Page 69 of Cruel Salvation

Chapter22

The old cidermill was exactly that, an old stone building where apples were crushed and processed to make cider. The original owners had moved on, upgrading their process so it was done by machines for bigger volume, but the buildings had been left abandoned.

Secluded as they were, it was the perfect place for Andrea to begin her ridiculous plan. He had no doubt she didn’t have what it took to achieve it, but the devastation she could and had already caused trying would leave a ripple effect on those affected that reached far and wide.

He’d been quiet as Bás and Duchess came up with a plan, discussing and dismissing different approaches and possible scenarios until they had what they deemed the best plan. Normally, they’d have time to evaluate and plan, but with Naz at risk, they had little time.

Luckily, Watchdog had the plans for the mill and a drone in the air, giving them vital feedback. From what he could see on the heat signatures, it was just the three of them, Andrea, Tim, and Naz. Which begged the question as to why Andrea didn’t have a bigger team around her. When Watchdog had looked deeper, he’d found a lonely, isolated girl who’d become a lonely, isolated woman obsessed with pleasing a father that wasn’t interested in her, only his work.

“I want you to stay in the van.”

Damon shook his head. “No way. I’m coming in and seeing this through.”

“God damn it, Damon, this isn’t a joke. You could get hurt or we could find something you won’t ever recover from.”

He knew Duchess was trying to protect him, that the chances of Lotus being hurt or worse were extremely high, but he wouldn’t sit here safe while she was at risk. He loved her and he’d be there no matter what.

He turned to Gideon. “Would you stay here if it was Nadia?”

Gideon shook his head, even as his jaw tensed in displeasure at the thought. “Nadia, he needs to be there. We can both stay behind the team.”

Duchess growled and then sighed. “Fine, but if you die, I’m going to kick both your asses.”

The team consisted of Bás, Duchess, Bein, Reaper, and Hurricane inside, and Snow, Val with Scout and Monty, and Titan outside. They were concerned about an ambush and wanted to be ready.

“We ready?”

Damon nodded, even as his gut churned at what awaited them inside. “Yes.”

“Okay.”

In a practiced move, they alighted from the van and he and Gideon fell into step behind Duchess and Bás, which he knew wasn’t easy for Gideon. Standing behind your wife in a fight was alien and felt wrong, but it was the only way she or Bás would allow them to be there. He had to remember they were trained, and he and his brother were not.

Slipping inside the mill was easier than he’d expected, almost as if Andrea wanted them inside. The scent of apples hit his nose and he knew he’d always associate it with this moment and whatever came next.

They rounded a corner behind the team, his view impaired from what was in front of them by the hulking bodies of Bein, Reaper, and Hurricane. Weapons up and on alert, he wasn’t ready for the blur of movement in front of him as he stepped into a wide-open space.

Damon’s eyes widened as he watched two figures collide in a flurry of fists and feet. Lotus’ flowing hair twirled around her body as she dodged Bein’s jabs, executing swift and precise counterattacks with panther-like grace. Despite her incredible skill, Damon could feel fear coursing through his veins as he watched his beloved dive into the fight with unyielding aggression. Bein was clearly trying not to hurt her, but each time their bodies clashed, it felt like an eternity before they parted ways again. The only thing on her mind seemed to be ending this battle once and for all.

Bás and Duchess had warned him of the possibility of Naz being used as a weapon, but seeing it was almost too much to bear. His eyes burned into Andrea Peston, radiating with hatred for the woman who seemed to be enjoying watching Lotus battle her own team. His heart pounded in his chest as he saw the gun in her hand pointed at Lotus’ head. He knew that if anyone tried to stop her, she’d pull the trigger without hesitation.

“It seems you came unprepared.”

“Let her go!” he bellowed, desperation colouring his voice.

“Oh no,” she cackled, “I’m having far too much fun watching this show.”

For once, he felt helpless. Bein held back his blows against Lotus yet still drew blood. In that moment, he’d have done anything to keep them safe—even get down on his hands and knees to beg.

He knew Bein had a weapon, but he seemed to be holding back from using it. Probably because he didn’t want to risk hurting her while she seemed to have no such qualms about fighting dirty. She was getting hurt too but she kept coming at him, never slowing down for even an instant as they traded blows.

At one point, she had his shirt collar gripped in her fist and threw him across the room, managing to land two heavy kicks before he recovered and came after her again. Now they were both sporting bruises and cuts from where their punches landed, but neither of them seemed willing to back off or give up, but he knew Bein was doing everything in his power not to hurt her, just control her or tire her out, so she could be overpowered without getting hurt. The red dot from the gun Tim held focused on Lotus also kept the rest of the team from going after him. One wrong move and she’d be dead. Those sick assholes had complete control of them and all they could do was watch.

Lotus violently blocked Bein’s strike, snarling as he tried to put her in a chokehold. With power and grace, she used her legs around his neck to pin him. A sickening crack resounded from Bein’s shoulder as Lotus violently wrenched it out of its socket, eliciting a howl of agony from the man she thought of as a brother. Tears of pain and unconscious guilt welled up in Lotus’ eyes. Damon knew that what happened here today would linger with her for years and she didn’t consciously realize it yet but she would and he would be there to hold her together when she fell apart.

“Tim, stay and ensure she does as she’s told. I have someplace I need to be.”

Damon wanted to claw at the walls as Hurricane and Reaper stepped up to try and take down Lotus, but Tim jerked his chin as he held the gun pointed firmly at Lotus as she moved..