Page 19 of His Paradise

“Hi, I am super sorry for pestering you so late but I fell asleep on the beach, and somebody must have snatched up my stuff. So I am super lost and scared.” She lays it on thick, even stepping closer to the light as she glances over her shoulder as if she’s afraid of what is lurking in darkness.

“Why’d you pick this house? There’s a gate that specifically says no trespassing.” The man mutters, eyeing her suspiciously.

“I figured a nice house like this would have a nice family inside willing to help a girl out.” She shrugs, leaning towards him. I can see the moment he stops believing her. When the hard lines settle between his brow and his hand disappears behind him.

“Damn, I thought that was convincing.” She shakes her head, ducking low to the ground. Jared rushes forward, raising his gun and shooting the man down. We all funnel through the double doors, weapons raised as we pick off everyone with a weapon within a matter of minutes. There were only half a dozen waiting behind the door, and I listen carefully for any movement in the house. Alarms are blaring in my head that something is wrong as we spread out and begin clearing room after room.

Luna returns from the kitchen brandishing a couple kitchen knives with one between her teeth as she wiggles her brows. A slight scuff behind me is all the warning I get before she raises one of the knives and I lean sideways, the blade sailing past my head to sink into a woman's face.

She falls to the ground, her blood pooling around her red hair as I blow out a breath.

“Where the fuck are they?” I whisper. Luna shakes her head as she listens, edging towards the stairs. I push in front of her, glaring when she bares her teeth at me like a wild animal. A creek from the hallway keeps me tense as I rush upstairs and catch sight of a man diving into a side room.

When I race after him, he plasters himself to the wall and raises his hands. He’s unarmed and still looks pretty young, twenty at best with his long blonde hair and spattering of facial hair.

“Where is David? What did he do with Nina?” I ask, staring down at him as he slides down the wall and begins praying. I’d roll my eyes if I wasn’t already fighting off a headache from the adrenaline.

“Each time I have to ask is another hole in your ballsack, so cough up some answers.” Luna points a knife dangerously close to the man's jewels and even I flinch from her threat. The guy shakes his head, and starts crying. Luna gives me a horrified look before turning back to him.

“David will kill me, please,” He whimpers.

“Tell us where he is, you get to live and possibly make little babies who will cry less than you, and David dies. Now that’s what we call a win, my boy.” She taps her knife on his leg, nearly making the poor man screech.

“He left. He took her with him, but I don’t know where they’re headed.” He cowers, wrapping his arms over his head as we share a look. Luna steps past me as I turn away and point the gun behind me, pulling the trigger. I hear the thud of his lifeless body when it hits the ground and Luna gives me a disapproving frown.

“He could have given David the heads up that we’re onto him. I won’t show mercy until I can paint these walls with the blood of every man who stood by while he touched what is mine.” I brush past her, racing for the stairs. I was following my own twisted need for revenge, and direct orders from Lucian himself.

Luna pulls her phone out, pacing as she taps the screen so hard that I expect the glass to break under her thumbs. We all gather in the hallway, patiently waiting until her head snaps up and her face splits in a smile.

“He owns a fucking boat,” she says, and I wave my hands while waiting for her to explain. “They’re most likely headed for it right now. There is a boat dock just down the road, let’s get a move on.” Luna takes off with me hot on her heels. By the time we race down the dock, it’s too late. I can see the massive boat floating in the distance, just a few lights sparkling in the darkness.

“Shit, now what?” Alec mutters, looking around at the boats floating next to the dock.

“Anyone ever hot wire a boat before?” I ask, and Markus lets out a sadistic chuckle.

“Which one tickles your fancy, brother?” he holds his hands out as if it matters. I jog down the dock, stopping at the one that looks the fastest.

“Oh flashy, daddy likes.” Markus leaps onto it with a chuckle, ripping the cover off as he gets to work. I keep my eyes locked on the boat, refusing to lose sight when we are so close. The dark waves lap beneath my feet, and I think back to when she taught me how to swim, laughing as I floundered around the pool. Little did she know, I was a lifeguard once upon a time and could have swam laps around her. But I would have done anything to be close to her, just as I will now.

The boat rips to life, the engine sputtering as it roars and shifts in the water. We all climb in, Jared waving his hands as he shoos Markus away from the controls.

“Last time we were in a boat and you drove, I had to fish everyone out of the water. Get back,” He grumbles, and Markus throws his hands up in defeat. I lean against the edge and hold my hand out, catching the cool water as it sprays around the boat. Alec bumps his shoulder against mine, nodding towards the larger watercraft.

“We will catch up to them, and you’ll have the rest of your life to make this up to her.” He says, staring at the moon that reflects on the surface. “I remember that feeling. As if I had failed Isabelle, then we found her just to have you and her father rip her away from us again.”

“If I knew then what I do now, Alec,” I shake my head, not sure what else to say. He shrugs, giving me a crooked smirk.

“You’re one of us now. We’ll finish this together, as brothers.” He says, clapping a hand on my back. My chest tightens from his words, and my confidence grows with all of them backing me. We will do this.

Chapter sixteen

Nina

My stomach lurches again as I lean forward, trying desperately to fight back the nausea that consumes me. Grayson holds out a bottle of water, but I swat it from his hand and turn away. The world under my feet tilts again and I press my forehead to the filthy floor. Grayson sits back on his heels and tries to pull me up by my arm, but I’m in no mood to cooperate. The hatch above the stairs squeaks as it opens and Grayson curses, yanking the gag around my neck upwards and shoving it between my teeth.

He should be grateful that I don't sink my teeth into his fingers. David stands in front of me, shaking his head with mock sympathy.

“I forgot how much you hate being on the water, my delicate little thing. Just be grateful you’re still on the boat instead of in the ocean.” He sighs, patting my face too hard. I turn away from the sting, reminding myself that Olivia is okay and that I can endure whatever happens from this point on.

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