Page 65 of His Last Will

I’ll bring back up.

Releasing Ashton, I turn to Gage, who has finished cleaning his head wound. “Let’s go. Warehouse on Bleeker.” I bark, leaving Ashton and his pet behind.

My phone goes off again as I near the car.

Anthony:

You won’t need it.

What the fuck is that supposed to mean? I call his phone as I step into the car, and he answers on the second ring. “What, Aiden?” he growls, like I am the one causing a problem.

“What do you mean we don’t need backup? Do you have eyes on the building?”

Gage hasn’t said a word since he told me she was taken. He white-knuckles the steering wheel and glances over at me when he hears me question Anthony. He’s lucky he still has his hands, given the way I’m feeling.

He speeds through the empty streets and blows most of the red lights as we head west. I put Anthony on speaker so Gage can listen in.

Anthony huffs like this conversation is tedious. “I just left the building, and there are only a few guards you will have to take care of on the outside. Otherwise, it’s empty.”

“What the hell do you mean you just left?” I say, the venom spewing out of me with each word.

“She’s sitting in the center of the main warehouse, tied to a chair.”

“And you just left her there?!”

“Aiden, this conversation is becoming boring. Your fiancée is alive and well. Goodnight.” Anthony hangs up the phone as I throw mine at the dashboard.

“I am going to kill that man,” I say under my breath, but Gage hears it.

He nods his head, eyes on the road. “Let me know when. I would love a chance to slit his throat.” Gage licks his lips when he says this, and I almost like the guy a little more. As long as he keeps those lips far the fuck away from Ari.

Gage pulls up to the door, and I have my gun out, firing before he parks. We easily take out the three guards surrounding the building, and I don’t bother checking them before slamming the warehouse door open.

Ari jumps in her chair and turns to look at me, the relief on her face piercing my black heart. I walk over to the chair, Gage not far behind.

I take her face in my hands and inspect her as Gage unties her. “Are you okay, little venom?” No obvious blood that I can see or open wounds.

She sends me a tired smile. “I am now.”

“Fuck, what happened?” I growl, trying to control my temper.

Ari shakes her head. “Can we talk about it later? I want to go home…”

Lifting her in my arms, she rests her head on my shoulder. “I got you. And I promise you, I will destroy the person who did this.” I may have to fuse her to my body after this because there is no way I will ever allow myself to feel what life is like without her again.

Ari whimpers against me and buries herself deeper in my tight hold.

She’s my goddamn bloody menace. The sweetest venom I’ve ever tasted, and no one is going to take her from me again.

CHAPTER

THIRTY-ONE

ARI

Hot water splashes over the side of the tub as he washes my body with soap, and I finally take a deep breath. Aiden carried me to the car and held me as we were driven back to the house. He even carried me upstairs before depositing me on the edge of the large bathtub in his room. The water temperature is perfect, just hot enough to relax my muscles, and Aiden has filled the tub with Epsom salt and bubbles. He takes extra care around the rope burn on my wrists, massaging the skin with a light touch.

I lean my head back against his chest and close my eyes. A comfortable silence fills the space between us.