Page 134 of The Vigilant

I looked back at the guards from that final hallway. “No, we didn’t.”

It was a strange limbo to navigate. On the one hand, Carson was dead—his whole trafficking scheme gone along with him,and we’d rescued sixty-seven innocent women who’d been about to be sold into the sex trade or worse.

But on the other…I looked back at Sutton, seeing the shadow of failure looming over her. We still hadn’t found Mara.

“I wonder if it was Remington,” Dare offered, his eyes flicking to Rob and Sutton.

“Maybe.” I sighed and rubbed the back of my neck.

“Go.” Harm came to stand beside me, his bike keys dangling in my direction. “Take it and Sutton and get out of here.”

I swallowed hard.

“We’re going to call the police.”

My breath released with a whoosh, and I took his offer. “Thanks.”

I knew how deeply Sutton was hurting because when I went to her to pull her away, she didn’t even feign protest.

“Let me take care of you,” I murmured, and when she nodded, I turned and flipped the shower on.

She hadn’t said a word since we’d gotten back to the garage. Even though she could walk, I picked her up off the bike and carried her to the cabin and directly to the bathroom. I wanted to wash away as much of her pain as I could.

Steam started to fill the room almost instantly. With careful precision, I removed her clothes, fighting the swell of rage each time I saw the bloodstains on her neck and shoulders from where that fucker had ripped a precious lock of hair from her scalp.

I’d wanted to rip his whole fucking head off when I saw that, but I’d settled for blowing apart his kneecap.

I maneuvered her into the hot water, removing only my socks and shoes before I followed her inside. My insides were at war—one side fighting for tenderness, the other side fighting to fuck her.

Lathering soap in my hands, I scrubbed them over her supple skin, recalling just how strong and agile she’d looked when she dropped down onto Carson—surprising him and me.

It shouldn’t turn me on to watch her fight. It shouldn’t turn me on to recall how fucking powerful she’d looked—a bloody portrait of female rage as she’d driven her knife into Carson’s neck.

But so help me God, there was nothing about her that didn’t turn me on.

“You were incredible,” I murmured as I washed her, ignoring the thickening of my cock because I needed to focus on her. “So fucking incredible, my little wasp.”

Her head tipped up to mine, eyes glassy. “You let me kill him.”

My hands stilled. I could’ve easily killed Carson while they struggled. Hell, I’d wanted to. But even though I knew I’d be pulling that trigger…

“He wasn’t mine to kill.”

Her lips parted, her gaze darkening. “You love me.”

“Every dark, sharp, dangerous piece,” I admitted, cupping the side of her face. “I love you so much I’d kill for you, my little wasp, and more importantly, I’d not kill for you.”

Before I could stop her, she reached up and pulled my mouth to hers.

The kiss wasn’t soft or tender or defeated. It was angry. It was still fighting. It was still searching for shelter in the middle of the storm.

“Sutton.” I tore my mouth away before I fucked her against the tile.

“Please,” she begged, her breath catching on the crest of a cry. My jaw locked as she took my wrist and dragged it between her thighs. A groan tore from my chest, feeling how slick she was for me. “Please, break me, daddy.”

I heard the pain in her voice. The ache. It wasn’t just about pleasure; I was the only one who could break through her walls.

A defeated sound rumbled from my chest as I dropped to my knees in front of her.

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