Razing Grace: Razing Grace Part 1 (14 page)

“Wow.”

He steps towards his closet and it’s the first time I’ve noticed his bed hair. It’s hot bed hair. His blond strands are all messy and hanging over his shaved sides. I’m guessing the tattoos on his scalp must have hurt. Well, it would hurt someone like me.

“I won’t be long.” He slips into his closet, so I walk towards the window to get a view of the property. It’s stunning. I still don’t know what it is he does exactly, but I remember him saying they all had lives outside the base, but what is his life? Again, it terrifies me some. A suited man who’s armed with a gun holster vest on top of his shirt monitors the yard closely. I’m not sure how far back the property goes, but I know we drove down a long road to get here. The backyard is vast and is lined with tall shaded trees and the greenness of the countryside. It’s basic with no over-the-top garden or anything like that, which I guess makes a lot of sense. I can’t imagine Raze, or any of the men here, doing gardens, and I also can’t see Raze trusting someone to do them. I like gardens, always have. It lights up a home from the outside in. Maybe he could get Cassia or Ella to do them, though I’m sure that doesn’t fit their job description.

Raze walks out with loose-fitting jeans and a casual white t-shirt. His hair is back in its normal style and he has combat boots on his feet.

I smile. “I can wait in my room. I’m sure you have other things you’d rather be doing.”

He pulls open the top drawer of his nightstand, watching me closely. “Other things?”

“Yeah, I don’t know. Whatever it is that you do when you’re not kidnapping women and holding them captive.”

He walks towards me, taking my hand in his and directing me back down the stairs.

“Are you asking me what I do?” he asks as we hit the bottom of the stairs and he pushes open the door that leads us back down the hallway. “Because you’re not ready for that discussion.”

I roll my eyes and follow behind him back through the hallway. “How long ago was it that I was taken?”

“Almost a couple weeks.” He pauses and turns to face me. “I’ll tell you when you can contact Melissa.”

I shake my head. “I don’t want to contact her.” I don’t know what I would say to her or how to be me again.

He continues down the hallway, so I fall behind him. “I need to handle something real quick,” Raze says and Miles comes up behind me.

I smile. “Hey!”

Raze looks between both of us suspiciously. “Here,” Raze says, handing me a phone. “Text me if you need anything. My number is already in there and don’t think about running or trying to call anyone else because all other calls but me and Miles have been blocked.”

I nod my head, taking the phone from him. His fingertips brush over my hand and I pull away from him instantly.

“Are we ready?” Ella asks as she walks down the stairs with Cassia hot on her tail.

Raze keeps his eyes on mine. “Yeah, meet me in the car,” he says to them but still looking at me.

I blatantly ignore Cassia and Ella’s stares as they walk past me to the front door. Raze steps toward me and my hand flies up to his chest, his rough hard muscles flexing under my palm. I fist his shirt in the palm of my hand and snort, my eyes closing briefly. “Don’t… come near me, Raze. Not like that, not anymore.”

His eyes fall to my lips and for the next few minutes, I forget that Miles is standing behind me. “Why?” Raze asks casually, taking another step toward me.

I bunch his shirt in my fist again and pound on his chest lightly. “Just… don’t,” I whisper, keeping my eyes on his chest. I step backwards, my back colliding with Miles’ chest where I stay and look up at Raze. “I’m here to help you, apparently, not to be your third Playboy bunny in your mansion. I don’t know where your hands were earlier.” I pause and chuckle lightly. “Actually, I do. So just… don’t come near me in that way and I won’t try to run.”

“And our deal?” he asks, his eyes going from my mouth to my eyes.

“Until that. Which I’d prefer we get that part over with as soon as possible so I don’t have to think about it anymore.”

“Tomorrow?” he challenges with a smirk.

“Maybe.”

“Maybe, why?”

“Because I said so.” I pause. “Wait, you’re going to need to call a doctor or something. I’m not getting pregnant on my first time and that’d be my luck.”

He nods, smirking at Miles. “Call the doc.”

I turn, breaking eye contact with Raze and looking up into Miles’ eyes. Relaxing, I smile up at him and tap his chest. “I like those glasses on you.”

He laughs, hitching his thumb to himself. “Yeah?” With a chuckle, he pulls me under his arm. “Come on, puddin’. Let’s get you all ready to get sexed up.”

I laugh, shaking my head.

The rest of the night goes smoothly. Miles comes into my room after the doctor leaves. I complain about having to get a big needle injected into my butt for birth control. He brings in ice cream and we laugh while watching “Wrong Turn” one, two, and three, right up until headlights light up my room, showing Raze and his two Playboy bunnies getting home. Miles leaves quickly after that, going back to his room, and I fall asleep. At least there’s no dying chicken sounds coming out of Cassia’s room tonight; that is a bonus.

RAZE

“Give me one fucking reason why I shouldn’t decapitate you in this very spot and I’d speak fast if I were you because I’ve given out enough generous passes to last a life time.”

Miles throws his hands up in surrender. “Whoa! No, wait. It’s nothing, you know I bat for the other team.”

“No,” I begin, gripping the door handle. “You bat for both fucking teams, Miles. Don’t test me when it comes to her.”

He follows behind me as I walk down each step, the morning sun making its entrance. “I’m going through a guy phase right now so she’s safe.”

I pause, turning around to face him. “You so much as breathe in that girl’s direction in a seductive way, Miles, and I’ll cut your balls off and shove them so far up your ass you’ll be coming for weeks. Need your dick sucked? Go to Cassia. Stay the fuck away from Millie.”

I reach my Range Rover and pull the door open.

Miles pauses before recollecting himself. “Wait!” he yells. “Are you sharing Slut One?”

“To keep you away from Millie? Yes.”

He ponders on my suggestion before shrugging his shoulders. “She’s not my type though, Raze,” he complains like a toddler pissed that he didn’t get his favorite candy. “She’s nasty and fake and just… nasty.” His face scrunches in disgust as he shivers, creeped out by the mere thought of Cassia.

I chuckle. “Why the fuck do you think I don’t mind having to keep her, Miles? She’s nasty but she fucks dirty. Stay away from Millie, and you already know to stay the fuck away from Ella.” I slide into the backseat and slam the door. “Head to the base,” I order the driver.

The car moves forward and I fish out my phone.

We pull through the wired fence and toward my cabin. Jumping out, Kurr walks out of the main house and stalks towards me.

“Why are you in your mob suit? Get your fucking shit on. We have work to do.”

I turn, ignoring him, and walk towards my cabin. “Because I have a life outside this shit that I also have to run.”

“That might be right, Raze,” Kurr seethes and I know he’s about to lay the law down like he’s so fucking good at doing. “But in these gates, you’re the fucking Executioner. And you’ve been down on the executing lately, but that’s about to change, because I have a couple treats for you today.”

Walking into my cabin, I drop my gym bag to the floor. Cracking my knuckles, I begin unbuttoning my dress shirt. “Good, ‘cause I’m hungry.”

Kurr smirks. “That’s my boy.”

Removing my shirt, I pull open my closet door and take my mask that’s hanging behind it. Pointing toward the door, I raise my eyebrows. “You gonna get the fuck out so I can get changed?”

Kurr laughs, slipping out the front door. Unbuckling my belt, I step out of my slacks and pull on my jeans before shoving my combat boots on. Snatching my mask, I pull the door open again to see Kurr lighting up his cigar and watching me closely.

“Feeling theatrical today, are we?” He flicks his hands up and down my body. “The no-shirt thing you have going on.”

I look down at my bare chest and shrug before placing my mask on my face. “Sick of ruining all my shirts. Depending on how much blood you spill, it doesn’t always come out.”

Kurr smiles, a proud glint in his eye. “I raised you right, son.”

I tense behind my mask and begin walking towards the main house.

“You gonna keep sweet-talking me or we gonna get this shit started?” I walk into the house just as Royal is walking around the corner. Blood is stained all over the front of his shirt and I chuckle. “Busy boy?”

He lifts his mask, pulling out a cigarette and placing it into his mouth. “You could say that. He won’t budge. I’ve done it all, tried it all.”

I swing my arms back, releasing my tense muscles and cracking my neck. “What cell?”

Royal takes a long pull of his smoke. “Seven.” Kurr walks past me and into the kitchen. The house was built mainly for the dungeon underneath, but the ground floor looks like a normal old southern home.

I walk towards the heavy wooden door which leads to the stairs to the dungeon.

Royal laughs from behind me. “Any particular reason you’re not wearing a shirt, Tripp?”

I look over my shoulder at him. “Want me to warm up on you, Royal? Because let me tell you, I have a lot of energy that needs burning.”

Royal’s face stills. “I was joking.”

“Fuck off.” I slam the door shut and make my way down the brick stairs. The dim room is lit by the many candles which are hanging from the walls. Once I hit the bottom, I begin walking down the long room that has cells on each side.

The sobs from the cell behind me catch me just as I reach cell five. Turning around, I tilt my head at the woman curled on the floor, her shoulders jiggling from her pain. That was Millie not long ago. I reach under my boot and slip out one of the knives I keep hidden. It’s one of many. Throwing it into her cell, her body freezes. “Slit down your wrist, not across.” Then I turn back around and head to cell seven. A man in a pool of blood wheezing on his back is laying on the ground. Unlatching the cell lock, I walk in and slam it shut behind myself. I’m not in a real torturing kind of mood; I’m in a killing kind of mood.

MILLIE

I’m walking out of my bedroom when Miles lands on the top of the stairway with a cheesy grin on his face. “Morning, sister!”

“You confuse me, Miles.” I close the door and slowly walk towards him with my hands on my hips. “One minute you’re this serious brooding security—” I flick my hands around, “Whatever you are. Then the next, you’re this playful, not so serious… man.”

I pause a foot in front of him and he wiggles his eyebrows. “Hot man, though?”

“I have no idea what is going on here because Raze won’t tell me anything, but can you? What’s he planning, Miles?”

A door opens behind me and Miles flicks his eyes over my shoulder. His jaw sets to stone and his eyes harden. Suddenly I’m glad I’m not on the receiving end of that glare.

“Ew, get a room.” I turn to see Cassia walk out with her silk night gown tied around her waist.

“Get in your room, Cassia.”