Page 55 of Keep Me (Rebel Hearts Heists 2)
No.
I can’t say that I would if we’re being honest … I mean, that’s my princess he hurt. Sloane is fucking mine and he’s not only raised his hand at her but the bastard emotionally abused her until she questioned everything about herself. No. I don’t feel guilty and I sure as fuck would do it again, ten times over. My brother, Sloane … hell, Kaden and River too have become my family and there’s absolutely nothing I wouldn’t do to protect that.
A memory of a conversation I had with my father flashes through my mind, from the short time he was with Blaine’s mother. We had been at the mall, around Christmas time, and it had been insanely busy. Alicia had accidentally bumped into someone, complaining to my father and making him frustrated, which was very clear by his body language. The person she’d bumped into, though, turned and started yelling at her, my father tried to calm her down but then the bitch’s husband got involved.
Now it’s no shock that our parents' marriage didn’t work out, they never were perfect. But at that moment it didn’t matter. The minute the fuck face called Alicia a ‘dumb bitch’ my father had lost it. Absolutely fucking lost it. Like security had to be called and I remember being surprised and freaked out until I realized he didn’t look upset or guilty afterwards. It didn’t even appear that it had been a rash decision, he simply led his wife to the car and then looked back at Blaine and I, who had both been silent.
I was always shocked by his steadfast dedication to her and our family, but something about this had been different. I remember him explaining why he had done what he did and the confidence of his statement, never had me questioning it.Laws and logic don’t apply when you’re defending your home, the people you love, your family.He was right. Even if some people might disagree with it … he was right and I know that now.
“Here.” Blaine offers me an extra shirt as I return to the room. I’m not surprised at all that River managed to find those along with a new dress for Sloane. The motherfucker can be really fucking useful when he needs to be. I change out of my blood splattered shirt and glance toward the spot where I dropped that sack of shit finding that Kaden has tied up his unconscious form again. I arch a brow as he handcuffs him to a pipe along the wall. Good.
“You carry cuffs around with you a lot?” Blaine chuckles, his mind briefly going to the gutter.
“It comes with the job,” Kaden responds with a smirk.
Kaden and Blaine look far happier now and while I feel relieved, I can’t help but want Pierce … gone. So that he’ll never bother her again, that she won’t have to look into the shadows, wondering, always worrying that her ex might be lurking in the dark; ready to strike again. So that she’ll never have to run or hide again. My brow arches as a thought pops into my head about our future family. About how I never want our children to not only see their mother afraid of fucking anything, but also to be scared themselves. I can’t go through this again.
“Royce.” Kaden shakes my shoulder and I grunt looking away from the stupid bastard.
“Sorry,” I sigh.
Kaden gives me a look that lets me know that he doesn’t even need to ask where my brain just was. Probably because it’s the same place for both of them. It isn’t like my brother or I are known for being rational, and none of us seem to be when it comes to protecting Sloane. Ever.
“Are we ready to end this shit?” Blaine asks, running a hand through his messy hair.
“Yeah.” Kaden nods and I see him adjust his gun under his tux. “Let’s fucking do this.”
I’m almost immediately out the door, needing to see my princess, needing to hold her once before all this shit goes down. I need to see that she’s safe. Just to confirm it. Confirm that Pierce hasn’t somehow taken her from us.
And he never fucking will.
