Page 75 of Ravaged By the Dark (The Righteous 2)
Renee sat up straight, her heart pounding as images of her mother’s face blowing apart danced behind her eyes. It couldn’t be real. It had to be a nightmare. She looked out the window to the darkening sky and bit her lip as her stomach rolled with the heavy realization that it hadn’t been some terrible dream. Unable to hold it back any longer, she dove to the side of the bed and grabbed the garbage can as her mother’s face exploding replayed in her mind.
She whimpered as the horror of what she’d seen consumed her. With her stomach emptied, she sat back and leaned against the bed, her head hanging between her knees.
How many times had she thought that her life would be better if her mother were dead? She hadn’t meant it. As mad and hurt as she’d been, she never really wanted her mother to die and especially not like that. Maybe this was all her fault. Maybe she’d thought it so much she ended up wishing it upon her mother.
Maybe if she’d just gone to Tyson in the first place rather than being selfish, her mother would still be alive. Cody had sacrificed his future for her and now her mother with her own blood. Who was next?
Renee pulled herself to her feet and managed to make her way into the bathroom to clean up. Her makeup was a disaster, her hair no better, but it was the look in her eyes that scared her. Splashing cold water on her face, she knew she had to do something. Arek would undoubtedly want to protect her, but Tyson could just as easily kill everyone else she loved.
Leaving the bathroom, she set out to find someone, anyone. She rounded the hallway that led to the study and tiptoed closer when she heard male voices.
“It’s a go. We’ll head out in an hour,” Trev said. She wasn’t sure why she was eavesdropping, but she decided to stay put.
“I don’t like this. I want to go after him now.” Arek was pissed, and he had to be doing his signature pacing the way his voice grew louder and then quieter.
“Arek, do you want to get yourself killed? We have to be smart about this. Tyson has at least fifty armed men inside that building. Even with our skillset, that’s way too many variables for only the two of us.”
“I know, but I don’t have to like it. He could pick up and move or lay a trap or—fuck! I’m going to rip his tongue right out of his fucking head for what he’s done and for threatening Renee. No one does that and lives.”
Arek’s voice was cold, and she knew he meant every word.
A shiver raced up her spine, and not because his words terrified her. He was willing to run headlong into battle for her, but at what cost?
She leaned her back against the cool wall and rubbed her eyes.
It hadn’t been a nightmare. Her mother was dead, her older brother—she had no idea, and what about J.J.? She couldn’t let Tyson get his hands on J.J., and she wouldn’t let that piece of shit take anyone else she loved from her.
Pushing away from the wall, she snuck back the way she’d come and then tiptoed down the stairs. Her bag had been discarded by the door, and she grabbed it, checking the pockets for her wallet. Pulling the hoody out of the bag and shoving it on over her head, she clicked off the security panel and slipped out of the door. She ran like she’d never run before.
Even if Tyson killed her, she had a chance to negotiate for Cody’s life. J.J. was at least safe, she knew Arek wouldn’t let anything happen to him, and she oddly felt like he would care for him like he was his own. Tears stung the backs of her eyes, but she pushed them away.
No, this was for everyone she loved. It was for Cody who had sacrificed his future for her. This was for her mother, who didn’t deserve to die like that. This was for J.J. and the future he would still have, and this was for Arek, so he didn’t get caught up in her mess.
Somewhere over the last few days, she’d fallen in love with Arek, and she wasn’t going to let him get killed trying to help her.
Renee jumped onto the bus and sat down, holding her bag tightly to her chest. She glanced at her reflection and barely recognized the hollow checked-out version with black circles around her eyes staring back. The image in the window told a story of defeat, and she couldn’t stand to look at herself. She turned her head and instead stared at her hands.
How only a few hours could make such a difference.
She smiled as she remembered every intimate moment Arek and she had shared, the way his lips molded against hers, the way he made her heart beat so quickly. The way he made her feel like a woman worth loving for the first time in her life. Those memories and knowing her sweet little brother was safe would get her through whatever Tyson had planned. She’d always fought her own battles for the ones she loved, and she wasn’t going to stop now.
It took three transfers to get to the location, but the traffic had been light, and she thankfully made good time. She had to get there before Arek and Trev acted on whatever they had planned. As she approached the place, a group of guys stood outside the door, some she recognized as part of Tyson’s group. They spotted her as she walked closer, and she wanted to punch every one of their smug smiles off their faces.
“Look at this, you finally decided to smarten up, and it only took your mommy’s head being blown off to make it happen,” a tall guy standing near the wall said as she stopped in front of the group. She decided not to take the bait. The sick look in his eyes told her that was exactly what he wanted.
“Boss will be happy to see your hot ass,” another guy said as he circled her. He hauled off and smacked her ass hard, making her jump forward with a small yelp.
“Do that again, and I’ll tell him you were fondling his merchandise,” she said through gritted teeth, but it had the desired effect and the guy blanched.
“You are a bitch,” the guy leaned in and yelled in her face like she was hard of hearing as his spittle landed on her face. He straightened a little as he rested his hand on the butt of the gun in the waistband of his jeans. “Word to the wise, I’d learn fast to toughen up if that little love tap made you yelp, or you’re not going to last ten minutes, let alone the rest of your miserable life, however long that happens to be.”
She wiped the gob of spit off her cheek and glared as the jerk grabbed her arm and hauled her through the metal door. She felt like a stray cat being tossed around as he dragged her along behind him. She yanked on her arm and broke the jerk’s hold. He swung and raised his hand like he intended to backhand her but stopped short. Being Tyson’s intended property had some influence, at least for now.
“I came willingly. You don’t need to drag me like I’m going to bolt,” Renee said, her gaze never wavering even though she was shitting bricks inside.
His eyes narrowed, and he sucked on his teeth which made her want to hit him, but she managed to hold it together.
“Fine, follow me.”
