Page 63 of King of Cruelty

“If I wanted to take him down with no money or resources, I’d start with tracking down the other women he hurt, and convincing them to join me. And I wouldn’t hide my face while I did it.”

River stroked my cheek—his touch soft and soothing, he spread warmth, love, and reassurance into me without needing to say a word.

But still saying everything.

“We couldn’t do this without you, Kenzie, and I’m not just talking about this war with the Brotherhood. All of it,” he whispered. “Everything you’ve healed, put right, and made better just by walking into the room... none of it was possible... before you.”

Tears stung my eyes. A million replies sprung to my lips, but the only one that mattered was...

“I love you.”

“I love you too.” He kissed me. “Now, let’s track down the number of the infamous Aunt Della and get a description of the woman she smacked the shit out of. Something tells me she hasn’t forgotten her face.”

My lips found its smile again. “Let’s do it.”

Together we took off down to the basement. My surprise at finding out there was a secret tunnel entrance under Caddell was nothing to discovering that entrance was marked with a sign saying,Danger: High Voltage. Keep Out Under Pain of Death

“That’s a sign that would keep me away.”

We cut down on the joking as we entered the dark, concrete tunnel.

I expected a dark, gloomy space with steam rising up from nowhere to conceal the rats waiting to jump out at me.

I expected it, but that’s not what I got.

The tunnel was shockingly well lit with a string of exposed hanging lightbulbs leading the mile ahead. There was nothing but gray on gray, but it was clean, smelled fine, and there wasn’t a rat in sight.

Holding hands, we began the trek leading to the family I just found, but refused to ever give up.

“Why are we going there when they could all evacuate through these tunnels?” I asked. “The Brotherhood would sit around all day waiting to attack no one.”

River shook his head. “No one knows about this tunnel except for immediate family. If it gets out, they’ll have to brick it up and never look back. Besides, as scary as it is to have snipers on the front porch, there is nowhere in the city safer than the Fairfield. Nowhere,” he pressed. “That building is one of themany reasons why the Merchants have ruled unchallenged for forty years.

“It’s where they sleep, shower, and eat. It’s the only place they’re vulnerable, and it’s the only place no one but the Merchants can get in.”

I quieted, accepting that the guys had a plan to get everyone out of the building safely. Trust was all I had to go on, so best to keep it in over supply.

The mile felt like it stretched into five as we walked through a tunnel of gray on gray. There must have been nothing but solid concrete, dirt, and gravel above us because the bustling Cinco sounds were nothing. All I could hear were my own thoughts, and all I could think about was Laurel and Sienna out there walking through the park. Hera, help me, I hoped they were safe, because I had a terrible feeling that—

“It’s starting,” I whispered. “The Brotherhood’s final endgame, River. They’re done losing little battles, and now they’re ready to win the war.”

Meeting my eyes, he said, “I agree.”

BANE

I opened the trapdoor, reaching down to help Kenzie climb in.

Gazing up the ladder, she smiled at me and it about punched me in the gut.Gods, she’s beautiful. A thousand painters could try a thousand times to paint her beauty, but in the end they’d break their brushes and run off crying.

Her perfection is a gift of nature, and it cannot be replicated.

“Hey, love.” Climbing up, she captured my lips before she was even out of the hole—swiping her tongue against my entrance, then plunging in.

I let her think she was in charge for all of two seconds, then tangled and wrestled her tongue into submission—drawing a soft, heart-pounding moan from her.

“Ahem,” a dry voice interrupted. “I’m still down here, you know.”

Kenzie broke away giggling. “Sorry, baby. Let me help you.” Pulling herself the rest of the way out, she reached down to draw River in after her.

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