Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 61101 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 306(@200wpm)___ 244(@250wpm)___ 204(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61101 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 306(@200wpm)___ 244(@250wpm)___ 204(@300wpm)
Hate has always fueled me. It’s the one emotion I’ve held onto. It’s helped me move on from the past. I’ve been convinced that any emotion involving love or affection would hinder my progress. But there’s more to life than hate. The two women who barged their way into my life have shown me that.
The jobs we’ve been doing have allowed me to kill the monsters I grew up with, while helping those I couldn’t protect when I was younger. It’s given me a sense of purpose. But as I throw the black bag, filled with weapons, over my shoulder, the realization hits me that my life has more meaning because of Harper and Rayne.
Once the bag is in the trunk, I inhale the evening air while considering my options. I know I should wait for the rest of the team, but if I go to the house where the girls are being held captive, I can scope it out and decide how to break in without being detected. I can’t sit around here, doing nothing. My girls are in danger, and I can’t let another monster prevail.
Decision made. I prepare to make my way toward the two red dots on my phone. I start the car, and the rumble of the engine calms me somewhat, but I know I won’t be able to relax until I’ve rescued the girls.
There’s been a magnetic pull between the three of us since we found each other. The link is always there, and I can feel it now. I know it sounds like some kind of fucking witchcraft shit, but it’s true.
The moment I’m out of the main gates to the house and racing down the road, I take a deep breath. I need to focus and stay calm. I can’t fuck this up. If I do, I could get both my girls killed.
I’ve always believed love is a weakness, but over these past few months, I’ve realized it can be a strength. Hate has always come easily to me. Love has been much more difficult.
Maybe I should have waited for the others at the house, but I’m too fucking tense, and as the GPS guides me closer to my destination, it sets my mind at ease. At least if something happens before the others join me, I’ll be in a position to force my way into the property. The thought of killing Bane while rescuing the girls makes me want to do it anyway. But I know I have to be patient.
Tapping on the phone screen, I send a voice message to Falcon. “Get me the layout of the property. I’m heading there now to see if there are any guards, cameras, and other shit I can take out before you arrive.”
I hit send, and follow the route on my Maps app. I know Falcon will come through. He’s a whiz at this computer shit. If I can get onto the property and disable their security, maybe I can buy us some more time.
But then again, I could get myself killed and then Harper and Rayne will never get away from that monster. I can’t imagine what Harper is going through. She’s been anxious about seeing Bane since we landed in Paris, and now he’s got her in his clutches.
I hope she can switch off and not let the fucker see how much he’s broken her. She’ll have to turn off all humanity, look Bane in the eye, and show him she’s dead inside. That way, he can’t take any pleasure from hurting her. I learned that from Malcolm. It’s the only way I managed to survive the biggest bastard of them all.
Seeing you falter is a sick power trip for these monsters. The satisfaction they get from making you cry is a drug to them. If you don’t show any emotion, they can’t get their hit.
When I finally reach my destination, I find a quiet side road to park up while I wait for Falcon to get back to me. I can see the house from my location. Some rooms are still lit up, which probably means someone’s awake.
I feel an urgent need to rush in, but I force myself to stay where I am and wait. I’ve never been a patient man. It’s something I’ve had to work on over the years. I would much prefer to shoot first and ask questions later, but right now, that won’t help me or the girls.
My father’s voice is loud and clear in my mind. There are moments I feel his presence as if he’s not dead but watching my every fucking move.
“You’ll never escape this life. It doesn’t matter how much you fight it, Dante, you are my son. You can change your name and move out of this mansion I’ve built, but there will never be a time where you’re free of me. Do you know why?” he asks me as he sits back behind his enormous desk.