Page 64 of Cruel Salvation

Gideon gripped his face and looked at him with the same formidable expression he’d seen on his face so many times in the boardroom. “We will, and then you’re going to have a beautiful life, Damon. I know it.”

Damon nodded his throat too closed for words to pass.

“They just found Simon Dorsey on his family’s doorstep, shot and almost dead but he’s alive.”

A surge of rage had Damon striding to the door. “Let’s go.”

He would get answers from this motherfucker if he had to beat him to death to get them. He never considered himself a violent man, which in itself was laughable considering the woman he fell for traded in violence, but right now, he thought he could kill anyone who stood between him and Naz with his bare hands.

* * *

SeeingSimon Dorsey hooked up to machines and drips, his face ghostly, gave him more satisfaction than he’d expected. He’d never considered himself vengeful but, right this minute, he felt that it was only right he was fighting for his life after what he’d done.

Damon crossed his arms over his chest, an energy that he couldn’t expel pulsing through him as he addressed Bás who stood beside him. “He tell us anything useful?”

“No, just mumbled he was sorry over and over and then passed out.”

“Can we bring him around? Wake him up?”

“Yeah, we can do that, but Watchdog is working on locating Lotus. We’ll find her.”

“Everyone keeps saying that and yet here we are sitting here with our dicks in our hands while God knows what is happening to her and my child.”

“I know, believe me, I understand how you’re feeling.”

Damon rounded on Bás. “Do you? Have you ever had the woman you love kidnapped and felt like you were living a thousand deaths while you waited for news on if she and your baby were alive?”

“Yes, and no.”

Bás looked away and Damon felt a flicker of regret for pushing him. “I’m sorry. I know you care about her too.”

“I do. I love Lotus like a sister, although a very annoying one, but I also know what it is to feel like your entire world is crumbling because the person you love more than your own life is in danger. I felt it when Val was kidnapped, but I never had the added fear of my child in the mix and I can’t imagine what that feels like.”

Bishop walked in, his eyes moving to the bed with utter disdain on his face before he glanced at them. “Let’s wake this fucker up.”

Bás nodded. “Turn down his pain relief. It might make him more inclined to cooperate.”

It didn’t take long for Simon to begin to stir after Bishop had pushed something through his IV. His low groans of pain only made Damon see red and he strode to the edge of the bed and yanked the man up by the gown covering his weak body. Both Bishop and Bás stood back, arms crossed and let him.

“Where the fuck is Lotus, you pathetic prick?”

Simon moaned his eyes bleary and scared. “I… I… I’m sorry.”

Damon shook him, his head lolling as Duchess and Gideon walked into the room. His brother smirked and nodded like he approved.

“I don’t want your fucking apologies, you piece of shit. I want to know where Lotus is.”

“Andrea.”

“What about her?”

Simon’s eyes began to roll in his head and Damon slapped his face, gaining his attention again. “Where the fuck is Andrea holding Lotus? You have three seconds to tell me or, I promise you, you’ll know more pain than you ever imagined possible.”

He wasn’t sure if it was his threat or the way all four people in the room stepped closer as if they couldn’t wait to get in on the action.

“The old cider mill, out towards Ledbury.”

Damon didn’t know it, but the reaction on the other’s faces showed they did. “What does she want her for?”