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“Because he wants to heal and be good for you. Rook went through hell at the hands of Ivan. He doesn’t know any other way, Clare. This is who he is, who he was born to be.” I mull over his words for a while. Can I be with him even though I know what he does while he isn’t with me?
“Do they hurt innocent people?”
“No, they aren’t like their father. They save people, Clare, and that is why the other families all over the US are going to come for them, because they don’t rule over people and hurt them. I mean, they do hurt people, but not innocent ones.”
“Why are you telling me all of this?” He smiles and that smile throws me off kilter.
“You and I both know you already made your choice ten minutes ago. You will be a part of this family, you just need to accept it now because your boy needs you.” I furrow my brow confused at his meaning. “Rook is facing his worst fears right now, sis. He may have his family surrounding him but there is one person he wants more than anyone by his side as he does this. He needsyou.” My heart beats faster in my chest as I picture the love of my life scared and putting on a brave face for the sake of his family.
“I need to go to him,” I say as I climb to my feet and place Bob in his travel crate, then face my brother as he slowly stands and smiles proudly down at me.
“Dad would be so fucking proud of you, Clare. You’re strong like Mom but you’re smart like Dad.” I rush him and wrap my arms around his waist, holding him tight. He returns my hug and places a kiss to the top of my head. “I’ll never say he is good for you but I will say he is trying to be good enough for you, Clare, and that right there, earns him my respect.” He untangles himself from me and peers down at me with a serious look in his eyes. “Mafia family or not, if Rook ever hurts you, I will fucking kill him with my bare hands.” It shouldn’t but his words bring a watery smile to my face.
“I love you, brother.”
“I love you too, little sister. Now, let’s go get your boy, then I can get my beating over with.” I tap him as he reaches for my bag and Bob’s crate.
“What the hell do you meanbeating?” He cringes.
“I laid hands on one of the Don’s brother’s, I have to answer for that—”
“You leave Bishop to me, no one is going to fuck with my brother!” I snarl, causing Luka to throw his head back and laugh.
“Ah, sister, there is no way you will ever beRuined By The Rookwith that attitude.”
Rook
We all follow Bishop down to the basement of the gym. I start to feel like my skin is crawling the closer we get to where Ivan is being held. Honestly, I didn’t even know the gym had this beneath it, though it makes sense now why Gage hasn’t done the full changeover of the gym. They didn’t want me to have full reign of the place and stumble upon Ivan. We near the end of the corridor and I spot Sally. He’s a big fucker and the guy Bish normally uses to collect ourdebts. At the sight of all of us, he turns and unlocks the door, then pushes it open. Everyone walks in but my legs won’t work. I’m stuck, rooted to the spot. I close my eyes and will myself to take the final steps and end this. I need to close this chapter of my life so I can finally be free to go after my girl.
“We’re here with you, always.” I open my eyes to find Bish standing in front of me. For once he doesn’t have his mask in place, he is letting me see everything he is feeling—love, hate, pity, compassion for me. “I don’t tell any of you this, well I don’t say it ever, but I do what I do for this family because I love each and every one of you, Rook.” That has my eyes widening and my brows jumping into my hairline. “If I could go back in time and take your place, I would fucking do it in a heartbeat because I hate seeing the look of fear in your eyes at the mention of this cunt!”
“Bishop–” I try to cut in but he won’t let me.
“No, I need to say this.” He places his hand on my shoulder and holds my stare. “You’re my baby brother, Rook, and I should have protected you. I failed you and I will never forgive myself for that. He can never hurt you again, brother. I will never fucking allow that bastard to ever go free. He is on borrowed time and it’s time for you to get your retribution on the son of a bitch.” His words spur something to life inside me. It feels a lot like strength, strength I didn’t even know I possessed until now. When I give him a curt nod, he returns the gestures and turns to Sally. “Get the camera and get back here ready to record.”
“Yes, sir,” he says as he races off to do as Bish ordered. When Bish turns and heads back into the room, I give myself a second. I place my hand over my heart and rub at the tattoo that I got there. I know she hasn’t seen it yet but I didn’t get it for her, I got it forme. Taking a deep breath, I square my shoulders and hold my head high as I stalk into the room with the swagger of a cocky motherfucker. At the sight of me, the others part and reveal Ivan Volkov. I fight the panic that rises inside me at the sight of the old cunt. He wears a shirt but it’s torn and looks more like tattered rags. He has no pants on and is curled into a ball in the corner of the room. When he turns his head and spots me, recognition shines in his eyes and they widen slightly. The sight of hope in his green eyes that I will save him has me clenching my fists at my sides.
“Who’s the dvornyaga(mutt)now, suka (bitch)?” I growl in a voice that doesn’t sound like my own. Ivan flinches and huddles further into the corner. The sight of him cowering, beaten and bloody should make me feel empowered but I can’t seem to find it within myself to pull on the strength I felt mere seconds ago. As if sensing my turmoil, King steps forward and grips a hand full of Ivan hair and yanks him forward until he is on his knees staring up at me with a defeated look in his eyes, a look I know too fucking well.
“Ivan over here has beenplayedwith well by Sally and his boys. Isn’t that right, Sal?” King says as Sally enters the room carrying a camera and tripod with three other guys behind him. He blows Ivan a kiss, causing the Russian to recoil in fear.
“Sure have, boss. My cock’s getting hard at the thought of taking him for another round.” I keep the shocked look off my face. King chuckles darkly, Ally walks up beside her man and smiles at me, her eyes are full of bloodlust.
“You see, Sally here has a kink and Bish and King can’t allow said kink out into the world.” I quirk a brow in question as Ally slips around King to stand on the other side of Ivan. He flinches away from her, telling me that both Ally and King have been down here before. “Sally loves to fuck unwilling participants. Ivan fought valiantly for a while and all it did was fuel Sal to force him into submission. Once the fight left him, and he became willing, Sal was over it so he handed him off to at least a few dozen others and now Ivan can’t seem to sit. Lord only knows why.” The humor in her tone has me reeling. Ally looks like a fucking school teacher, yet she stands in front of me talking about torture like Lucifer’s bride.
“Needless to say, Ivan has been warmed up for you,” Gage supplies. Anya moves around the others to stand beside me. At the sight of her a fire enters Ivan’s gaze.
“Predatel (Traitor),”Ivan spits at Anya. Gage doesn’t hesitate, stepping forward and punching him right in the face.
“You ever fucking speak to her again and I’ll cut your fucking tongue out, you worthless piece of shit!” Anya swoons at Gage’s show of protectiveness over her.
“He is not the star of your nightmares anymore, you’re the star of his. You will live a life of wonder, love and happiness and he will never get that. The last thing he will see before he meets his maker is your face. You will be the last thing he sees before he leaves this world!” Her words have me standing taller. I turn to Sally and rattle off a list of items I need. No one says anything as he disappears from the room. I look to the other three and tell them what I need from them, they all nod and scurry from the room to do as I asked.
I bend down so Ivan and I are eye level, the defeated look in his eyes is now gone and replaced by hate–good. “I’m going to make you wish you never took your first breath.” I make sure he can see in my eyes that I am not broken, I am strong. I’m standing right here strong, surrounded by loved ones, while he is here all alone and at the mercy ofme.
“You tried with all your might to destroy me. You thought you succeeded but I’m here to tell you, you nearly did until someone I never thought I would see again appeared in my life at the exact time I needed her.” I can see the confusion on his face. I’m not saying this for his benefit, I’m saying it for mine. “You will die here tonight but before I deliver that final blow, you are going to fucking suffer, you are going to wish you left me to die that night at the docks.”
* * *
