Harrison
“I THINK HE’S GOING TO hurt her.”
Those words play over and over in my head as I haul ass through town on a mission. A mission to save my girl from that fucking monster.
Helen called me bawling her eyes out. Said Heath dragged in a kicking and screaming Cat before hauling her downstairs into the basement. I’d been trying to figure out what the fuck she was going on about when I heard a scuffle and the line went dead.
“I think he’s going to hurt her.”
I roll through a stop sign once I realize no cars are coming and gas it again. As I drive, I see her Mustang abandoned on the side of the road. That motherfucker just took her. Right from her car.
“I think he’s going to hurt her.”
Why?
All because of some sick revenge plan?
I’ve lived with Heath my entire life. He’s a dick of epic proportions. Plays games all the damn time. But, until Cat, I never assumed him to be so violently out of control. It’s like her arrival detonated a bomb inside him. With us leaving last week, I thought that was the end of it. He’d move the hell on and go find someone else to terrorize. Instead, it’s as though he’s been lying low and biding his time. Waiting for the right moment to pounce.
But why Cat?
I get why he hates Elliot. Elliot stole the love of his life right from his grasp. I never really understood the obsession he had with Catrina. If she truly loved him, would she have left him to marry some other man in the first place? Love doesn’t work like that. Love isn’t selfish. Love is fierce and feral and out of control, but it’s also wholesome and good. How is leaving the one you love for the affection of another considered good? I’m an outsider looking in, but it’s clear as day to me that Catrina Lincoln didn’t love Heath like he loved her.
Heath, on the other hand…
His love for her is his existence. His reason for being. His love for her dictates his every move. His every emotion. I read and memorized those journals. Everything he did was for her. Until death and thereafter. It’s like his love for her became a beast. A beast hell-bent on destroying everything responsible for taking her away from him.
And Cat?
I suppose she took from him too. The moment she was born and her mother took her last breath, Cat was written into Heath’s ultimate revenge plan. His beast is hungry to devour every last piece of what he thinks has wronged him.
If he kills her…
Surely not. Surely he wouldn’t harm one hair on her head.
My stomach churns with worry. He’s lost it. No longer the calculating, intelligent man. It’s as though he’s finally given in to the madness that’s been edging on him more and more through the years. I should have taken her and run far away so we’d never have to see him again. But I thought it was over. That he’d admit defeat and move on.
I’ll never assume again when it comes to my girl.
I slam on the brakes and am off the bike before the roar of the engine has stopped echoing through the air. Stalking inside, I make a beeline toward the kitchen. Someone slaps at the door inside the pantry. A chair is wedged under the door handle.
“Cat!” I call out and rush to the door, yanking the chair away.
But when I open the door, Helen falls into my arms, sobbing. I give her a squeeze before pulling away to inspect her.
“Are you okay?” I demand.
“Y-Yes, but get downstairs!”
I release her and stalk toward the basement door. Before I can reach it, Theo stands in my way. His chin is lifted in defiance and his brown eyes are hot with anger.
“Get out of my way,” I growl.
“She belongs with us,” he says, his voice shaking.
“Move.”
He squares his shoulders as though it’ll make him bigger and taller. A roar of anger rushes through me as I grab the prick by the throat. I sling my fist across his jaw and he crumples to the floor like a sack of potatoes. Pushing past him, I start down the stairs where I hear Cat’s frantic crying.
As I reach the bottom, I halt my movements. Cat is sitting in a wooden chair. Her hands and legs both bound with rope. Heath is bent at the waist, his fingers holding her chin in place. His face only a breath away from hers. His body is coiled tight with fury. She’s so small and fragile in his grip.
“Let her go,” I command, my voice steady despite the chaotic storm of emotions brewing inside me.
He stiffens and cocks his head to the side to regard me. Gone is the shrewd, evil glare of a madman. In its place is someone lost. Broken and ravaged by grief. His wild eyes are glassy with unshed tears and his dark brows are furled together. He stares at me as though I’m a surprise he didn’t see coming.
I was always coming.
My intentions with Cat have been clear from the start. She’s mine and I would do anything to protect her. That’s what love is. It’s not revenge and hate and manipulation. Love is walking through fire, uncaring if you get burned, to get to where the other half of your heart is.
“She chose you,” he says harshly, his voice catching with emotion. “Why?”
Stepping closer, I hold up a hand to calm him. “We chose each other. Love isn’t one-sided, Heath.”
He flinches at my words. “You don’t know anything, orphan.”
My gaze slides over to Cat’s. Tears stream silently down her cheeks. Her green eyes practically glow with love and relief at seeing me.
“I know you spent your entire life letting one thing drive you. Revenge,” I say softly.
“Because they deserved it!” he roars, shaking Cat in his grip.
Another step.
“Not her. Not Cat. She did nothing to you,” I argue. “Just like I never did anything to you.”
“You think life is fair, boy?” he bellows at me. “You think life is tit for tat? That if you’re good and love someone it’ll all just work the fuck out?” His brown eyes flame with malevolence. “It doesn’t work the fuck out. No matter how much you love someone, money can just take them away. Fucking poof!”
I shake my head. “No.”
“Don’t tell me no,” he snarls. “I’ve been around a lot fucking longer than you. I know how this world works.”
“No, you know how your world works. But the rest of the world?” I say, taking another step closer. “We follow our hearts. Cat couldn’t care less about money or things. She just wants to love and be loved back. I’m going to marry her and we’re going to be happy, Heath. No one can stop us. Not even you or your ominous agendas or a lifetime of revenge.”
His head snaps around and he shakes Cat again. “Why? Why did you choose him? Why didn’t she choose me? She chose Elliot and I gave her everything that was ever important to me. I gave her so much fucking love, Cat. So why the fuck did she choose him?”
Cat sobs. “I-I don’t know. I’m sorry.” Her eyes meet mine as I approach. I’m seconds from whacking him over the head, but she gives me a look that says to chill.
“Your apologies mean nothing to me,” Heath growls. “It can’t be fixed. Nothing will bring her back.”
“Heath,” Cat whispers and he turns his attention back to her. “I miss her too,” she admits softly. “I never even knew her, but I miss her so much.”
Heath nods slowly, his eyes trained on Cat for several long seconds. Then, he shocks the hell out of both of us when he undoes the ropes that are tying her down to the chair. First, her legs and then her hands.
When he’s done, he backs up slowly. But before he’s out of her reach, Cat reaches up and grips his wrist. He allows the action. His shoulders hunch and his head hangs in defeat. In a surprising move, she stands up and hugs him. At first he’s stiff. His body even shakes as though he’ll toss her onto the floor. But then, his arms wrap around her and he squeezes her so tight I’m afraid he’ll break her.
I watch, stunned, as the mean man who dictated every move my entire life trembles and a harsh, ragged sound escapes him. Not crying. No, it’s far more sad and awful. Like his soul is thrashing and screaming, begging for escape from his throat. He clings to my girl as though their embrace answers questions for him—as though it forgives every terrible thing he’s done.
Once the guttural sounds coming from him grow silent, I step forward and nudge his shoulder. He jerks away from her and steps back. She flings herself into my arms and I kiss her desperately.
Safe.
She’s safe with me.
Safe and loved and adored and cherished.
I’ll never let her go.
“You’re mine until the end of time, Cat Lincoln.”
“You’re mine too,” she sobs against my lips.
I possess her in another crushing kiss as my palms roam all over her, checking to make sure she’s okay. Our kiss ends and I hug her to my chest. Heath watches us with a sullen expression. The heel of his hand is rubbing at his chest as he watches us with such longing. Not as though he wants her, but as though he wants what we have.
“It hurts,” he rasps as he absently rubs at his chest. His eyes fall to the floor. “It hurts so bad. The emptiness claws at me. It shreds every part of me. Nothing ever stops it. I bleed every goddamn day, never drying up. This brutal cage of a body imprisons my soul—a dark, heavy soul who only wants his other half.” His hand falls to his side as he looks up at us again. “I don’t know what it feels like to not hurt.”
I stroke my fingers through Cat’s hair as I murmur, “I hope one day you will.”
His lips press together and no more words come out. Heath isn’t apologetic or remorseful. He’s just Heath. What I do get from him is a look of resignation in his eyes. He’s tired. Tired of trying so hard and never finding the peace he’s looking for. Whatever he’s looking for won’t be found through us. We’re not a part of his world, no matter how hard he tries to make it happen.
Scooping my soon-to-be bride into my arms, I carry her toward the steps. Together, we climb from hell and find our heaven.
And the sad, defeated devil stays where he belongs.