Chapter 33
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
CARA
“ L ook at the happy couple reunited,” I hear from the doorway. My swollen lips part as my head whips around to see if they are armed. The Knox brothers lean against either side of the doorframe with their legs propped up casually in a mirrored stance—must be a twin thing.
“It’s the drug duo; dare I ask what you gave me?” Ezra inquires, refusing to let me down as he turns us to face them fully. He is as relaxed as they are, conspiratorial grins etched on each of their handsome faces.
They were in on it.
“A drop of a sedative that we knew would only knock you out long enough for Lenora and her lapdog to think they had won.”
“I thought our plan had gone to shit there for a minute; I didn’t expect her to opt for the junkie overdose option.”
“You were never in any real danger; we just enjoy fucking with you, mate. We know what we’re doing—we may be farm boys at heart, but it doesn’t hurt to have some knowledge beyond horses and fucking.”
“You drug the horses before you fuck them?” I chuckle, and both brothers snort a laugh as Ezra hugs me closer to his body, the laugh rumbling from his chest carefree and welcomed.
“We ride the horses, drug our victims, and fuck our women, usually in that order,” Cooper states nonchalantly, throwing a piece of popcorn up in the air before he catches it in his mouth. His Cheshire grin wide as he chews.
“You fucking killed me, dipshit—I won’t forget that in a hurry,” Ezra comments, allowing me down onto my feet when I wiggle from his hold.
“Killed you brIEFLY, I think you’re being a little dramatic. My grandmother could take that codeine/morphine cocktail and still make her bingo session. Stop pouting,” Caleb teases as they approach us, grinning boyishly around a mouthful of popcorn as Cooper takes a handful.
“Diluting drugs with saline feels wrong on so many levels, but we made an exception for you, mate,” Cooper adds chipperly before stuffing his face.
Ezra runs his hand through his mussed hair. “For a minute there, I had my doubts.”
I glance down at the overflowing tub, the questions of what they pumped into Ezra’s bloodstream to bring on the appearance of death answered, and I ask, “Where the fuck did you get popcorn?”
“We needed a snack for the show,” he replies, gesturing towards our reflections in the mirrored viewing window. “Well done, by the way, I didn’t call that poker through the chest; I owe Caleb a new hat for that one,” Cooper adds, nudging my shoulder.
Caleb’s chest expands as he peacocks about his win. “I knew you had it in you, Cara, especially if you thought Ezra was in danger.”
“You two are a liability,” Ezra chuckles, shaking his head.
“You’re alive though, right?” the twins reiterate cheerily in unison.
“They didn’t see you coming,” Caleb snorts with a wink, placing his hand on my arm.
Ezra stiffens beside me. “The next person who touches my woman is losing a hand,” he states through gritted teeth.
I swallow back the giggle, happily basking in his possessiveness as the brothers take a step back to safety with their arms raised, popcorn tumbling over the side and out onto the floor with how fast Caleb moves.
“What a weird and wonderful way to say thank you,” Cooper titters, lacking the oomph halfway through his sentence when Ezra stands a little taller, eyes locked with his.
“Thank you, guys,” I intervene, smiling at the brothers before rising on my tiptoes and pressing a chaste kiss to Ezra’s lips as I wrap my arms around his neck. He melts into my hold, his taut face softening as I play with the hair at his nape.
I’d almost forgotten Lenora was still alive until her high-pitched whine interrupts an otherwise beautiful moment. “You don’t need to kill me, Ezra.”
“I didn’t need to kill that handsy fucker either, but I wanted to, and I ain’t gonna lie—I fucking enjoyed it.”
“You’re deranged,” she spits, and Ezra grabs his chest in mock horror.
“Or an overachiever—I think Doctor Mayfair might be quite proud of my growth.”
“I brought you here, I protected you,” she cries out tiredly.
“You kept me here, you caged me,” Ezra corrects pointedly, scrutinising her expression as she tries desperately to hold back whatever vile vitriol is about to spew out of her mouth.
“But… We’re fam…family,” she stumbles.
“The little innocent act isn’t going to work on me; your mask has slipped. I see you for what you are: ugly, rotten, depraved at your core.”
“You fucked that,” Caleb chortles in the corner, shoving Cooper with his elbow.
“So did you,” his brother barks back, seemingly offended by the clarification that he dicked down the crazy woman currently strapped to the table.
“Desperate times and all that. I would have fucked Snoopy to get out of this place.”
“Odd choice, but I’ll put it down to you being forced to fuck the devil incarnate,” Ezra states, giving the brothers an out.
“You won’t get away with this,” Lenora wails, her bottom lip trembling for effect as she squeezes out a tear.
“Definitely will,” Caleb snickers.
“Already have,” Cooper adds.
“And fuck you, lady, for thinking anyone gives a shit what happens to you.” Ezra grins, finishing their statement as though it’s a rehearsed play—each guy adding another slice of truth to the Lenora annihilation party.
Weakly, she continues to goad Ezra. “If you’re going to kill me, do it already.”
“Oh, I’m not gonna kill you, Lenora; death would be too humane for you, even taking into consideration how much I’d enjoy making it hurt first.”
“I wonder what this will do if we keep going?” Cooper rubs the paddles together, and a blue spark fizzes between them as he pulls them apart.
The crazy in him is present in the wicked glint in his eyes.
“I’m pretty sure this could also be interesting.
Up for a little psychosurgery, Lenora?” He selects a tool that looks like an ice pick.
“Live, laugh, lobotomy—has a nice ring to it,” I remark with a wicked smile.
“I’m getting that on a t-shirt,” Caleb chuckles as he ramps the electrical charge up two notches.
Lenora screams as her body jolts, and I decide it’s the most beautiful sound I’ve ever heard. For what she did to Ezra, she deserves to die a thousand deaths, each more painful than the last.
Looking around at the bloody mess we’ve made of the room, Caleb and Cooper slip into their own conversation out of earshot.
I jump up and lock my legs around Ezra’s torso, revelling in the feel of his strong, muscled body beneath mine, pushing aside the dark thoughts of what might have happened if he hadn’t woken up.
They have no place here between us. It’s right now that matters.
“You were meant to run. That’s why they left you the key,” he says, nuzzling into my hair as he breathes in a lungful of my scent. I pull back to meet his eyes.
“I couldn’t leave you. I’d rather have died in here by your side than existed out there without you.
” My truth slips easily from my lips as I trace a finger over his jawline, the phantom pulse of my missing fingers reminding me that my hand is bare as I enjoy the feel of him without my gloved prosthetic.
“If the world ends, we burn together—because even the afterlife won’t keep me from you, sweetheart.”
“I think we make an excellent team, Mr. Wolfe,” I softly respond, planting a featherlight kiss on his lips, sealing the promise he’s just made me.
“The best Miss Morgrieves,” he gruffly replies, his hand wound in my hair and tugging me closer before he crashes his lips against mine, swallowing the groan of pleasure that doesn’t have a chance to break free from my lips.
Devouring me.
Worshipping me.
Claiming me.
Just how I like it.