Page 6 of Veiled Vengeance (The Devils of New York #3)

SPENCER

I drift off to sleep when the adrenaline finally leaves my body, and a small headache squeezes my head, forcing my eyes closed. The sun finally set, and I should be on guard, but I haven’t eaten, and I haven’t slept yet since we were taken. My body can only go without so much.

Sleep doesn’t cradle me for long before a bang from the metal doors jerks us all awake.

The sun is shining directly in my eyes, keeping my vision blurred.

I peek at Asher, his face is grim as he looks at whoever has entered.

A thump reaches my ears as the sound of footsteps on pavement get closer to my chair.

Despite the warmth, a chill snakes up my spine, and goosebumps break out across my arms.

A form blocks the sun, and I blink rapidly, allowing my eyes to adjust. Pierce Murphy’s gleeful face swims into view.

“My Lily, I’m here.” He squats down, grabs my face, and kisses me. His touch is hard and punishing. “We don’t have long to do this.” He looks deep into my eyes. Adoration glistens in his eyes.

The urge to retch claws at my throat. “What are you talking about?” I search the room for an escape even though I’m still taped to the chair. I spot the man who was standing guard at the door. He’s lying unconscious on the ground.

Fuck.

With his hands still on my face, his thumbs swipe across my cheekbones. “We can finally be together.”

Is he serious?

My mouth opens and closes repeatedly. “Pierce, I?—”

“I see the way you look at me—the way you’ve always looked at me. You want this just as much as I do.” His eyes wander down to the front of my dress and dip into my cleavage. “Anthony is busy in the city; this is the only time we have.”

“What?”

“Don’t you fucking touch her!” Asher thrashes about, and the chain around his hook clanks loudly.

His hands go to the front of my dress and grip the neckline at the center of my chest. With a yank, my breasts spill out. My heart flips, and a stab of terror slices through my sternum.

This can’t be happening. Please. Not again. I can’t survive this again.

“Please don’t do this,” I whimper. Black tears roll down my cheeks as saltwater mixes with my mascara.

“Shhh.” He holds a finger up to my mouth. “It’s okay. I know you don’t love him like you love me.”

“No. Please no,” I beg.

“I know you love me.”

Oh my God. He’s delusional.

Fuck this. I’m not going down without a fight.

“No, I don’t!” I shout. Spit flies from my mouth and lands on his face.

Pierce blinks, and his fist goes right into my stomach. “Stop lying! You’re lying”

I wheeze. “I don’t want you. I never wanted you.”

“Yes, you do! Admit it!” Pierce continues to punch my abdomen.

Asher doesn’t let up as he fights to break free. “Stop! Get your filthy hands off her, you piece of shit! You pathetic piece of shit!”

I can barely breathe as Pierce wrenches my thighs apart and pushes up the hem of my dress, so it rests up around my hips. He looks down at my black thong like it’s the most beautiful thing he’s ever seen. “So beautiful,” he praises reverently.

I pull at my wrists as the tape digs into my skin. I twist them back and forth with no progress. My pulse roars in my throat.

Pierce glides his hands up my thighs and grabs at my hips. He leans in and drags his nose up the column of my neck.

“Please, stop.”

I’m helpless. I can’t move. I can’t fight him off.

Pierce has always made me uncomfortable. I didn’t think he’d go this far, but I shouldn’t be surprised. He’s absolutely insane, just like Anthony.

My gaze wanders over his shoulder and connects with Dahlia.

My tears don’t blur her face. Her eyes are firm, and her muscles clenched.

The stillness of her aura infuses me with the strength I need to endure.

There’s literally nothing I can do to stop what’s going to happen.

All I can do is accept it and keep going.

Pierce’s hands continue to grope me, and my concentration on Dahlia doesn’t waiver.

“Look away, Asher.” My voice is hollow.

Asher’s furious glower stabs at the side of Pierce’s skill. “I’m going to kill you, you bastard! You hear me?! You’re dead! A fucking dead man!”

I force away the feeling of Pierce’s touch. It’s like Novocain spreads with each stroke Pierce grazes across my skin.

My head turns to Asher. “Big guy.” He stills. “Look away.”

His eyes grow soft, and helplessness leaches into his body. “I’ll never leave you, Princess.” Asher’s warmth seeps into my heart.

I’m not alone this time.

Shots sound from outside. Gunshots.

Pierce pulls away from me. “What the fuck?”

The glass of the windows shatters, and I take advantage of the opportunity. I thrust my head forward, and the crown of my head connects with his nose. He falls backwards as my chair tips towards him. I tumble on top of him and land as an “oomph” is pushed out of my gut.

“You broke my nose, bitch!” Pierce covers the middle of his face with his hand and blood escapes the cage made by his fingers.

There’s a thunderous bang against the door.

“Shit!” Pierce pushes me off him and stands. The chair lands on its side, and my head thumps against the ground. Pierce pulls a gun from the waistband of his slacks and scowls at Asher, who’s smiling like a loon.

“Who’s out there?” Pierce shouts.

Asher’s smile is permanent. “Who do you think?”

Pierce lets out an angry growl, then stomps to Asher and punches his cheek. Asher’s head flies backward but bobs forward again. Pierce leans in and leaves Asher with a promise. “You can’t keep her from me forever. I will come for her.”

He turns and flees the warehouse through a door at the back.

The metal door at the front bursts open and in charges Rio, Zane, and . . . Is that Hayes? What the hell is he doing here?

“Took you long enough,” Asher coughs out.

“I’d say we’re right on time.” Rio’s casual tone is contradicted by the way he rushes over to Asher and begins the process of getting him down.

Hayes stands in shock, staring at Dahlia’s half-naked body and the dried blood on her inner thighs.

“Hayes!” Zane snaps while sprinting to my side. “Get her down! We don’t have much time. I’m sure backup will be here any minute.”

Zane assesses my injuries and my exposed breasts. His jaw hardens, and a baleful glint enters his eyes. A whimper crawls up my throat.

“I tried, I promise. I tried to fight him off.”

Zane trails the back of his finger down my cheek. He quickly removes his shirt and uses it to cover my chest. “Shhh. You did good, Angel. Nothing could make me stop loving you.” Then he pulls out a switchblade and makes quick work of cutting the tape tethering me to the chair.

Tears swim in my eyes. “Now you tell me?”

“I’ve told you before. You just weren’t listening.”

When I’m free, Zane helps me into his shirt.

He gathers me, one arm under my knees and one around my back and turns.

We find that Hayes has Dahlia in his arms as well.

He pulled up her pants, and her head rests on his shoulder.

He whispers soothing words into her hair that calm the shaking of her body.

Asher is standing with an arm around Rio, who carries most of his weight.

“We ready?” Zane asks Rio and Hayes. They both nod in return. “Ash, can you hold a gun?”

“Always,” he answers, as if insulted.

Zane hands over a gun he pulled out from the back of his pants. “You two go out first.” He nods to Asher and Rio. “Hayes and Iris in the middle, and Spencer and I will take up the rear.”

We file out of the warehouse, leaving behind the horrors but taking a few ghosts with us.