Page 47 of Savage Salvation

I’m jerked to the side as I pull one of my arms free, swinging it to smash against Pete’s jaw as he releases me. When I go to charge forward, a blow strikes against my back from someone I hadn’t seen. When he moves around, Isaac’s face comes into view. He’s clearly helping the other fools who will meet their demise. And I know Kinsley will hate me, because part of her still cares for the fake bastard. But he will pay for this betrayal with blood.

“Oh, you thought you were in control,” Ryan hoots, moving in front of me. “Just like that stupid whore thinks she is.”

“You’re certainly not if you can’t do this without some tools helping you.”

His amusement wavers as he looks to me. “I don’t care how many people I need to take you, I will. And I’m going to enjoy the show—get you good and weak, while some ants eat on your dick. Then I’m gonna get that stupid bitch, bring her here, and stick my dick in her mouth right in front of your fuckin face while you watch every second of it. But do you know what I’m gonna enjoy the most? When I see the look on that bitch’s face when she finds out there is no letter from Mommy Whore. And all this shit that happened to her was for nothing. Well, she did ask for it. Parading her ass in front of me, making me want her, knowing that I’d never be able to touch her. News flash for the both of you, she’ll gag on my cock while you’ll watch, and she’ll enjoy every second of it because she’s a sick bitch.”

Red is all I see. An anger like none other comes over me, the image of what he just said is painted in my mind as I charge forward, taking him to the ground. I only get in one good blow before I’m struck across the back, but I don’t stop. My hand clasps around Ryan’s throat, squeezing as his hands claw at my tightening grip.

Just when I think I’ll have the satisfaction of watching the life seep out of him, I’m struck in the side, a sharp blow to the ribs causing me to release and shield my side from another hit. As I block it, I hear a loud shout and see Memphis charging our way with a tire iron in hand.

Isaac lets out a curse, moving away from me as he shouts for them to go. Pete and whoever the fuck else haul Ryan’s mostly limp body off the ground as they drag him away. He can’t get away. What if he’s going to her? Going to hurt her. When I stand to go after him, I miss a step or trip over something because I fall to the ground. Memphis is on me, his arms helping me up.

“Are you okay?” he asks, searching around.

But they’re gone.

“We have to go. Now.”

35

Kinsley

The music shop has closed for the night. The alarm is set. The door is locked. And I’m sitting on the bed that I’ve slept in more than any other, but I feel out of place.

Damn Gage and his stupid self. I can’t go to him. At least for tonight. Just one night to get a healthy dose of reality before I sink back into his euphoria. Headfirst.

A loud rapping on the back door causes me to jump to my feet. My heart hammers against my chest.

“Kinsley, open the door.”

“Memphis?” I shout, running to the door, taking a second to look out, and spot him before I pull the door open to one of the most horrific sights I’ve seen. And I’ve seen Gage battered before, but he looks completely shattered and defeated. He’s slumped over, his arm draped across Memphis’s shoulders as he struggles to hold him up.

Reaching forward, I grab onto Gage, helping him inside and to the bed as he drops onto it with a sharp intake of breath between his teeth, and his eyes snap closed as a curse leaves his lips.

“What happened?”

Memphis paces back and forth in the tiny area. “They jumped him. Ryan, Pete, all those fuckers at the Den. They were beating the shit outta him.”

My arm clutches my stomach at the visualization and the results that I’m seeing on him. “Why didn’t you take him to the hospital?”

“He wouldn’t go. He only wanted to come here.” Memphis flings his hand up.

“So, were you driving”—I point to Gage—“or was he?”

“Like that makes a damn bit of difference.”

“It does because the driver steers the car.”

“And what would I do when I got him there, drag him in?”

Looking to the battered ox, I say, “Yeah. You probably could’ve managed to take him right now.”

Memphis shakes his head, finally stilling. “Thanks for that reassuring vote of confidence, but not all of us have him by the dick, Kinsley.”

Gage goes to move but halts suddenly as his hand clutches his side. “Will the two of you shut the fuck up and lock the doors, set the alarm. I can’t fight all of them right now.”

“You shouldn’t be fighting all of them anytime. Besides, the lock doesn’t work too well since you always manage to get in here.”