Kellin turned to me then, his expression hard. "You keep that dog of yours ready. If you let him out more than once, he’ll taste blood, and that just makes him hungry for more. We might need him—"
"I know how to handle my own fucking dog," I snapped, cutting him off, feeling that creeping anger twist within me.
It was difficult to balance the surge of vindication with the protectiveness I felt for Reaper. Yes, he’d been trained to hurt, but it was my responsibility to keep him from losing control entirely. He was too much a part of me now; the weight of that thought bore down on my shoulders.
The truck rolled forward, navigating through the dark streets as my heart thudded in concert with the engine's growl. We sped past flickering streetlights, shadows stretching along the pavement. With each bump in the road, the man's groans echoed ominously in the back, a reminder that I hadn’t just captured a target—I had unleashed a whirlwind of retribution.
Pulling into the church parking lot, the familiar building loomed ahead, its shadows shifting gently, beckoning to the remnants of faith and redemption. But tonight, we were far from saviors; we were just shadows moving through the darkness. As the truck came to a halt, Reaper seemed to sense the shift in energy. I slipped off the leash, leaning down to murmur into his fur.
“Ready for a bit of fun, boy?” He responded with an eager nuzzle, fire igniting in his eyes that mirrored my own turbulent resolve.
I stepped out, leaving my doubts behind for the moment, focusing on the task at hand. The truck bed opened, and the guy thudded against the floor, a whimpering mess who would soon join the chaos of our reckoning. Fear began to blend with determination, the thrill of justice laced with the ache of uncertainty. For Scarlett, for Reaper, for everything that had been stolen from us.
As we dragged the man out of the truck and into the church basement, the lights flickered dimly around us, casting long shadows that felt strangely alive—as if the very building was holding its breath, waiting for what was to come. And amidst it all, I realized that the darkness was no longer just an obstacle; itwas a testament to our strength, to the fight we were willing to endure for those we loved.
Tonight, the shadows would give way.
19
Deja Vu
Hunter
We moved quietly and swiftly through the basement, carrying the scumbag who had hurt Scarlett. I was filled with an overwhelming desire to fucking kill him, but I didn’t want to rob her of that satisfaction. Kidnapping him so she could have her moment of vengeance felt like the wiser choice.
We arrived at the room Kellin and I had prepared just for this bastard. We had soundproofed the walls and installed one-way glass that tinted the windows. Hooks dangled from the ceiling, with chains waiting to bind him. A small table beneath the window showcased an array of tools and weapons we thought Scarlett might find fitting. We even stocked a cabinet with clean rags and towels for when things inevitably got messy.
Kellin and Michael hoisted the man up while I fastened the metal cuffs around his wrists, using the chain to keep them above his head. He hung there, blood dripping from Reaper's vicious bite marks, though still very much alive with a cum-soaked sock shoved in his mouth to keep him quiet. The four of us stood back to watch him, each imagining our own scenarios if we had the chance to kill him. At last, it was time to bring Scarlett in, but I couldn't shake the nagging worry that things might not unfold as planned.
Scarlett lay on her stomach on the bed, kicking her feet behind her as she absorbed a true crime show, likely gathering more ideas. She didn’t hear me enter, so I knocked lightly on her open door. She spun around so quickly it briefly made me dizzy. A smile spread across her face; the bruises had begun to fade, yet they remained but she looked even more beautiful to me. She was a fighter through and through, radiating resilience and strength, with not a shred of weakness in her.
“I remember his name,” she said, her smile brightening as she sat up. “Jack something. He had a grudge against my father and knew about the hit he put out on him.”
“So he thought sending your father a message by hurting you would be a good idea?” I asked, already knowing the answer.
She nodded, gathering her long, dark hair into a ponytail, which only served to highlight more marks he had left on her neck and shoulders, and ignited a fierce rage within me. I stepped closer to the bed, reaching for her hand. Interlacing my fingers with hers, I pulled her to her feet and into my chest with a solid thud, tightening my hold to ensure she couldn’t slip away.
“I want you to see something,” I said, a grin forming as my thumb brushed against her bottom lip, my breath quickening with anticipation.
“What is it?” she asked, her nose scrunching cutely and her brows drawing together in curiosity.
“I have a surprise for you—just follow me,” I growled, lifting her into my arms and carrying her out of the bedroom.
The descent to the basement was silent, yet as we ventured deeper into the shadows, Scarlett’s grip around me tightened, her small body trembling against me. My heart ached for her, but I believed that delivering Jack to her would help heal the wounds he had caused—at least, that was my hope.
As we reached the basement door, I could feel the tension in the air thicken. I pushed it open, revealing the stark room bathed in black with very dim lighting. Jack hung from the ceiling, his body swaying gently. He opened his eyes, confusion rapidly turning to terror as he recognized me, then widened in shock as they fell upon Scarlett.
“Scarlett,” he croaked through the gag, his eyes flickering with the desperate hope that she’d turn away, that somehow this was all a cruel dream.
The sound of her name left his lips like a curse, and I could feel the anger radiating from her, hot and fierce. I set her down, and she took a shaky step forward, all fierce determination now.
“Jack,” she said slowly, almost savoring the sound of his name. I could see the way her resolve hardened as she faced him. This was it—this was her moment. “You thought you could break me? That you could hurt my family and walk away unscathed?”
He stammered against the makeshift gag, finally spitting it out, his eyes darting from me to her in panic. “You don’t have to do this! I wasn’t myself! It was just a job!”
“Just a job?” Scarlett repeated, her voice a low growl, fury bubbling beneath the surface. “You sick bastard, you think this was just business? You ruined my life!” She stepped closer, the array of tools behind him glinting ominously.
I moved back, giving her space, wanting to witness the moment unfold, but ready to intervene if necessary. I could feelKellin, Jax, and Michael's presence behind me—a solid wall of support, but the focus was solely on Scarlett.
