Cataclysm (Four Horsemen #4)(95)

I struck the match against the box, lighting it. The flame was so small, but it would create havoc the moment it hit the petrol. It would engulf the whole building in flames.

I threw the match into the line of it I’d trailed here. The match hit the ground, the flames rising up a moment later. The five of us watched it streak up towards the house. It branched off towards the outbuildings too. It took a few minutes before flames appeared in the windows of the place.

“I opened the safe in the security room,” Drake said, startling me.

“You did?”

He nodded.

“I found the combination for it in Stuart’s office. I copied the data from his computer whilst we were dealing with the rest of the house. We have everything we need now.”

The flames were mesmerising. I couldn’t stop staring at them as they grew higher. The sound of glass cracking under the intense heat from the blaze made me smile.

“What was in it?”

“Two guns with their licences and bullets. I left them there. Good thing we got into the security room when we did.”

So that’s what Alex had been going for. Drake was right. We were lucky. I didn’t know those were on the property, but it was hardly surprising. Stuart kept a lot of shit from me.

“Thank you for looking. I would have wondered otherwise.”

He set his hand on my shoulder.

“You’re welcome.”

We fell silent then, all five of us contemplating the blazing building. Then I turned to Drake, staring up at my man, who stood tall, the dancing flames reflecting in his indigo eyes.

“I’ve seen enough. We should go.”

“It’s over now.”

I smiled.

“Yeah… almost.”

He gave me a nod, dropping his hand from my shoulder and walking towards the cars. I followed him and got in the one I’d come in. The others joined us, West getting into the driver’s seat as Francis got in the back. My eyes fixed on the burning house as West started the car and set off. Francis reached forward and stroked my neck, resting his forehead on the headrest behind me. I sighed and put my fingers on his.

“You’re okay, Scar. You’re going to be okay.”

I knew I would be, eventually. It would take time to put this all behind us.

My eyes darted to the building one last time as West drove back down the long driveway. Then I closed them, leaning my head against the window and drifted off, exhaustion settling over me.

I jerked awake when the car stopped. West stroked my leg and smiled at me.

“Time to switch cars.”

I stretched and got out, finding the others opening the doors of Prescott’s Jeep. Inside was a change of clothes for all of us. We were at the back of a dark car park, so no one could see us undressing and switching out our clothes. Drake put them all in one of the cars we’d brought, then encouraged me to get into the Jeep. I slid into the back, getting settled in the middle as West joined me. Prescott got in the other side and pressed a kiss to my temple.

“My little lamb.”

I curled up against him as he wrapped his arm around me. I must have fallen asleep again because the next thing I knew, he was shaking me awake as we were home. I climbed out of the Jeep and followed the four of them to the lift. The cars we’d gone to the estate in would be taken care of by Penn and his men. There was one thing we had left to do after this, but for the most part, everything was wrapped up this evening.

We were finally free of Stuart Carver once and for all.

“What time is it?” I asked as we rode up to the penthouse in the lift.

Drake looked at his watch.

“Almost three.”

No wonder I was tired. We’d been at this for hours.

“You can go to bed if you want. We were talking about having a drink on the roof, but it can wait.”

I shook my head.

“No, I’ll come up… just want a proper shower first. I stink of petrol.”

West snorted.

“We all fucking do.”

“You have dust in your hair,” Francis said, nodding at West’s head. “Dare I ask why?”

He shrugged.

“Smashed up the cell they kept Scar in.”

Drake shook his head and rubbed his face.

“That wasn’t the plan, West.”

“Nothing about tonight went exactly to plan. It is what it fucking is.”

Drake dropped his hand and looked up at the metal ceiling.

“You’re right. What’s done is done.”

The doors opened a moment later and the five of us piled out. I joined West in his room. He made no complaints about me taking a shower with him. In fact, he was gentle when he undid my braid so I could wash my hair. The two of us stepped into the hot water after stripping off. It was soothing against my skin. He wrapped his arms around me from behind under the spray and pressed his cheek to mine.

“How are you feeling?”

“Tired, but okay. Guess it hasn’t fully hit me yet, you know, that he’s no longer a threat to us. That he’s gone for good.”

“You ended him. We’re safe now.”

I nodded. We were. I would be forever grateful to my men for giving me this. For letting me help them take the lives of the people who’d stolen mine. It was surreal to think it was all over.