Page 68 of Knot Enough
“Do you really think locking her up is going to make this better?” she cried.
“Le—” I tried.
“No! Don’t say my name. You’ve never said it. Don’t start now. You let me rot for her crimes and still haven’t fucking learned anything. Maybe you did know. Deep down that I wasn’t her, but you wanted to believe it so badly, you ignored the warnings.”
She wasn’t wrong. The sick satisfaction soured into something sharp and ugly. I dragged the roach out.
“We’ll be there soon,” Axel called after us.
Lena’s cries haunt me as the door closes behind us. I pulled my keys out and unlocked the car. After I threw her in, Kane slammed the door, but it bounced open. Her hand dangled from the car. He grabbed it and shoved it in.
In order to move on, we needed to kill the roach.
THIRTY-FIVE
Lena sobbed into my chest, and all I could do was rock her on Grimm’s couch. My mind was racing and my blood pounded in my ears, but holding her tight was the only thing that kept me focused on what was important. Her. Not payback. Not justice.Her well-being.I’d do anything to make sure she was okay. And right now, there was nothing I could say to comfort her.
Rath would kill Valerie.
And Lena knew that.
I hadn’t talked to my hot-blooded mate. I’d purposely stayed away from him because he’d been wrong. His actions were cruel, his words cut her, and I wouldn’t stand for anyone hurting her. Not even him. It was second nature for me to submit to him, but when it came to her, I’d fought even that.
She tilted her head back, raising her mouth. I knew what she wanted. I knew the words she was about to speak, the plea to protect her sister, the woman who had killed our packmate. The thought of it was a bitter taste in my mouth, and I shook my head, a silent refusal. I couldn’t give her what she wanted. Instinctively, I leaned down and kissed her. Softly, gently, sweetly. But she burned with a need that threatened to raise everything from the ground up. Her mouth enveloped mine,taking, demanding, and I moaned. It took everything I had to pull away.
“As much as I’d love to fuck you right here, Butterfly, I know it won’t help you right now. It’ll be over soon. . .” I trailed off, and she nodded. She swiped her face as she got up unsteadily. I held her hand as Axel approached.
“Let’s go. I’ll drive,” Grimm said as he shook the keys with an obnoxiously loud clinking sound. Lena glared at him, her chin trembling.
“Okay,” she huffed, crossed her arms, and rounded toward the exit. Grimm closed the door and didn’t bother locking it. Axel followed her closely, helping her into the car. The guys shuffled in as I reached for my door, but a tatted arm beat me, fingers pulling it open. Her alpha smiled down at me. I scowled at him and hopped in. The door slammed, and I watched as he made his way around.
“It’ll be okay,” Axel whispered from the backseat. I glanced into the rear view mirror to where she was tucked into Axel’s chest, her eyes red and raw, a faint tremor running through her shoulders. I reached back and squeezed her knee. She caught my fingers, her grip small, but fierce. It didn’t bother me that she felt for the murderer. What bothered me was that she was hurting.
Grimm got in and secured his seat belt.
Lena was the only thing that mattered. Everything else could burn.
Grimm drove like a man possessed, and from what I’ve seen, it wasn’t far from the truth. Eventually, he killed the engine in the packhouse driveway. I wondered how he knew where we lived. Lena hesitated; the silence enveloped us all, our gaze fixed on her as she stared at the stairway that led to our home.
We waited until she was ready. When she nodded, Axel exited the car and offered his hand. She took it, her eyes glassy asshe met my gaze. I slid my hand down on her back, and we made our way in. I could feel Grimm follow close behind.
Axel opened the door, and the moment we entered, I caught it—muffled thuds, the deep rumble of a growl. My muscles tightened, and she whimpered. She turned to me, her hand on my chest as tears fell.
“Please,” she choked.
I knew what she was asking. I wrapped my hand around hers and nodded.
“Show me around,” Grimm said as he linked arms with Axel. The giant looked at me, and I dipped my chin. He hesitated, his gaze stopping on Lena, studying her before he met mine. He jerked his head toward her, and I nodded, confirming I’d take care of her. Then, Axel left.
We headed down the stairs into the basement, where the holding cells were. The air grew colder with each step, the sounds around us sharpening. Valerie’s shrill scream cut off as we moved down the hall. I wanted to believe she wasn’t in the same cell, but deep down, I knew she was. I wish I could shield Lena from what awaited us. Her footsteps quickened as we rounded the last corner.
Rath stood above Valerie, his shoe on her throat. He was shirtless, the material a tattered mess on the floor. Lena’s body tensed against mine.
His back faced us, giving us a clear view of the scratches littering his flesh. Valerie’s lips were split, blood smeared down her chin, arm extended as he stared down at her. Blood dripped from the severed flesh where her fingertips used to be. He’d cut them to the first knuckle. Every. Single. One.
Kane leaned against the wall, blood spattered across his shirt.
“Rath,” I called carefully, and his head snapped in my direction. Scratches clawed down his neck and jaw. His lip ringwas gone, the skin split where it had been ripped out. That fucking bitch!I should rip her throat out myself.
