Page 57 of Echoes of Temptation
She points to the apartment we are seconds from rushing into.
“Did you call the cops?” I ask.
“No. I figured someone else would. Are you here to help him?”
“Yes ma’am,” I say calmly when all I want to do is rip the old woman’s head off. “Head back into your apartment.”
“I’ve never wanted to kill an old woman as strongly as I do now,” Blaze says.
“Michael’s robot overlord said that there are only two people inside,” Viper says quietly.
“I’ll go first,” I begin. “Then be…”
Screams fill the hallway, and all thoughts of plans go out the window. Steel kicks open the door, and we all rush inside. My brothers freeze at the sight before us. If it weren’t for my extensive training and my father’s voice in my head telling me to show no weakness, I would have as well.
Knox is tied to some sort of X-shaped wooden device. He’s face down with his arms and legs tied to each section. He’s completely naked apart from a diaper and his back is covered in marks from the damn whip Nick Thornfield is welding.
Not giving Nick the opportunity to register that we’re here, I rush forward and have the man face down on the floor with his hands secured behind his back.
“You’ve made a terrible mistake,” I whisper in his ear as I lean forward with one knee on his spine.
“Ouch, man. That hurts.”
“I hope it doesn’t hurt too much,” Ghost says. “This is just foreplay to King. I can’t wait for you to experience his type of kink.”
Nick starts screaming which only causes my sick mind to jump with joy.
“Pops and Michael are on their way to collect him,” Ghost says. “I’ll make sure he doesn’t move. You go help them get Knox off that damn thing.”
Ghost steps forward and places his foot on the back of Nick’s neck.
“Little one,” Steel mutters softly. “It’s alright. We’re here.”
The silence coming from Knox is worrisome. He doesn’t even whimper when Steel lifts him into his arms.
“Hold him steady,” Doc says.
Even after all these years, I find it fascinating when one of Venom’s Alters takes control.
“He’ll be okay,” Doc says after checking him over. “Let’s get him to the hospital right away though. Some of these lashes have been on here for a few hours. I want to get some antibiotics in him before an infection sets in. Seems like I’m always sending one of you to the hospital for an antibiotic treatment these days.”
“I’ll wait here for Pops and Michael,” Ghost says. “You guys get back to your women.”
Not waiting a second longer, I follow Steel, Blaze, Viper, and Venom out of the apartment and back to the hospital.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Maddy
I have never in my life been as angry at two people as I am Steel and Blaze. Knox was rescued two days ago and he’s going to be fine. He’s already back home but he’s not the same person he was. I don’t think he ever will be. Me and Bitsy watched as he threw every single one of his stuffies in the trash last night.
I know that the twins aren’t directly responsible for what Knox went through. But, when it comes down to it, they are the reason it happened. If they hadn’t been such assholes and had let Knox into their club, he wouldn’t have gone out searching for one to belong to and wouldn’t have met that bad man.
“He threw away all of his stuffies,” Bitsy tells the room.
We’re currently sitting at the clubhouse updating everyone on Knox. He won’t leave his apartment, and it has us all worried.
“Why would he do that?” Steel asks.