Page 10 of His Fury

Rye’s brows lifted at my tone, but he didn’t hesitate. He was gone in seconds.

Julian let out a shaky breath, watching me like he didn’t know whether to be relieved or terrified. Good.

“You’ll pay it?” he asked, voice tight.

I took two steps towards him, invading his space, letting him see the full weight of my fury. “Yes, Julian. I’m cleaning up yourfuckingmess.”

His throat bobbed. “I didn’t have a choice.”

“Like hell you didn’t,” I snarled, letting the words burn between us. I took a slow step back. I had to focus.

“Where is she?” His face turned paler. “Julian! Where did they take her?”

“I don’t know.” He backed up hastily when he saw my anger. “He said I had something of his and he took something of mine.”

“Sheisn’tyours,” I snapped.

“Should we wait?” he asked me quietly. “For him to call?”

“Wait?”

I grabbed my phone and dialed a number. I wasn’t fucking waiting.

Julian watched me carefully. “Who are you calling?”

I shot him a look as the line clicked. “Where’s the girl?” I asked, my voice a quiet, deadly thing.

A pause. Then, a deep chuckle. “You have skin in this game?” Patrick Delaney sounded positively delighted at this development. “Interesting.”

The line went dead.

I exhaled through my nose, forcing myself to stay calm and restraining myself from throwing Julian through the nearest wall. Though God knew I wanted to. Instead, I turned to him, my voice sharp and cold. “Congratulations. You may have just started a war.”

Julian blanched.

I stepped past him, but fury gripped me, and I turned quickly and lashed out. My fist connected squarely with his jaw, and the sight of him falling to the office floor did nothing to calm my rage. He looked up at me in fear as I stood over him. I resisted the urge to hit him again and stalked out the door.

If they thought they could take her and walk away unscathed, they had no idea who the fuck they were dealing with.

That only made the anger rise. Delaney thought I’d play by his rules. That I’d sit back and negotiate like a man with something to lose.

He didn’t know me at all.

I moved quickly down the stairs, heading to the garage, my pulse thrumming with one singular purpose.

When I got there, Rye was leaning against the car. He’d wisely picked his own SUV. The driver’s door was open, as if unsure whether he was coming or not, but he was ready either way. He walked a few steps to meet me as I approached.

“What’s happening?” he asked as I sidestepped him.

“Delaney took Isla.”

Rye’s hand shot out and grabbed my arm. “Say that again?” He pulled at my elbow, making me slow down. I didn’t have time for this. I broke free of his hold, but he knew me well and wasn’t scared of getting punched. “Zayn! Take a minute to think.”

I turned so quickly that my hand was at his throat, pushing him away from me before he could brace himself for my assault. “Think?” I asked him, stalking forward. “I don’t have a minute tothink. TheytookIsla!”

“Where is she?” he asked me calmly, ignoring the fact his shirt was bunched from where I’d grabbed him.

“He doesn’t know.”

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