathe again. The darkness of death is inky black, and I welcomed the blanket that covered me and dragged me away from that hell. At least, I thought it did.