Page 48 of Hunted Innocence

“Fuck,” I hiss. “So it really goes all the way to the top?”

I’m not sure which top I’m referencing. I don’t know if it’s the top of the state, the country, or the world. I don’t know, but I know that it’s the top of something. It has to be, because whoever it was would not go to this kind of trouble, and Tate would not be this panicked if it didn’t.

“The goddamn tippy top,” Merrick hisses.

Thanking him, I end the call, but do tell him that I’ll let him know when this is done. Theron has been watching me this entire time, but it’s Vaughn who speaks first. “This is bigger than we thought, isn’t it?”

“It is,” I confirm. “But I still don’t know how big.”

He hums, then shifts in his seat. “I assume that we need to talk to those boys real quick and let them know that Tate needs to be taken alive.”

“Yeah,” I say. “He needs to be alive for now.”

“They’re out for blood,” Theron mutters.

My gaze flicks to Orion, who is standing just a few feet away, waiting and seemingly chomping at the bit to storm inside.

“They are, but they aren’t dumb. They’ll fall into line on this as long as we all stay aboveboard,” I point out, something we all know.

“Only way to be,” Theron states.

We all get out of the car and walk toward the waiting bikers. Then make our way into the house. Using every point of entrance possible, we surround Landon Tate, Nadine, and Brody.

The sight that greets me causes my stomach to lurch. It also makes me want to shoot Landon Tate in the head. He has Nadine on her stomach, her eyes are closed, but she doesn’t appear to be conscious. His hands grip her bare hips and her cheeks are spread.

He’s inside of her.

Inside my woman.

Right here in front of my eyes.

Orion roars at the sight. And only then does the asshole lift his eyes. I’m frozen, and it’s only because a million memories start flashing in front of my eyes. I have been in that exact position and been that helpless. Seeing this, the absolute lack of control that Nadine has over her own body, takes me back to the place. Takes me back to that time.

Theron moves in front of me, his eyes meeting mine. “Stop,” he growls. “Come back.”

I can feel Boden slide up behind me, no doubt ready to restrain me. Vaughn moves to stand on Theron’s other side, and my gaze swings to his. I can see the absolute fucking torture in his eyes. These men have been through this as well. They know what I’m feeling, likely because they’re feeling it as well.

We have failed Nadine.

They feel it, but I do more than just feel as if I’ve failed her—it burns inside of me.

I have failed us.

The shouting around me is just white noise. I’m so lost inside my own head that I don’t make out what words are actually being said, but when a roar erupts, I’m taken out of my head and brought back to the moment.

Vaughn and Theron turn their heads to look behind them, and I tilt mine to see to the side, watching as Brody is released from his ropes and charges Landon. He tackles the asshole, dick still out of his pants, and proceeds to beat the shit out of him.

I know that Landon is supposed to be taken alive, but nobody said anything about unscathed. So we allow Brody to do what he needs to do. And I feel like absolute shit, because Brody is protecting his sister while I stand here like a worthless slug.

Orion and Vaughn pull Brody off a beaten and bloodied Landon Tate, and as they begin to drag him away, I watch as Brody swings his booted foot out and slams it into Landon’s balls.

Every man in the room grunts. “Fuck you, piece-of-shit motherfucker. I cannot wait to kill you,” Brody growls.

Then he turns toward Nadine, and even though I want to rush over, I don’t. I still stand like a goddamn useless statue as he dresses her, then picks her up, cradling her, and walks out of the house.

Instinctually, I want to walk away. I am not worthy of Nadine, and I’ve just proven that to every man in this house. And to her. Self-hatred consumes me. But Theron wraps his fingers around my shoulder, giving me a shake and bringing me back here again.

“Stay here with us, Gray. Do not go anywhere.”

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