- RORY -

The rain has swept in, drenching us on the beach as we walk back—Dex and the mafia guy leading with their two prisoners. Raya and I are clinging to each other, and it’s that dreadful interim when I want to fast forward—skipping to the next part, to the next place, to the dry clothes awaiting us.

The adrenaline is seeping out of me, leaving me cold and wet and with a trail of blood speckling the sand in my wake. And shock is moving in.

Did this all really happen? Am I not in a nightmare again?

My stomach twists watching the back of Hansen being led by Dex, so I’m doing my best to just look at the tiny grains of sand, at my feet carrying me forward, at the angry ocean foaming along the shoreline. But those hungry, foaming tongues licking the sand give me an idea—to steal Hansen and take him out into the ocean. To hold him under.

I wish I had the same strength as these men so that I could, because I know the mysterious ocean depths out there would sympathize with me. They would take him from my hands, swallow him up, make him disappear. Any consequence I had to face would be worth it so long as I was the one who made this monster meet his just end.

He’s no match for the beasts on the ocean floor—things so deep and so ugly that they’ve never even been touched by sunlight. That’s where I want Hansen Rykard to go.

"Let’s find the doctor," Raya mumbles next to me. She sounds tired now, too.

"Gus. No... Burt." I say, confusing the name, my thoughts remaining underwater with unsightly things. That’s all I can focus on.

Instead of going out into the water, we turn and pass under the trees. They all run together, creating a green blur. They could all be the same tree, copied and pasted one after the other, and I wouldn’t notice. I wouldn’t even be surprised. None of this feels real.

Before I know it, we’re back in the cabina I vacated when I moved my things in with Luciano. It’s dark and cold—so grim now. I don’t remember it being this grim. Like jaws waiting to snap shut once the prey is deep enough.

Raya walks to the freezer, taking out ice. But I keep walking, following the men into the bedroom. Hansen and Josh are tossed onto the bed, and a wicked delight washes over me at how awful Hansen looks.

I’ve managed to bring some of his ugliness to the surface. He’s bleeding. His nose is crooked. There are bruises starting to form under his eyes.

"I did that," I chuckle, standing near the doorway.

He wipes some blood from under his nose and looks at it. But instead of the anger or pain or other emotion I would expect, the bastard smiles.

"That was hot," he chuckles.

The voice tears open that inner wound again, ripping painfully along the seams that want so badly to heal.

"Why don’t you tell your bodyguards to get lost? I’ll let you wail on me all you want, baby girl." 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

————————

- LUCIANO -

Pa’s phone rings. My nerves are finally starting to settle after his stupid prank, and it seems to have lightened his mood considerably as well.

I knew he was pissed that I threatened him and ordered men to come down here without consulting him first, but this was not the reaction I expected. He’s never been much of a joker.

"We’ll be right there," Pa says, ending the call.

All trace of amusement is gone. In its place is the businessman. The boss. My heart literally shudders in my chest, because there is only one item of business here in Costa Rica.

I’m on my feet before Pa has even tucked his phone away.

"What? Did they find him?"

"No, but Tony said the girls took off after someone. They’re headed toward the beach."

"What?" That doesn’t make any sense. "Alone?" Where the fuck is Dex?

Pa doesn’t answer. We’re both out the door of his suite a moment later, and while he makes a call to someone else to meet us at the beach, my thoughts rush forward to Rory. What could have possibly happened that would make her and Raya take off after someone alone?

It’s raining when we finally make it to the beach, and there’s no one here except the guys that were ordered to meet us. Pa takes his phone out to call Tony, but I’m not waiting for that. Maybe they’re back at the cabinas. Maybe everything is fine.

But when I find Raya and Dex’s cabina deserted and the door carelessly unlocked, I know something else is up.

"They’re at one of the huts," Pa shouts up from below.

"Which one?" I yell back, but before waiting for an answer, I’m already running to the next. Over the suspension bridge, onto the deck of the one Rory was staying in.

Raya is in the kitchen, so I rush in. She’s a mess—drenched, hair plastered to her face and neck. When she looks up, I notice the red welt on her cheek, and all of the rage that I keep locked down starts flowing to the surface.

Her eyes widen when she sees me, and she points to the bedroom.

As I approach the door, I hear Rory’s voice. The relief is instant.

"I did that." She sounds amused and satisfied, but there’s also an iciness to her voice that makes me stop short of entering.

"That was hot," a male says, chuckling. It’s not a voice I recognize. "Why don’t you tell your bodyguards to get lost? I’ll let you wail on me all you want, baby girl."

Baby girl.

Instantly, my thoughts flick back to the change in Rory’s demeanor when I called her that—the way she became entranced by the knife and lost in deep thought.

"Sure," she says—arrogant and enraged now. "This time I’ll be the one leaving you with scars."

All thought flees with the realization that explodes in my mind at those words.

"Promise?" The faceless fucker chuckles, and I stalk into the room.

He’s bloodied and bruised already—on the bed by the shithead from the pool, Josh.

Dex and Tony are just standing there, which is fine. Because I want the bleeding one all to myself. He’s the new one. It’s got to be him.

"Luci," Rory says, her relief evident. It makes my heart ache and soar all at once. I wasn’t with her at the most crucial moment.

She’s soaked like her sister, hair and eyes wild and bright. The dress is clinging to her, every beautiful curve on display for all to see. I’ve never felt equally proud and murderous like I do right now. And then I notice her hand dripping all over the floor just like last night—just like after she was running, so desperate to find me.

It must have been him she was running from.

My eyes cut back to him. He doesn’t look nearly as worried or frightened as he should be, which means he has no clue who I am. It wasn’t the Bratva after Rory after all. It was the neighbor kid from her past.

"Luci?" He repeats, mirth in his eyes. "Is this your girlfriend, Rory?"

"That’s right," I answer for her, because there is no way he’s ever uttering another word directed at her again.

My emotionless smile snaps into place, masking all the vengeful, crazed emotions that are roiling under the surface.

"And if you like a fight, then you’re going to love me."