Page 226 of Boys Who Hunt

“She’s. Not. Yours,” he growls, squeezing my throat so tightly I can’t breathe.

Then he shoves me away.

“You will never see her again,” he says.

I shake my head, rasping, “No.”

“Yes.” He throws me a devilish glance. “In fact, I think it’s about time you learned what it means to steal from a man like me.” He snaps his fingers, and the guys drag me farther into the hallway and into a room with just a bed and some machines bleeping away. Tubes are attached to the machine and lead all the way to a woman lying motionless in a bed.

And I hold my breath.

Perhaps forever.

As the tears I’ve been holding for so long finally begin to cascade down my cheeks.

“All this running, fighting, hiding, trying to escape my men, and for what?” he whispers into my ear.

And I whisper back, “Nothing.”

“That’s right.” He places a hand on my shoulder. “You did this.”

I shake my head, tears still marking my face with all the emotions I’ve kept bottled up for her sake. Cora always said I was strong, stronger than anyone she ever knew.

But this is where my greatest weakness lies.

The one thing that could shatter me into tiny little pieces.

Knowing that, after everything I did, it still wasn’t enough to keep everyone I love safe.

I whisper, “I’m sorry.”

Stefano wickedly sniggers behind me. “Sorry won’t save you now.”

CHAPTER 55

Heath

When the ambulanceshave finally arrived to help take care of the wounded and bring them to a hospital, I head upstairs to see where Silas has run off to. There’s ruckus in the weaponry, and when I peek inside, he’s throwing all the knives and guns into two big bags.

“What are you doing?” I ask, clutching the doorjamb.

“What the fuck does it look like?” Silas replies. “I’m gonna rescue Ivy.”

“What about Cora?” I ask. “Does she even need to be saved? Whoever has her must’ve taken her back to her real parents. That’s why they came for her.”

He pauses and looks at me like I’m the one being weird.

“Ivy stole her from that Stefano guy,” I add.

“I don’t fucking care what she did.” He stands up and looks me dead in the eyes. “Ivy belongs to me. Not him. And I’m taking back what’s mine, with or without anyone’s help. End of story.”

I frown. “But what are you gonna do with Cora? Leave her there?”

“I’ll figure that out when I get there.” He grabs his bags.

“Wait.”

“Why? So you can try to convince me to stay?”