Perfect Ruin (Unyielding #2)(71)

“Fuck,” I swore beneath my breath.

I knew what I’d see; I’d been prepared for it. I’d witnessed enough torture and despair in my life that I was immune. I’d tortured men to get answers. Killed. Maimed. But the haunting memory of seeing London in this cell had been my own torture. I’d take being physically tortured over the constant images since that day and the echoing sound of my footsteps as I walked away, knowing I had to leave her here.

Knowing what they’d do to her.

I approached the huddled form on the floor. She was filthy, a greyish brown film covering her scantily clothed body. Her long hair hung in oily strands across her face and over her shoulders as if it were her blanket from the chill in the air.

I crouched beside her and was about to brush the hair away from her face when I saw the flash of silver clutched in her hand. “Lon—”

Her eyes flew open at the same time as her fist went for my throat with the small piece of metal. The dull, rusted weapon scraped across my skin and I felt the warm blood trail down my neck.

“London!” I rolled to the side as she leapt on top of me, her eyes steady but glazed over. I latched onto her wrist with the metal and squeezed so hard she screamed. She released the weapon and it clattered to the floor.

“London. Stop.”

She continued to fight me, her hair shielding her face as she writhed back and forth. I tried to be gentle, not wanting to hurt her, but I had no choice as I tossed her aside then straddled her before she had the chance to get up. It took me a second to lock down her flailing arms as she tried to punch me. I managed to grab her wrists and used my weight to hold them on the floor above her head.

“London,” I shouted. “It’s me. Kai.”

She stilled, the wild look in her eyes settling as she focused on me. Then her body went limp beneath me. “Kai?”

“Yeah.” I released her wrists and brushed her hair away from her face.

She stared at me for a second and I could see her eyes trying to comprehend that what she was seeing was real and not her mind playing tricks on her.

She reached up, her hand quivering as she placed her fingers on my lower lip. Her chest began to rise and fall rapidly and her eyes widened as she finally took in that I was real.

“Kai.”

God, she was the most beautiful sight I’d ever seen. The way she looked at me…. Fuck, if I died at that moment, it would all be worth seeing that look in her eyes. I was the reason she was here, the reason for all her pain, and yet I was selfish to keep wanting her. Needing her.

“We have company,” Deck said, appearing in the doorway. “Three men entered the premises through the back door.”

Shit. Of course, this wouldn’t be simple.

London jerked her gaze to him. “Deck?”

There was a puzzled look on her face and I knew she didn’t understand why Deck was here with me. She had no idea that this was just the beginning of what we were facing with our fight at taking down Vault.

“Arms,” I urged.

She hooked them around me then I lifted her off the damp floor so she stood.

Her forehead rested against my chest and my heart pumped a rush of blood through me as I held her in close. I’d been struggling to get to this day for weeks, and finally, the feeling was as if the endless torture had ended.

She tilted her head up to meet my eyes. “Always,” she whispered.

“Yeah, baby, always. God, I missed you.”

She stood on her tiptoes. “Then kiss me.”

I groaned then lowered my mouth to hers, my grip on her tightening as I tasted her quivering lips.

“Like to get out of here alive,” Deck shouted from around the corner.

I pulled back, half-smiled, then grabbed her hand and we ran for the stairs.

“Two SUVs approaching,” Deck said, holding the door open. He was wearing a headset to communicate with his men. “Josh counts five in each.”

“Give me a weapon,” London said, her throat scratchy.

I took the stairs two at a time right behind Deck and Vic.

“I can help,” she said.

“We got this,” I argued. “Just stay behind me.”

“Kai.” She jerked back on her hand, but I refused to let go. “Give me a knife… something.”

Deck stopped at the top of the stairs and glanced over his shoulder at us. “Josh counts ten entering the front door. Tyler is coming in the back.” Glass shattered. “He’s taking them out when he has a clear shot.”

There was a stampede of rushed footsteps. Coldness drummed into me as if waves pummeled me. It was a roar of need to destroy, to protect what was mine after weeks and weeks of having to keep my emotions locked down. Of pretending shit was okay when London was missing. Having to deal with Tanner, Georgie telling Deck about me, Georgie freaking out that I’d kill Deck…. Another time in my life, I may have, but I needed him to take out Vault and get London out.

Something had shifted in me. Even when Deck held a gun on me in his penthouse, I wouldn’t have killed him. I did, however, take pleasure in punching him. Landing in the pool sucked, but throwing a few punches was better than a few bullets.

London was the reason for all of this. She was the reason I had to semi-trust Deck. She was the shift inside me.

I looked at London, pale and filthy, and yet she had the same determination in her eyes that I’d witnessed the first day I met her. The day in the woods when both of our lives changed. There had been nothing good about what I’d done, pulling her into my cruel world. But London had survived it. She was still surviving it.