Page 43 of Fighting Salvation

“Which means Hansen did this himself.”

“Most likely. He’d get off on re-creating it.”

“We had him pegged as a climber, someone who’d follow orders but if he was behind it all from the start, then he’s way more dangerous than we thought.”

“I don’t think he was behind Project Cradle. I think he got involved after this and worked his way up by killing off his competition.”

Bás nodded at Duchess’ assessment. “I agree, but it still doesn’t explain this and why he killed my family.”

It always caused his throat to close talking about his family but this time it was slightly easier, and he knew it was because his team was there. Not just the woman he loved but the others too.

“I think it has something to do with your mother or his mother.”

Bás brow furrowed as he stepped toward Titan, who was studying an image next to the office door. He studied the image and saw his mother’s face had been scratched out with a blade of some kind. Moving on, he checked the other images and found the same thing.

“What the fuck?”

“We need to get this locked down and find out who these people are before we get caught up in this.” Duchess took charge. “Rykov, call Watchdog and give him facials to trace.”

“You can’t.”

All eyes came to him as he walked back up the stairs and snatched the image off the wall. He held it out to Duchess as he bracketed his arm around Val. A sharp intake of breath left her as she saw the picture.

Watchdog was stripped naked and tied to a chair, his face barely recognisable from the blood and cuts on it. His torso had huge, bleeding welts across the front where he’d been whipped, and his body was black and blue. It was a wonder he was alive but his eyes were open, even though his head hung awkwardly in defeat.

“He’s a dead man,” Lotus spat before rushing outside.

All eyes came to him as the realisation hit that the man who’d staged this little scene now had one of their own.

Chapter 12

It was eerily silent as they drove back to their temporary home. Each person was lost in thought. Their worry was evident in the lines around Titan’s mouth, the way Lotus bounced her leg, and Duchess was a ball of pent-up fury.

Val laid her head on Niall’s shoulder, not sure if she was trying to give comfort or take it but he tipped his head to hers and she could feel the connection between them. It tingled down her spine. Not just from desire or passion but from knowing what he was thinking.

For months they’d danced around being friends and she’d fought the guilt of not admitting who she was every single time. The loss was so painful when he’d pulled away from her, and she hadn’t known how to hang on or if she should even try. This felt settled but there was also that tiny corner of her that was waiting for the rug to be pulled away. For him to change his mind and decided he couldn’t risk it. Especially after today.

He’d left her without a second thought once before and she wasn’t sure she could survive it a second time. It might have only been friendship and a way to pass the time for him but to her, it had been so much more. She’d fallen in love with his words, his honesty, and his honour. She’d believed him when he’d said she meant something to him, but when it came time for him to move on, he’d done so without a moment’s thought.

She’d been heartbroken, then angry. As the years wore on, she’d come to see it for what it was for him and had been proud she’d at least offered him a lifeline when he needed it. Then she’d walked into the briefing room to meet her new boss and her heart had stirred in her chest. It wasn’t until weeks later that she’d figured it out and by then, she was already half in love with him again. Her stupid heart had stopped her from walking away when she knew it would be the safest thing for all of them, so she’d kept her mouth shut.

As they trudged through the doors, Rykov moved to grab Lotus but she pulled away and ran to Hurricane as he opened the door, throwing herself into his arms as she burst into tears. Val watched Rykov grit his teeth and stalk off around the back of the property and moved to follow him.

He was one of them but he was also an outsider in some ways. The connection from living together had forged something stronger and he’d been away from that and she knew how that felt.

Niall grabbed her hand. “Leave him. He needs to calm down. I’ll get Titan to speak with him in a little while.”

“I don’t want him to feel alone.”

He wrapped his arm around her and walked her toward the bedroom he’d shared with her last night. “I know but I need you, mo chroí.”

It must have taken a lot for him to admit that and it soothed the blooming worry in her belly. Calmed the doubts in a way that gave her hope that maybe a miracle could happen and they’d come through this with a future. “Okay.”

Niall flopped down onto the bed on his back, his arm covering his eyes and Val crawled onto the bed beside him and began to run her fingers through his hair. It was longer now, as was the beard he’d grown and she liked it, the silky strands tickling her skin. His temples and beard were threaded with fine specs of silver which only made him more handsome in her eyes.

A groan moved up his chest and he moved his arm to look at her, the longing clear in his bright blue eyes and suddenly she had the overwhelming need to know his touch intimately. To experience everything with him and let the last barriers between them down. Yet even while she thought it, she knew she would keep that one secret between them. The air seemed to crackle with sexual chemistry and before she knew it they were both moving.

She felt her heart race as his hands moved up her body. His touch was frantic but sure, electricity coursing through her veins with every caress. His kiss was dominant, powerful, and he took, forcing her to open for him as a whimper got stuck in her throat. His fingers moved up her ribs, pulling at her shirt as he leaned in and whispered in her ear, his breath tickling her skin.