Page 136 of My Solemn Vow
But this is Kerrianne’s home. It doesn’t feel right upturning her sanctuary because I have an issue to work through.
I draw in a deep inhale and release it slowly. “It’s just a flight of stairs. It’s just a room.”
The first step is the hardest, but once I get myself moving, muscle memory takes over.
Valor comes down the stairs behind me, and it quickens my heart rate. I bite back the panic. Repeating the logic again and again that this is just stairs, it’s just a basement, and I’m not the one who is about to die.
We’re just as strong as he is.My wolf assures me.He couldn’t kill us, not anymore.
I don’t know how much of that is true, but she certainly believes it.
Neil is chained to the wall, dozing, head slumped on his shoulder, when we walk in. He doesn’t look comfortable, but he does look deep asleep. There’s nothing to throw, so instead, as soon as the door closes and I know Kerrianne can’t hear, I scream at the top of my lungs.
Neil jolts awake and looks around, his chest heaving, and he gasps. “I see she survived.”
“She survived,” I echo his mockery. “No thanks to you.”
“And I think you’ll probably be her first kill,” Valor muses.
I can hear his finger tapping against the screens of the tablets. He’s setting the security system and whatever he uses to make sure Kerrianne is safe while we’re down here. Well, in addition to Declan and Jack being stationed in the living room and upstairs hallway.
I hate that Valor is right about killing him. Not because I’m shying away from death, but that this is what it took for me to get angry enough to do it. There are questions I need answered though. Pieces to the puzzle that have been bugging me all afternoon.
“How the fuck did you mess up a drive-by?” I start with the least recent event I haven’t been able to figure out. “His car was literally still headed toward the school. If you’re looking to take out the heir and his successor, then why wouldn’t you wait until his car was headed in the other direction with his child in tow?”
I glare at him, guessing I’m out of striking range based on the length of chain holding him to the wall.
“Idiots didn’t know where the school was.” Neil doesn’t even bother lying and saying it wasn’t him.
“Who did you hire?” I clench my fist.
Valor comes up behind me and places one hand on my shoulder and the other on my stomach, holding me back to him.
“Members of my pack.” Neil’s claiming word ‘my’ makes Valor growl.
“Don’t worry. We’ve already started flushing out your little militia. You’d be surprised how many of them already transferred to different packs or simply disappeared. For someone who used to own quite a bit of stock in a tech company, you knew nothing about hiding your evidence.” Valor is cold, the unwavering version of himself. “It was smart to short the inventory of those custom shells coming in. I never even considered that you would be smart enough to cut a deal for extra ammunition but stupid enough to use something so customized in a drive-by shooting.”
“It was convenient. That I could blame it on your new bride’s family.” Neil taunts, again not distinguishing me as a member of the pack and family, even though it was his actions that made me part of ‘the family secret.’
Valor steps around me and goes to Neil. Wasting energy, Neil tries to fight and attack Valor, but much younger and stronger, Valor moves his restraints and muscles him over into the very chair I suffered in.
Neil struggles, trying to stay out of it.
Was that what I looked like, fighting back? Is that how pathetic and weak I was?I blink and turn away, not wanting to watch this part.
No.My wolf pushes inside me, and I follow her lead, forcing my gaze back to Neil.
Wolf healing, as Valor explained, is why I have just a barely there silver scar from the wound that almost killed me. If it weren’t for the vividness of the memories, I’d say it was nothing more than a dream.
Valor has him completely secured within another minute or so.
“Go to the toy box, darling. Pick out some toys. But remember, we’ve got to get some more answers first.” Valor indicates to his cupboard of implements.
The way he said ‘toy box’ and ‘darling’ sends ridiculous little butterflies to my stomach. They bring to mind his promises from before the world got fucked up. That he’s open to using toys. Days and weeks seem to be blending — Christmas is already later this week. But the night I threatened to get myself off feels so long ago yet also like it was yesterday.
Valor comes up behind me, looking over my shoulder into the toolbox. “Maximum pain and short, or draw it out long and slow?”
I shrug, not even sure what you’d call many of these things.
