“Moose, take Blaze to his office. Fuzz and Chance, hang out with Dominic’s friends here,” Storm orders, taking over as acting President while Blaze is incapacitated. “Everyone else, guns down.”
I slowly lower my gun, my heart pounding in my chest as I wish I could just put one between his eyes but that’s not who we are – not anymore.
“Kodiak, lead him to the TV room,” Storm orders and I glance over at him as he nods, a stern expression on his face. I slip the pistol back in my jeans and meet Dominic’s gaze.
“This way.”
I turn toward the TV room with Smith at my side. Dominic falls in behind me with Nix and Emma behind him and I wonder where he’s keeping Tate and what the hell this little visit is about. When we get into the room, Dominic strolls to the front and turns to all of us.
“First off, I need to make it clear that I didn’t take Tatum nor did I give the order to have her taken.”
I cross my arms over my chest. “Then who has her?”
“My associate,” he answers with a sigh. “He was sent down here many years ago to watch over my children and report back to me. I always kept my promise to Sarah but I had to know that they were okay. When you do what I do, you make a lot of enemies.”
Scoffing, I glance at Smith, who is glaring daggers at Dominic. I knew he and Tate had grown close while he was helping me watch over her but I didn’t realize how close until she went missing.
“I’ve also done some digging since I’ve been here and I think there’s a large possibility that Devlin, my associate, is also responsible for Sarah’s death.”
“Why?” Nix asks.
“I don’t know why yet but I assure you, I will find out.” Darkness blankets Dominic’s face and I know that I would rather be anyone else than Devlin right now.
“What about the DVD?” I ask, gesturing to the case he still holds in his hand. He sighs and nods.
“I received the first video first thing this morning and I’ll warn you, it’s not easy to watch.” He walks over to the DVD player and slips a disk in. An image of my Tate fills the screen. She’s completely naked, sprawled out on her back with her hands and legs tied to a bed frame as a man I recognize from the diner straddles her body. I stumble forward and grip the back of the couch in front of me.
“No.”
“I’ve been watching you since you were just a girl but I can’t deny that you’ve turned into a stunning woman, Tate,” he rasps, his voice going husky and my stomach rolls as tears build in my eyes and rage simmers in my veins.
No
No
No
“Jesus fucking Christ,” Smith whispers as Devlin climbs off the bed and starts undressing as he stares down at Tate’s naked body. I don’t want to see this but I can’t catch my breath to tell him to turn it off or look away. I need this – need to know what happened to her, what she went through even if it feels like I’m being shredded right where I stand.
“This is such a strange feeling,” he murmurs. “I’m attracted to you but I’m also sorry that I have to do this. I’m going to enjoy and hate it all at the same time.”
“Enough,” I choke out and Dominic shakes his head.
“No, not yet.”
Tate turns toward the camera as he climbs on top of her again and the defeated look in her golden gaze fucking kills me. I turn toward the wall and rest my forehead against it, struggling to draw air into my lungs. My hands shake and tears burn my eyes as visions of slicing this motherfucker open and spilling his guts on the floor assault me.
The sound of Tate crying out pulls my gaze back to the screen and a tear spills down my cheek as I watch him take her as she pulls on the ropes.
“That’s it, Sweetheart,” Devlin whispers. “Look right in that camera and tell Daddy how awful it is.”
“Enough!” I roar, slamming my fist into the wall and Dominic nods, turning off the video. “Where is he?”
Dominic smiles. “We’ll get to that. First, there’s one more video to show you.”
“No, I can’t,” Nix chokes out, jumping to his feet and marching out of the room. Emma follows him, laying a supportive hand on my arm as she passes me and I suck in a stuttered breath as I wait for the next video to load.
“This video is one he was filming as we rolled up on him.”
I take a step forward. “She’s safe?”
“Yes.”
“Why the fuck didn’t you lead with that?” I growl, balling my fists and taking another step forward. He points to the screen where another image of Tate pops up.
“Because you needed to see this.”
Before I can argue, he presses play and the sound of Tate screaming fills the room. My stomach rolls and my heart stops as I watch Devlin drag a scalpel down her arm, slicing her open before he grabs a needle and thick black thread and starts stitching her back together again.
“Why?” Smith breathes and I glance over at him as tears build in his eyes. He presses his fist to his lips and closes his eyes, shaking his head like he can somehow erase the images we just saw but I know there’s no way in hell I’ll ever forget it.
“Turn it off,” I bark and Dominic nods, pausing the video before folding his hands in front of him as he flashes me an expectant look. “Where is he?”
He smiles. “I was hoping you’d feel that way.”
“I don’t know what kind of sick fucking game you’re playing but I want five minutes alone with this son of a bitch.”
Dominic holds his hands out with the sick smile still on his face. “I’m merely presenting you with an opportunity. Do you want my blessing to marry my daughter or not?”
“She’s not yours to give away,” I snarl as I take a step toward him. Who does this motherfucker think he is? He is the entire reason that this has happened to my girl and he has the fucking gall to come in here and act like I owe him something. Dominic takes a step toward me.
“I suppose you’re right but you can’t really think I’m going to allow you to marry her if you can’t take care of her.”
“The only reason she’s in that bed is because of you.”
He waves his hand through the air, dismissing me. “The point is, you have a chance to avenge her pain. Do you want to take it?”
“You have him?” I ask, watching him warily. He nods.
“Oh, yes. I’ve got Devlin and I’ll deal with him if you’re not man enough to handle it but what would she think if you didn’t end the monster who spent the last twenty-four hours torturing her?”
I nod. “Let’s go.”
“Kodiak,” Smith breathes and I shake my head. He’ll never understand – not unless it’s the love of his life lying in a bed being tortured.
“Stay out of this, Smith.”
“Tate wouldn’t want this,” he growls under his breath and I suck in a breath. The night she learned the truth about the kind of man her father is pops into my mind and I remember how horrified she was that he was a part of her. Dropping my head, I sigh as my mind wars with my heart. Images of what that animal did to her replay in my head and I want to hurt him even a fraction of how much he hurt her but Smith is right. Tate wouldn’t want me to become her father. Shaking my head, I turn to Dominic.