Page 109 of Once A Villain

Betrayed by my father, blackmailed by Alicia, and now punished by Axe.

I have no one. Nothing.

“Fuck!” I roar, slamming my fist into the wall.

I can’t wrap my head around why she’d break the fucking rules. I storm into the living room, grab a bottle of whiskey, and slam back a drink.

“What did she say?” Griffen’s voice cuts through the noise of my rage.

“Nothing,” I growl, running a hand through my hair. Another drink, another attempt to choke down the fury. “She’s got this fucking delusion that I give a shit about her.”

“You don’t?” He raises an eyebrow, as if he’s waiting for a punchline.

“What? No,” I snap. “She’s just a fuck. Nothing more.”

“Really?” He laughs, shaking his head. “Axe, if you didn’t have feelings for her, you wouldn’t be so pissed.”

“Fuck off.”

He rolls his eyes and kicks back, resting his feet on the table. “She’d been drinking when I got there. Something went down, and of course, she’d break the rules the night you return.”

“Now she’s got more than the rules to worry about,” I say, pouring another drink. I glare at the fire, the flames mocking my rage. I know something happened. She texted the masked man. She only messageshimwhen she’s hurting. When she’s in need. So, what the hell did she needhimfor?

I know you care about meplays on repeat in my mind. She thinks I care. Why? I don’t care about her. I’ve never cared about anyone. My focus is on the rules, her disobedience, and the fucking stupidity she has to think otherwise.

Her trembling body, tear-streaked face, and those wide, fear-filled blue eyes replay in my mind. I need answers. I storm out the door, anger fueling my steps.

“Where are you going?”

“Getting answers,” I snap over my shoulder. Her phone has to be in the Range Rover, and maybe it will have some goddamn answers.

As I reach the SUV parked in front of the garage, my steps falter. The front end is crumpled, a massive dent marring its surface. My blood runs cold. Did she crash into something? I circle the vehicle, searching for more damage. There it is—the rear passenger side door, dented. The impact was severe, it’s a fucking armored SUV.

She’s been in an accident. Why the fuck didn’t she tell me? Have they found her? Did the Dolore get to her? Is that why she’s so damn scared?

“What the hell happened?!” Griffen yells from inside when I slam the door open.

“She was in a fucking car accident,” I growl, barely containing my rage.

“Are you sure?”

“Check the damn SUV!” I bark, urgency slicing through every word as I bolt for the basement.

Was she hurt? Did they drag her back to the townhome? Why the hell did she lie? Each possibility claws at me, darker and more twisted than the last.

I wrench the door open, and her sobs hit me like a gut punch. She’s curled up on the cold concrete, knees drawn to her chest, shaking with each ragged breath. I’ve seen her cry before, but not like this. This isn’t just tears; it’s something deeper, raw and broken, like she’s been gutted from the inside out.

I force myself to step closer, my movements stiff, unnatural.

“Rory,” I say, and she jerks like I’ve struck her, shrinking away as if I’m a threat. Her eyes—wide, terrified—cut into me, sharp and unforgiving.

“No, please,” she whispers. “Don’t hurt me.”

Those words—they’re a knife to the gut, ones I’ve heard a thousand times from people I’ve tortured. But hearing them from her? Knowing she means it? It’s an unexpected pain—one that settles in my stomach and twists.

My rage vanishes, replaced by something I barely recognize—this primal, relentless need to protect her.What the hell is happening to me?Her fear and pain cut through me, leaving me rooted to the spot, useless.

“Rory,” I start, my voice betraying a softness I didn’t intend. “I need to know about the car accident.”

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