“You know I never wanted a family,” I said.
He leaned in closer. “She’s sexy. I bet she’s a good fuck. Maybe when I’m done here, I’ll go to her hotel and find out.”
In my head, I was bashing his head in with the car battery. What he saw was me shrug. “Suit yourself.”
He laughed. “You’re so full of shit.”
“You’ll find out. She’s mouthy and her brother is a pain in the ass.”
Bastion stepped back giving his men room to clip the wires to my face. I was glad I convinced Harper to leave. She didn’t need to see this. I hated that I’d brought such violence and ugliness into her world. Thank fuck her brother was so obnoxious as I knew he’d keep her and the baby safe.
Would she take Mo too? If not, I trusted Archer to do right by him. I wished I’d redone my will so that Mo could be taken care of if, or more likely when, Bastion finally killed me.
“You’re a sick fuck,” Dax said.
I looked over at him and mouthed shut up. I needed him to get out alive. I turned my attention to Bastion. “I’m sorry I left you behind. If I’d know you were alive…if I could do things differently—”
“Yeah, well, you didn’t and you can’t. Save your breath. You’re going to need your energy to survive the pain.”
I nodded. I’d never experienced torture like this, but I’d seen it and wasn’t looking forward to having it done. I turned inward, focusing on my breath and Harper.
I was vaguely aware of Bastion going to the battery. “Hold on Noel. I’m about to light you up.”
I closed my eyes and continued to breathe. I held the image of Harper in my head. The one from this morning or was it yesterday morning, when she was sleeping serenely. She was so fucking beautiful.
A loud bang sounded and a rush of men entered the cell area.
“Stop!”
“Go away!” Bastion shouted.
“Step away or I’ll blow your fucking brains out.”
Fuck. Was that Archer? Or had Bastion shocked me, and I was in an altered state?
“What the hell!” Bastion yelled.
I heard grunts and banging. I opened my eyes despite not being sure I wanted to know what was going on. Archer had Bastion pressed against the cell bars, binding his hands behind his back.
I recognized three other men from being part of Saint Security. Two held goon number one on the ground, while the other, along with the help of another man had goon number two writhing in pain.
“Take him.” Archer handed Bastion off to yet another person and then came to me, using the knife he carried to undo the ropes. He squatted down in front of me. “Are you with me?”
I nodded. “Or I’m dead.”
He smiled. “You look like shit.”
“Then I’m not dead.” But Jesus fuck I hurt. “Get Dax.”
“I’m fine.” Dax was already out of his cell. “You think you’re a badass mother fucker.” He kneed Bastion in the groin. “You’re just a whiny pussy.”
Bastion cried out. “I’ll get you.”
“In hell maybe.” Dax rushed into my cell. “He’s had the beating of a lifetime. He needs a doctor.”
“I don’t want to go to the hospital.”
Archer and Dax helped me up, and it was my turn to cry out in pain.