Page 54 of Rogue Royal
“What’s going on?”
Douglas shook his head. “I don’t know.” They were several houses down from where Kendal lived.
“We have time to help him, Doug. Just as you’ve been helping the other subs, you can help this one too.”
Douglas snapped his gaze to Freddie. “You know what I’ve been doing?”
Freddie rolled his eyes. “You’re my brother. I know you better than anyone.”
“Why did you never say anything?”
Freddie shrugged. “No harm was coming from it. I assumed you’d tell me when you wanted to.”
“We need to get in there. Another sub told me he worried about Kendal. I was planning on visiting him tomorrow night, but the sub rang me at the club tonight, telling me to get to Kendal’s ho—” A scream rent the air. “Fuck!”
Douglas raced down the street to the sub’s house, not waiting for anything except to check if the door was locked. It was, so he kicked at it several times before it caved. The minute he entered the property, rage filled his body, and he stopped, staring at the scene. Freddie, Damon and several of the security team ran past him, and Douglas saw someone racing for the back of the house, Freddie close behind.
Douglas focused on the sub, who was naked and bound over a coffee table with bleeding lashes littering their back, ass and legs. Kendal whimpered, and Douglas rushed over.
“You’re going to be okay, Kendal. I’m here.” He mumbled soothing words to them while he fiddled with the ropes on their wrists. They were extremely tight, and undoubtedly, Kendal would be in discomfort with them as well as the lashes, which appeared to have been given to cause pain and suffering, not because the sub wanted it.
When Kendal was free, Douglas moved them into his arms and cradled them as best he could without causing more pain. The lashes would need cleaning and covering before Kendal could settle down. Tears soaked into his shirt, and Douglas vowed that whoever did this would be taken care of, one way or another.
He saw Freddie enter the room but stay back. They understood a sub would not want to be crowded when something like this had happened to them. Freddie crouched, making himself smaller, and whispered, “We have him contained in the kitchen. I’ve called for backup.”
Douglas mouthed, “Who is it?”
Freddie mouthed, “Talon.”
Douglas clenched his jaw as fury swept through him again. When he’d kicked Talon out of the club, the man had been angry, but for him to do this…Douglas would make sure he suffered.
Kendal sobbed, pulling him back from the edge, and he whispered in their ear, trying to calm them again. Once the tears had slowed, Douglas cupped Kendal’s face and pulled them back. Meeting their gaze, his heart broke. “We need to clean your wounds, and we’ll find somewhere safe for you to stay.”
Kendal closed their eyes and nodded, tears spilling over. Douglas helped them onto their stomach on the sofa, then stood, asking Kendal where the first aid kit was. Once he’d retrieved it, he knelt beside Kendal and began tending to their wounds. It was going to take a while.
He wasn’t halfway through when a knock sounded, and Kendal tensed. Freddie came to stand beside them, fists clenched but relaxed when their father entered with Uncle William shortly behind. Douglas placed a hand on Kendal’s nape, soothing them as best he could without saying words.
“Father, Uncle William. We have the assailant in the kitchen.”
Both men stepped past Douglas, but King Andrew rested a hand on Douglas’s shoulder, and when he lifted his gaze, his father gave a smile and a nod to him. It seemed like his father was proud. Douglas shook his head and returned to Kendal. It took many long minutes before the wounds were cleaned and covered, but once they were, Douglas helped Kendal to stand.
“Is there somewhere specific you would like to go?”
“Quinn,” they whispered.
“I’ll see to it, personally,” Douglas said. Freddie stepped into the room, and Kendal curled in on himself. “I’m here. Nothing will hurt you now.”
“They took him around the back.” Freddie glanced at Kendal. “I’m sorry for what happened. If there is anything I can do, please, let me know.”
Kendal nodded once and returned their gaze to the floor. Freddie motioned to Kendal, and Douglas knew what he was asking.
“I’m going to get Kendal situated at Quinn’s house, and we can talk through everything. Is that okay with you, Kendal?”
“Yes, Master Douglas.”
“Bear with me one minute, Kendal.” Douglas made sure Kendal was steady on their feet before approaching Freddie. “If the piece of shit doesn’t pay for what he did, I will personally see to it he never has the chance to do this again.”
Freddie’s eyes hardened. “I don’t think you need to worry about it.”
