Ky paused for a moment but eventually conceded. “Make it real fuckin’ slow, Lett. Make the cunts suffer.” Turning on his heel, Ky marched us out of the door and back to his room. Sitting down on the edge of the bed, he kept me in his arms and said, “We’re getting you cleaned up. Then I’m getting you the hell outta here.”

“Where are we to go?” I whispered in shocked relief, still reeling from all the violence. There had been so much. I could not take it. I did want to flee from this place. All I could see was Tiff and Jules pinning me down.

Tempting… always tempting people…

“Away for a few days. Club don’t have business until next week. AK, Tank, and Bull can hold down the fort until we’re back. I can’t have you here when I’m feeling like this. I’m gonna kill someone else if I do. And I don’t want you looking at me like I’m gonna hurt you ever again.”

“No more violence,” I begged. “If I can ask that of you.”

Ky sighed in exasperation. “Li, it’s the life I’m in and the man I am. But yeah, if we get away, I won’t be shedding any more blood… tonight. But that’s how it is in this life, baby. You gotta get with that shit.”

All I felt was relief. And I did not want to be here at this compound right now either. It was all becoming too much. My curse was not diminishing. If anything, it was gaining strength.

“Okay,” I agreed.

Ky stood and gently lowered me to my feet. “I need to get shit arranged. Get a shower. I’ll get your clothes. We’ll be gone in thirty.”

“Okay,” I said, but when Ky turned away, I asked, “Ky?” He stopped and looked at me. “Can… can I request that you spare Tiff and Jules? I do not think it right that they are harmed. Let the Lord judge their sins.”

Ky put his hand on the doorknob and, without glancing back, said, “Not a fuckin’ chance in hell. Those sluts abused you ‘cause they’re jealous bitches. The two of them can rot in Tartarus for all I care. I’m their judge, jury, and executioner right now. They fucked with the wrong brother. They’re gonna die, and they’re gonna die real slow.”

I shook my head in protest, feeling dread in my stomach. “No, please. I don’t want blood on your hands because of me!”

Ky remained unmoved. “I already got a helluva lotta blood on my hands anyway, sweet cheeks. They fuckin’ die. End of. No one walks into Hades and pulls that shit on my woman!”

With that, he closed the door, locking it on his way out.

I took a shower, trying to just block everything out.

And thirty minutes later, we were in his truck and on the road to I knew not where.

Chapter Twelve

Ky

Beauty had agreed to stay with Maddie. After Flame heard what had happened to Li, why I was taking her away, I knew that brother weren’t gonna sleep while protecting the young bitch. Maddie was the safest woman on the damn planet right now.

We were on our way to the country, to my ranch. I hadn’t taken anyone out there before. No one knew I even owned it, apart from Styx, of course. There was a good reason. A reason Lilah would learn about in about forty fucking minutes.

Lilah was silent most of the journey, her head pressed against the passenger door window. I couldn’t keep my eyes off her, her face all bruised and her back in another long, gray dress. Her headdress was tightly covering her hair, and I couldn’t do shit to make things better.

She’d just been attacked because of me. I weren’t sure I could be redeemed in her eyes. It was driving me insane that I didn’t know what she was thinking.

Flicking from one rock station to the next, I left it on Judas Priest and asked, “You good, Li?”

“Yes, thank you,” she replied without turning her head.

Hands tightening on the wheel, I gritted my teeth, pressed on the gas, and got us to the ranch as quickly as I could.

Thirty miles later, I saw the sign for High Ranch and turned onto the dirt road. Lilah looked forward and shuffled to the end of the seat, her eyes drinking in the wooden barn, the surrounding fields, and the stables to the left of the log house.

I loved this place.

The lights were on in the log cabin, and I pulled the truck to a stop next to an old beat-up Chevy.

Lilah turned to me. “This is your cabin?”

I opened my mouth to answer, when the front door opened and Elysia stepped onto the porch, her blond curly hair trailing down her back in a braid. She was in her usual jeans and plaid shirt. I jumped outta the truck and ran to the porch, watching her face light up as she saw me.

Swinging an arm around her shoulder, I pulled her to my chest and kissed her head. “How’re you, Sia?”

Squeezing her arms around my waist, she replied, “I’m good. Bonnie delivered a foal last night, so running low on sleep.”

Pulling back, Sia went to speak but stopped and frowned at something over my shoulder. “Erm… Ky?” Sia pointed behind me and raised a questioning brow.

Turning, I saw Lilah was illuminated in the cab light, her face blank but her eyes huge as she watched me with Sia. She was probably terrified that I’d brought in another strange woman.

I waved my hand, signaling for Lilah to come over, but her face dropped and she didn’t move. I could see the fear written all over her face. Sighing, I turned to Sia, who was watching me real fucking weird, and I walked over to Lilah, leaning in the door.

“Lilah, baby, come out. I got someone I want you to meet.”

“Is that your wife?” Lilah asked me nervously. “Or another of your women?”

I almost balked at that but instead, burst out laughing. “No, sweet cheeks, she ain’t my fuckin’ wife. Now come on,” I threw her a wink, “get your blond ass outta the truck.”

Taking my hand, Lilah nervously edged out and I had to drag her over to Sia, whose gaze was glued to our joined hands.

As we stepped onto the porch, I put my hands on Lilah’s shoulders, feeling her stiffen. Bending down to place my mouth at her ear, I said, “Lilah, meet my baby sister, Elysia.”

Lilah sucked in a breath and said, “Sister?” She looked back at me in confusion. “You never mentioned you had a sister.”

“Not many people know. Now you do,” I replied.

Stepping forward, Elysia held out her hand. “Nice to meet you, Lilah.”