Page 1 of Wicked Princess (Knight's Ridge Empire 2)

CHAPTERONE

Sebastian

As was inevitable, the van rounds a corner and disappears. My chest burns as I try to catch my breath, my legs are not enough to keep up no matter how badly I need to get to Stella.

I’m not enough.

Admitting defeat, I allow my legs to come to a stop. Bending over, I rest my hands on my knees and fight to drag in the air I need.

My eyes burn from the exertion and lack of oxygen, but that’s not all of it. And as a giant lump of emotion crawls up my throat, it becomes harder and harder to deny.

A hand landing on my shoulder scares the shit out of me.

In my need to fight, I spin around, pulling my fist back, ready to attack whomever it is. But the second my eyes land on Theo, all the fight drains out of me.

His chest is also heaving, sweat beading at his temples as he stands before me with his brows pulled together in concern.

Glancing over his shoulder, I find Alex, Nico, and then finally Toby and Galen approaching us.

“Who the hell was that?” Galen pants, desperately trying to catch his breath.

I probably should take notice of the fact that he’s struggling more than the rest of us. But I don’t. My anger doesn’t give a shit about his age.

I surge forward, my body acting on instinct.

“This is all your fucking fault.” My fingers curl once more, but this time, I manage to make the hit.

My fist connects with his face. A painful crunch hits my ears a beat before he stumbles back, pain etched into every inch of his face as blood pours from his nose.

It should stop me.

It doesn’t even come fucking close.

I go at him again, my fists raining down on his face, as I spew my hatred at him. I don’t even know what words fall from my lips. I’m totally lost in my anger, in my past, in my loss and grief.

Knowing how badly I need this, my boys give me a couple of minutes before large hands wrap around my upper arms, hauling me back from a bloody, broken Galen.

The sight of his messed-up face should make me feel something. A sense of vengeance. Relief.

It doesn’t.

The only thing that’s now flowing through my veins is desperation.

“Okay, Seb. You made your point,” Theo barks in my ear as they continue to hold me in fear of me going off again if they release me.

With Toby’s help, Galen sits, wiping at his nose and split lip with the back of his hand.

“Who has her?” I spit, taking a warning step toward him, although I have no intention of hitting him again. Not yet, anyway.

“I-I don’t know,” he stutters as he looks down the street toward where the van disappeared. “Fuck. This is my fault.”

“I’m glad we agree on something.”

Shaking the hands off that are still holding me, I drag my fingers through my hair and turn my back on the evil cunt on the ground. Not only did he ruin my life, my family, but he’s just single-handedly fucked up his own.

“FUCK,” I roar, my grip on my hair tightening until it feels like I’m about to rip it out.

“We’ll find her,” Theo says, stepping up beside me. “We’ll fucking find her, okay?”