Savage: A Bad Boy Fighter Romance (13 page)

“
I
s it around here
?” I ask her, and she barely meets my gaze. “Sugar. I know you don’t want to do this, but we need to get to shelter before night falls.”

She nods and points to the left of the field we’re currently trudging through. We’re both exhausted and I get it. I don’t want to do this any more than she does. It’s almost like we keep leaning one each other in a way. I’ve never really had that.

We got dropped off about a mile away from where Adrienne wanted to come. I had to follow her lead on this one because I sure as hell don’t have anywhere to go. We’re looking for the house and night’s falling fast.

I put my arm around her and she slumps against me slightly. My strong little thing. I can’t imagine what she must be going through right now. I don’t think I would still be walking, were I in her place.

Losing your parents is one thing, and watching them die is fucking horrific. But losing a parent the way Adrienne lost Valerie today? Fucking brutal.

I’ve done a lot of unforgivable things in my life, gruesome things, and I don’t think any of my accomplishments come close to what she witnessed and lived through.

I don’t know what to tell her at this point to make it better. So we keep walking and I keep her close, making sure that she’s still moving. Finally, we find the right place.

The house is cute. Small, no more than a couple of rooms, nestled in a small glen. You wouldn’t know it was there unless you’d been there before. It’s off the main roads and perfect for what we need – a bit of privacy, and hopefully a bit of safety.

Not that I imagine dead men could come after us. And I doubt Wilson Cobb is in any fucking state to chase anyone anywhere, aside from maybe through their nightmares. No, I’m certain he has to be dead.

After Valerie’s sacrifice, no just God could have allowed that fucker to live.

The last I saw, his entire left side had been engulfed in flames and he was screaming as the flames licked at his ears and hair, singing eyebrows and burning flesh. I almost wished I’d staid to watch, but being out of there with Adrienne is worth that particular show. I’m only sad I wasn’t the one to do it, that it had to be Valerie.

Had I killed him years ago, had I figured it all out, none of this would have happened. So many lives spared.

But I can’t change the past.

Adrienne finds the key to the house and we get in. I find the electric box and switch on the lights and put the kettle on to make some hot water. There’s not much in the cupboards aside from tea and some sundried, but they’ll do. At least we’re safe.

“Sugar?”

She looks up at me, sitting in the living room with her face having been hidden in her hands. I hadn’t seen it in the darkness, but her makeup is smeared across her face and her cheeks are red, eyes puffy from tears she must have been crying since we got out of the mansion. I set the mugs of tea down and go to sit next to her, scooping her into my arms.

I’m still in the ridiculous fucking suit. I wince when she lurches against me, pressing against my wounds, but I don’t budge and I don’t let her move either. So I hold her there.

“It’s going to be alright,” I promise her, and the words feel hollow.

After what she’s been through, I don’t think there are words left in the world that would convince her that things are going to be better. Though you can rationally imagine it somewhere in the far future, I don’t think a person in that state, after that kind of trauma, can actually imagine there being a silver lining to anything.

Though Wilson Cobb being dead is a pretty big fucking silver lining, I gotta be honest.

“She was so brave,” Adrienne says finally, and I nod quietly, letting her gather herself. “I can’t believe she did that… I didn’t have any idea she was planning anything like it. The dress designer was an old friend of hers, I know that much, and I guess she must have helped hide something in the dress? But I didn’t even smell anything…”

She’s rationalizing, looking for the sense behind it all. That’s good, at least she’s processing it.

“Some sort of accelerator and a small fuse or trigger… Sage said he saw her pull something before the… well, before it happened,” I mutter, wishing I’d shut up.

She nods blankly.

We sit there in silence for a while, Adrienne tucked under my arm, her legs across my lap. The tea sits forgotten on the table. Neither one of us feels particularly thirsty. I brush my hand through her hair, slightly tangled as it is from running, crawling, escaping. She’s still as beautiful as the first time I saw her. More, actually, because now I know how brave she is. What a fighter she is.

Just like her mother.

I kiss the top of her head.

“I’ll never let anything happen to you, Adrienne,” I tell her, and I mean every syllable.

I can’t imagine a life without her, a world in which she doesn’t exist. Fate has tried to tear her from me one too many times and though I haven’t known her for that long, I know that I love her. I know that we’re meant to be. I know that she’s the one and this is it for me, this is the endgame.

I never expected to turn into such a sap, but I guess love can do weird things to a man.

“I know,” she says, looking up at me and smiling. “And I’ll do whatever I can for you, Angel. I love you.”

“I love you too,” I utter, and never have those words been more true than when we speak them.

There I go again. Shakespeare would be fucking blushing about the kind of shit I’m thinking, but I can’t help it. I’m filled with so much emotion that it wants to burst at the seams, and my wounds aren’t exactly healed. It’s damn near dangerous for me.

I tip her chin upwards a little so she would meet my gaze. There are still tears swimming there, but it doesn’t make her any less attractive to me. I lean in gently and kiss her, pecking her on the lips, but she deepens it slowly. There’s no overt lust there, just pure, honest affection and love. It feels good.

Better than it ever has.

This is it,
I think.
This is the way it was supposed to end.

But I should have known that we’ve been too lucky and the devil won’t stay in his grave for too long.

T
hat night
, we fall asleep in each other’s arms. I relish the feeling on Memphis’ body against my, molding my curves into his embrace as we fall asleep for the night. I’m convinced I’ll be plagued by nightmares and unable to catch a wink of sleep, but I end up falling into a deep, dreamless slumber, for which I am immensely grateful.

I’m woken up in the middle of the night, getting up in the bed like an animal that senses danger. My heart is pounding, and I wasn’t even having a bad dream… There’s just a feeling that something’s off making me want to get away from here, and fast.

Memphis pulls me closer sleepily, and I try to get lost in his arms another time, but I can’t quite do it. Something’s wrong here. Something bad is going to happen.

“Come back here, sugar,” Memphis grunts at me, but I shrug his arms off. “What’s wrong?”

The instant he realizes something’s really off, he gets up as well, stroking my back in long, calming motions.

“What’s wrong?” he repeats the question, and I furrow my brows, trying to come up with an answer. “Are you okay, Adrienne?”

“Something’s off,” I tell him hushed tones. “I feel like something bad is about to happen… Just a feeling. Can we go check downstairs to make sure everything’s alright?”

I turn towards him and he nods, getting out of the bed.

“Do you want to wait here?” he asks me, his worried eyes drinking in my concerned expression. “Or would you rather wait here?”

“I’m not sure.”

I twist my hands nervously in my lap. Memphis makes a move to get away, when suddenly, the door leading up to the bedroom flies off the hinges. I scream, a loud piercing voice breaking up the silence of the night.

Several men file into the room, wearing black uniforms I’m horribly familiar with. Memphis moves towards me immediately, but he’s too slow. In the next second, two men grab me by my shoulders and hold me in a vice-like grip. I whimper, unable to break free.

Memphis growls at them, his eyes trying to find mine. But I’m already retreating into the back of my mind, to my safe place where everything is still alright.

“Well, well, well.”

The voice from every single one of my nightmares interrupts my thoughts and my whole body shivers. Slowly, someone makes their way into the room with the help of another guard. My pupils dilate and my blood pumps with adrenaline. I try to break free of the guards’ grasp, but they’re holding onto me too strong, and there’s nothing I can do. Memphis makes a move towards me, but another guard points a gun at his temple, and he stays in place, glaring at the men surrounding us.

A presence enters the room, immediately filling me with dread and fear.

Wilson Cobb.

Still alive, even after my mother sacrificed her own life to take him down.

He looks horrible. Like something from a nightmare. Supported by a guard, he hobbles into the room and I almost avert my eyes, I’m that scared of seeing his horribly disfigured face. Or what is left of it, anyway.

Wilson Cobb is no longer the devilishly handsome man he once was. One side of his face is ruined completely, reminding me of a trademark villain. His skin is peeling back horribly, and it’s probably my imagination, but it almost feels like I can still smell his charred flesh in the air.

His eyeball is naked in its socket, his face melted and horribly disfigured. I cannot even imagine how much pain the man is in. Fueled by hatred, he must’ve skipped the recovery period just to get back on Memphis’ and my trail.

And now he has us cornered… And the real fight is going to go down.

Cobb hobbles into the center of the room, swatting off the guard helping him with annoyance. He glares right at me, ignoring Memphis completely. He comes up to me and I whimper helplessly as he gets closer. I try to look away, but his burned hand forces my chin upwards, making me look at him.

“Look at what she did to me!” he snarls at me. “Look at what your mother made me become, sweet thing.”

I can’t look away. I want to, because if I don’t, I’ll have nightmares for the rest of my life. But I can’t tear my eyes away from his face. The scent of his still-cooling face invades my nostrils and I feel bile rising in my throat. I feel like I’m going to be violently sick, but I also know Cobb’s only going to punish me for it, so I try to keep it down.

“Now you’re going to pay for her sins,” Cobb growls at me. “Your mommy took the easy way out, didn’t she, Adrienne? Left poor little sweet thing fending for herself, paying for mommy’s mistakes.”

“Memphis,” I mumble. “Memphis, help me.”

I see him trying to get away in my peripheral vision, but the guard pointing his gun at him clicks on the safety of the gun, and he’s unable to move. A low growl escapes his lips, and I worry how much more of this torture he can take. I know I’m nearing my limit.

“No one to help you now,” Cobb tells me with a low laugh. “It’s going to be only you and me soon, sweet thing.”

“Pick on someone your own fucking size,” Memphis snarls at him.

With a sigh, Cobb moves away from me and approaches Memphis. When he’s close enough, he hits him in the face, hard. Memphis’ head falls back with the force of the blow, but he looks at me, warning me to wait and be patient. I’m still shivering from the exchange I just had with Cobb, needing to get away. My whole body, along with my mind, is begging me to make a run for it.

I test the grip of the guards again, but they’re holding on tight. They won’t let go, unless Cobb tells them to.

“You like my new face, Angel?” Cobb laughs bitterly. “You played a part in it too, I’m sure. And you fucking betrayed me by leaving my goddamn property. Don’t think you won’t have to pay, you fuck.”

“Yeah, you should enter a modeling contest,” Memphis laughs at him.

Cobb glares at him before turning his attention back to me. Realizing he wants to hurt me, Memphis speaks quickly. I can tell he’s trying to piss Wilson off, not caring whether he gets hurt in the process, just wanting to keep me safe.

“How did you find us, Two Face?” he asks him with a pointed look.

Wilson turns his attention back to him, coming up and punching him in the gut. I almost smile weakly when Memphis doesn’t even double over. He just stands there, rock hard and un-fucking-beatable. Cobb glares at him as he realizes his own punches will never be a match for Memphis.

“I had information from her daddy dearest,” Cobb tells him with a vicious smile. “Of course, you shouldn’t feel left out, Angel. Your own dad played a role in it as well.”

Memphis spits at him, and Cobb glares back. He’s rethinking his punches though, knowing he’s the weaker one here. Without his guards, Wilson Cobb is nothing but a vengeful, spiteful freak.

“Let’s play a game,” he says in that fucked up voice of his, grinning at Memphis first, me second. “You two seem fond of those, love birds.”

“What’s the game?” Memphis asks.

I know he’s nervous as fuck, but he’s hiding it well so far. I imagine I’m doing a worse job of at it.

“Bring her out,” Cobb roars, and two more guards enter the room, dragging a frazzled Hannah with them.

She looks horrible – beaten, her hair wild and her body covered in bruises. I gasp when I see her, struggling against the guards to go to her aid, but their grip on me doesn’t loosen. I look at Memphis, his teeth grinding together, but he’s just as helpless as I am.

“I brought your whipping girl,” Cobb tells us with a wicked smile. “She’s already suffered for so many of your mistakes, why not another one?”

He approaches me, jabbing me with his finger.

“You’re going to watch her get torn apart tonight,” he tells me with a grin.

“No,” I shake my head vehemently. “Don’t hurt her. Don’t fucking hurt her again.”

Hannah raises her head, barely able to hold it up. She’s shaking, and I want to badly to help her.

“We’ll make you a deal,” Memphis tells Cobb. “We’ll pay for our own mistakes, you don’t need to torture Hannah for them. Please…”

“Oh, he used the magic word!”

Cobb makes a big deal out of it, clapping his hands slowly and grinning at all of us. Even one of the guards looks disgusted by the games he’s playing, but the rest of them are as stone-faced as ever.

“Let’s hear it then, Angel,” Cobb roars. “Tell me about the deal we’re making.”

“I’ll take out the guards,” Memphis roars. “I’ll take them all on. And if I don’t fucking win, you’ve won.”

“A fight to the death?” Cobb’s ears prick up and he grins wide. “You know I’m partial to those, Angel. And what happens if you lose?”

“I’ll pay for everything,” I tell him, my eyes filling with tears. “My dad, my mom, Angel… I’ll pay.”

Cobb approaches me slowly, glaring into my soul.

“You sure about that, sweet thing?” he asks me in a low growl. “Because I’m pretty fucking pissed right now, and I assume there’s going to be hell to pay.”

I nod, looking at Hannah and then Memphis.

“Yes. I’ll pay for everything. Just set Hannah free once you’re done with me.”

By now, we all know Cobb’s words mean shit-all, but I need to at least try.

He roars with laughter, clapping his friends.

“I love it!” he says. “A final game. Let’s play.”

He motions for the guards who are holding Memphis to let go, and he struggles free of their grasp. There must be six guards in this room, and Memphis’ eyes cloud over as he calculates how he’s going to take down all of them. With my heart pounding, I shake free of the guards holding me down, and flee to him, my hands going around his neck.

“I love you,” I tell him. “I love you, Memphis. Fight for us, fight for our freedom.”

“I will, sugar,” he mumbles into my hair, before gently pushing me aside and motioning for the guards to come at him. I rush to Hannah’s side, pushing Cobb out of the way as I do so.

He stumbles, and I fucking wish he’d fall to the ground and break his neck. Wishful thinking.

I pull Hannah close to me and whisper her name as I hold her. Her petite body is broken, but she gives me a hopeful, thankful time, and I know we’ll both heal with time. Because we have to. Because there is no way we’re not getting out of here alive. All three of us.

The swarm of guards descends upon Angel, and he looks at me one last time as Cobb roars with laughter. We lock gazes for a long moment, and when he tears his eyes away, I feel a loss deep inside.

And then all hell breaks loose.