Page 141 of Silk and Sirens

His icy-blue eyes locked onto mine with that familiar intensity, and with it a sense of warmth.

Fletcher straightened, walking over to Caden to exchange a few words that weren’t carried by the wind.

“Later, Red,” he said, lifting his hand before walking back down the mile-long pier.

The moment he was gone, Caden closed the distance between us. His arms coming around to trap me against him.

“You planning on running from me, Tempest?” he asked, his voice deceptively calm.

I ignored the question entirely, turning so I could face him. “What did Fletcher say?”

Caden raised a brow but didn’t push. “Threatened me that if I hurt you, I’d have him to answer to.”

I laughed at that.

“He also said,” Caden continued, stepping closer until our bodies were almost flush, “that you need someone like me.” His thumb brushed slowly across my jaw, possessive enough to make heat curl low in my stomach. “Someone to help you fight your monsters.”

His gaze held mine.

“But what he doesn’t understand is that you’ve never needed me to fight your battles. You’re more than capable of handling them on your own.”

Something in my chest tightened.

“But I will always be here,” he continued. “Right beside you. Whether you need me to burn the world down … or simply stand in the ashes with you while you do it yourself.”

“Hmm,” I murmured. “Good answer.”

The corner of his mouth twitched. “Are you ready?” he asked, the wind swirled around us, carrying with it salt and cold sea spray.

I automatically reached up, finding my throat bare of my pearl necklace, and that loss spiked again. I didn’t think I’d ever get over losing her, but I was starting to finally accept my grief.

“I’ve got you, Tempest,” he whispered when I didn’t say anything, handing me the black half-skull mask.

“I know.” I smiled up at him, my fingers stoking over his smooth jaw. “I’m ready.”

Chapter 59

Caden

Renley Elkins gagged violently around the thick dildo I’d forced down his throat, a custom piece with a hollow core and hole so he wouldn’t choke on his own vomit.

I’d already cut out his tongue earlier, just for the sheer satisfaction of watching the bastard who’d violated Aeris lose the ability to beg, so the phallic gag fit well.

It cost me an arm and a leg to track him down, and I even owed that prick Ryder a favour, but it was so worth it.

He was the last name on her list.

The last person tying her to her past.

“You hanging in there, mate?” I asked casually, tapping the baseball bat against his shattered left knee, the one I’d broken hours ago.

Renley’s eyes rolled back, a wet, gurgling scream ripping around the gag as fresh vomit spurted through the hollow tube and spilled down his chest, mixing with the piss that had already soaked his thighs.

“Pathetic,” I muttered, circling him slowly. “You were so fucking bold when you had her pinned down, weren’t you? When she was fifteen and terrified. When you and your friends took turns like animals.”

I swung the bat hard into his ribs, the crack echoing against the concrete. Renley convulsed, another choked wail escaping around the silicone cock stretching his throat.

A whistle, and I turned to find Langdon walking in with a gigantic fucking sex toy.