Chapter 89

***~Draven~***

Breathing became less laborious the moment Thomas reported on Riley’s and Talia’s conditions. He assured me that they were unscathed while cleaning up. The spike in adrenaline returned when he refused to let me speak to her and I had to suppress the urge to throw my phone against the nearest wall. Not the best idea since were in a very cramped van, parked on the outskirts of where Harper’s hauled up. Austin was busy mixing some chemicals and I should not risk our lives when I haven’t seen Riley yet.

“Your pacing is making me dizzy.” Austin called out. He got the brilliant idea to gas the place when we had already left our post and most of our materials had been sourced from a recently decommissioned lab he’d kept. Lucky for us, he’d delayed the clean-out because of the recent shifts in his personal life.

“Tell me again why the fuck Thomas was the one to go in and not me?” A decision I had been unanimously outnumbered in. Fighting with these men was useless and a waste of time so Thomas took Darius’ cell phone and personal effects and walked into Harper’s stronghold.

Darius, Declan’s representative. He cracked in under five minutes. It took much longer for him to welcome death, especially after I found out he’d planned to touch Riley. His body would be delivered to the appropriate place. After, I was done with it.

“Apart from the fact that he has more undercover and infiltration experience?” He levelled me with that sarcastic amusement and I groaned.

“Yes, apart from that.” I squeezed the sides of my temple.

“Because, for all the control you wield, you are explosive when it comes to Riley. That’s not bad. It’s useful for a fight but not for this and you know it.” He was packing up and I knew he was done with his concoction.

I grit my teeth. I hated to admit it, but Austin was right. I have little faith that I could have watched Harper in the face and let him live long enough for the Declan’s to arrive. It would have cost us our shot. A chance to remind them not to fuck with me. A warning is to be issued across the underworld.

My cell phone vibrated in my pocket and I fished it out. “It’s time.” I inform Austin and he nods. If all goes as planned, there would be no killing today.

I take a double take at the subsequent message to come through.

Thomas: I feel it’s necessary to tell you that the blood on Riley is mine and just for show so don’t lose your shit on me, kid.

A heads-up was a good call because the first half of the message reddened my vision past the point of reason. It was finally time to get my girl back.

***~Riley~***

The men head directly towards us, instinctively, I shove Talia behind me, keeping her close. Thomas did not budge and I wished I could be that fearless at being outmanned. The men were led forward by a silver-haired man with bright eyes. Eyes that were singlehandedly plastered to me with singular interest.

“You’ve grown into quite the woman,” his voice grated against my skin but I kept my gaze levelled. I refused to crumble into the submissive girl my father trained me to be. Not anymore.

“Randall was fascinated by you, pity you had to murder my son in cold blood.” He sneered and the men surrounding him seemed to agree. “We’ll return the favour, little girl but first we’ll make you regret your decisions.”

“Even if you tear me apart,” I found that I heard my voice before I gave myself permission to be heard, “I’ll never regret the elation I felt when his life left this plane.” I keep my features impassive. The men behind him shuffled their feet, throwing glances at each other while the silver-haired man grinned.

“You didn’t tell me she was feisty,” his eyes never faltered from mine but it was clear who the comment was directed at. My father spared me a disappointed grimace but the days of surviving off his approval were over for me.

“Now, I’m fascinated.” The silver-haired man said before my father could utter an apology for my insolence and the hairs at the back of my neck prickled, but I remained silent. Thomas looked absolutely bored from where he stood, wedged between us and the Declan clan.

“Where’s Darius?” He questioned, turning his body to scan the space, “I want him to prepare a room.” And I had no doubt that he had planned to assault me before he gave me to his men. I hated listening to men decide my fate, the knife hidden in my cleavage burned hot.

There was silence among the men, my father’s being the loudest while he flickered a questioning gaze to Thomas. “Your representative is right here.” He gestured toward Thomas but the silver-haired devil furrowed his brow in confusion.

“I think I know what my representative looks like.” He was defensive and my spine straightened. This was it.

“You won’t,” A chill hovered in the air, “not once the mutilator is done with him.” Thomas intercepted indifferently, the men filling the room visibly did a double take.

“Who the fuck are you?” My father stepped in front of Thomas, his eyes wide, his guards immediately into position, their weapons at the ready, I sneak a glance at them, my heart thundering, terror for Talia and Thomas rising up. The men seemed a bit—pale. I force myself to look closer, every single one of them appeared sick, their limbs shaking, sweat dripping down their faces. Even the Declan clan was tugging at their collars.

Thomas shrugged. Fucking shrugged! These men would be the death of me.

“What shit show did you have us walk into, Harper?” The silver-haired leader grabbed my father back to face him. “Where is Darius?” He asked again. “Where the hell is my grandson?”

“No wonder the lot of you are so easy to pick off.” A slow, tantalising drawl prickled my senses. My sight threatened to black out as I shifted to take Draven’s menacing form propped up against a pillar.

“You’ve been awfully slow to conclude that your precious Darius is dead. If he had you for a trainer, no wonder he gave out after five minutes.” A few unconscious men lay crumpled to the floor next to his feet and I took a quick survey. All of my father’s men were dropping like flies.

“No prodigy there, he squawked like a parrot,” Thomas cocked his head to the side as a memory came to the fore. The silver-haired man’s eyes widened with tears.

“Hello, Harper.” Draven turned his attention to my father, “I came to collect what’s mine. Seems I gave you enough notice too, especially with the welcoming party.”

“You’re the mutilator?” He scoffed, his words catching the attention of the Declan clan and they took the time to really look at Draven.

“You’re a fucking child!” My father roared and hope flared into his eyes. Granted Draven was young but I knew the effect he carried.

This time I was shocked to find Thomas bursting out in laughter. “What do I always say, Kid?” he poked fun at Draven and I found myself wondering if they were somehow crazed. Was this the appropriate time? Draven shook his head at Thomas. How in God’s name were they so calm?

“This one is yours? You infiltrated my operation with him?” My father gestured towards Thomas.

“He has the face and mannerisms that criminals trust.” Another familiar voice and I shift to find Austin on the other side of the room.

“His only real advantage,” Draven sneered and Thomas had the audacity to appear hurt.

The silver-haired man was watching with interest, gathering his thoughts until he decided to intervene. “You’ve been responsible for all the murders?” He observed Draven, “It was a terrible idea coming here. You’re outnumbered, neither you or your friends are leaving here alive,” he warned but Draven seemed unphased.

“That’s where you are wrong.” I watch as every man’s steps faltered and he swayed, their senses dazed almost. Whatever Austin did was affecting the Declan clan too. Draven pressed forward and for the first time since he appeared, his gaze shifted to me and every crackle of energy, longing and love that I forced myself to dismiss as my own delusions, pulsed between us.

He came for me.

The men behind the silver-haired leader attempted to make a move but the sudden jerk accelerated the poison in their veins and they began clattering to the floor. Thomas took hold of Talia and began leading her away.

“It’s adorable that you think you were capable of trapping me.” Draven proclaimed and from the corner of my vision, I noted Austin and Thomas huddling the unconscious men together. The silver-haired man fell to his knees, his breathing laboured and I wanted nothing more than to drive my knife into his throat. Before I could give in to my intrusive thought, Draven moved past me to my father.

In a few swift movements, my father was kneeling, one of his hands twisted at an irregular angle in Draven’s grasp while his groans filled the air.

“The only person allowed to touch her is me.” Draven bared his fangs, his face inches away from my father's. I had never seen him in this light before. It was terrifying.

“She was mine before she was yours.” My father answered and that mix of self-loathing and guilt swirled in my stomach but Draven growled.

“She was never fucking yours.” He said, using a contraption over my father’s fingers and then I heard it. The cracking of bones as the air filled with anguished screams. I had to turn away, unable to stomach it all, the silver-haired man’s eyes locking on mine a final time as he passed out.

“Your biggest mistake was thinking she ever was.”