Page 67 of Cries of Cassie

But I wasn't.

I will be. No matter what I'll be the fucking man my lovers can count on and trust. I've done plenty of horrible things, said some awful shit to Cassie over the years that has destroyed our foundation.

No more.

We're a fucking family. If I can help one, just one, of us from getting handcuffed or tranquilized, I'll do it.

I didn't know it was possible for my heart to break while reaching for a man hellbent on murdering everyone in his path. Yet, when I catch Parker around the chest milliseconds before his fingers can graze Cassie's limp frame, my heart crumples.

I know what he’s feeling. The desperation to be beside her is strong, but we would only get in the way. She's getting the help she needs, even if it's painstakingly slow.

"CUT HER DOWN!" Parker shouts, feet pushing off the ground like he can fucking jump out of my hold.

Finally my brain starts firing, taking in everything around me instead of working off my baser instincts. Four people talk in calm tones and move around Cassie, assessing her like a sack of meat, but I know that’s not true.

"They’re making sure that when they cut her down, they won't do any more damage."

"She can't—They're not helping!" he cries, some of his fight drooping as my explanation takes root.

Parker takes a backseat in my mind for a moment when the medics move in on Cassie. Jesus. I have to squeeze my eyes shut as one man kneels and braces himself beneath her good shoulder and wraps his arms around her. A woman grasps her bad one in two spots in support for the dislocated shoulder while the rest of them get to work on the chains.

One clank of the horrendous metal is all it takes for another form of hell to break loose.

Chapter Forty-Two

Koa (Koa)

I'll never get used to the sounds of Ripley throwing up. Not only is it gross to witness, but it tears my heart to shreds because I know why he can't keep it together.

A simple clank of the chains holding Cassie in place makes Rip hurl for the second time today. I was lost in a gut-wrenching trance after the medics descended on us. Now Ripley yanks me out of it and urges me to his side.

"Breathe," I murmur, wrapping an arm around his chest to keep him upright as the two people grapple for my injured man. Hurling with a knife sticking out of his side must have hurt like a motherfucker, yet he still tries to get to Cassie.

The moment the chains hit the ground in a final clatter, Ripley goes limp in my hold. Much like Cassie, he tips forward, forcing me to stumble to a knee to keep him from injuring himself even more. The men help her do the same, gently maneuvering her as best they can without making shit worse.

"Her shoulder," Ripley wheezes, coming back to himself a bit. Thank fuck because there's no way I can carry his heavy ass without some cooperation.

I glance up at Cassie again and note the expert way the team is supporting her arm. "They know what they’re doing. You on the other hand are at serious risk of bleeding out, so could you please, for the love of god, let these people help you too."

"I don't deserve any help," the dumbass rasps.

I fight like hell not to close my eyes in annoyance. "Enough. None of that. Our mission isn't over, and we need to get the hell out of here. Let's go!" The man and woman come forward and take back over managing Ripley's bleeding.

This time they don't loiter around once Cassie is placed on the gurney I didn't notice before. My chest caves in on itself as she's carried by me toward the stairs. I have to ignore the arguing and conversations around me as we all simultaneously try to do what's best while losing our minds.

Ripley is guided up the stairs after her, and I follow suit. Victor's mangled corpse in the hallway does nothing to me. As much as I would have loved torturing him for years on end, this is better. This way he's not stealing us from her. Our attention is solely on Cassidy for the first time in our lives.

Numb and chilled to the damn bone, I focus on just one thing: making sure all five of us make it out of this hellhole.

Maddox and Parker are stiff and growly behind me, huffing about not wanting anyone touching her blood in the cell, but it's inevitable. Someone will clean up, and it won't be us because we will be where we belong, by her side.

It pains me too, but we have to keep moving forward. No looking back at her puddle of blood. God. How did it come to this?

Climbing to the top of the staircase and stepping into the disgusting excuse for a clubhouse, I feel a bit feral myself. This is where Victor made his plans to kidnap our woman. This is where he abused his people.

Pinching my eyes closed, I rub my forearm while my feet continue after my battered and bruised family. We'll get through this.

With a deep breath, I gather the courage to open my eyes, and when I do, I groan. Connor walks toward us, his gaze heavy, holding too many questions. Except before we meet, I'm thrown off kilter by the next dead man.