Page 149 of The King of Hearts

“Thank you,” she says, rolling to her toes and pressing a kiss against my lips before I get the chance to do it.

“Anything for you, baby. I’d carve out a thousand hearts if it made you happy.”

She smiles, and her eyes light up. When she licks her lips, tasting the blood on them, the curve of her mouth goes straight, and her brows wrinkle instead.

“What would make me happy now is a hot shower to get this disgusting stuff off me.”

“Then let’s get that taken care of.”

I wrap my arm around her back and pick her up with an arm under her knees. She lets out a laugh that warms the center of my chest.

“Ryker, Savina,” Alexander calls, and I turn us both. “Come by the house tomorrow. There are things we need to discuss,” he says pointedly.

It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell him to fuck off. I know what he wants to discuss. The news that I’m behind the missing people and Savina’s role as The Butcher. He wants details, and I’m not inclined to give them since they’re really none of his business.

But I hold my tongue, leaving the decision up to Savina. I know what she’s going to say before she opens her mouth. “We’ll be there.”

She kept her actions a secret for a reason; if she wants them to know now, it’s up to her. As far asmyactions, I don’t give two shits if they know what I’ve done. It’s not like they can throw stones with all the murders they’ve committed over the years. My kill count isn’t a fraction of the amount of The Raven Group’s.

I turn on my heel and leave the room, impatience lengthening my strides. The salty air that greets us once we’re out of The Reef is refreshing, and Savina pulls in a deep breath. My body vibrates with pent-up lust, and I’m seconds away from pinning Savina against the car and fucking her within an inch of her life.

But my Vicious demanded a shower, and she’ll get one. Ordinarily, I wouldn’t care that she’s covered with another man’s blood, but I understand her need to cleanse herself. It’s more than removing the offending substance from her body. It’s to shed away the last link of what she went through.

I have her settled into my car with the seat belt strapped across her torso, and I’m about to close the door when she grabs the front of my shirt. She yanks me down and smashes her lips against mine. My cock goes solid, not that it wasn’t before she kissed me, but it turns more rigid. Our tongues swirl, and I taste a hint of blood.

Her eyes are fiery and filled with lust when she releases my shirt.

“Take me home, Ryker, and fuck me good.”

EPILOGUE

HIM

I’m on the razor’s edge. My nerves are scattered in the fucking wind and the pulse in my temples thrums a dark beat. I’m intent on bloody destruction, and the only thing that’s holding me grounded is the hand that’s holding mine so tight that my fingertips tingle from lack of circulation. If it wasn’t for that hand, I’d use both of mine to strangle the man situated at the end of the bed until both of his eyes popped out of their sockets.

The hand tightens, and my wife’s voice filters through my murderous imaginings.

“Stop it, Ryker.”

The machine to her left shows nearly a straight line, indicating she’s not actively in the middle of a contraction, but I can hear the lingering pain in her voice.

“Stop, what?” I ask, bringing her hand to my mouth and kissing the back of it.

“Looking at Dr. Bale like you’re thinking of different ways to kill him.”

“Actually, I’m imagining only one way. Asphyxiation.”

“Well, stop it. This is the doctor who’s delivering our child. We kind of need him.”

I pick up the damp rag and wipe her brow and flushed cheeks. “I wouldn’t need to resort to such things if he’d give you the fucking drugs like I ordered him to.”

“I told you I didn’t want them. I wanted a natural birth. I’ve heard too many horror stories about women taking drugs during childbirth.”

“And I told you that I can’t handle seeing you in pain. I’m incapable of curbing my murderous impulses when it comes to you.”

Her eyes soften, unable to hide her pleasure when my vicious side comes out.

“You’ve also told me in your own words, “anything for you.” Iwantthis, Ryker. The pain is more than worth it.”

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