Monsters' Gift (Crude Hill High Book 2) Read online

  “What if you’ve got that wrong?” she asked.

  “How do you mean?” I knew our parents. They were used to a life of luxury. It was why our punishment was so fucking perfect. We took everything away from them that they ever loved. It was cruel but fun. I enjoyed every second of it, knowing they were never going to know a moment’s peace. However, I hadn’t foreseen them getting out. Drake had. He’d warned us that permanently keeping them alive came with risks.

  I figured we’d taken care of all of our dads’ allies. I hadn’t expected Olivia to betray us. I already had men capturing her and bringing her back here to face the consequences.

  “Your dads know you all better than anyone, so they will also know what you’d do next. What if they’re in places you wouldn’t expect them? I don’t know, rundown apartments. Did they have any places in their estate? Maybe places that you wouldn’t think to look.”

  I frowned. “They’re going to want comfort.”

  “Not if it’s going to lead you all to them. They want to take over, right? They’re your enemy now. They’re going to try and take you out, one by one.”

  I got to my feet, rushing from her room.

  All I wanted tonight was to hold her. I wasn’t going to lie, getting my dick wet would have been even better, but I’d settle for holding her.

  With what Emily said, it made sense.

  “Caleb?” she asked, following behind me.

  I went straight to my office. Emily closed the door as I pulled the painting off the wall and revealed my safe. After putting in the code, I opened it up and pulled out a my father’s portfolio. My dad was the one who kept all the necessary details of land, buildings, and stocks the Monsters had required. I thought I’d been through all of this, but it had been a few years. Flicking the file open, I saw the deeds to the main houses they possessed. They even owned the land the school was built on. That wasn’t a surprise to me. The school helped to shape soldiers and the next generation.

  There were land purchases all over the country, warehouses, and I came to a stop at an apartment building.

  It was on the edge of town, surrounded by a woodland. I pointed my finger at it, handing it over to Emily. “There!”

  “You’re sure?”

  “I overlooked it. It’s a piece-of-shit apartment building. It wasn’t finished due to some subsidence, I think. I can’t remember all the details. I just recall it being useless. They’ve got to be there. Everywhere else, I’ve got eyes and ears.” I laughed. Cupping Emily’s face, I pulled her close. “You’re a genius.”

  “Caleb, they might not be there.”

  “I don’t care.” I kissed her again. “I’ve got to get the boys up.”

  “Caleb, don’t go tonight.”

  “Not happening. I’m going to handle this now. I’m not having you afraid.”

  “But I’m not afraid and you’re tired.”

  “Trust me.”

  I left the office and went to Gael’s, Vadik’s, and River’s rooms, waking them up.

  Emily was still following me around. I got changed in my room, grabbing my favorite guns and putting them within easy reach.

  “I don’t like this,” Emily said.

  My friends were waiting at the front door as I came downstairs. Drake was there. “You stay with her. Keep her here, do you understand me?”

  He nodded. “I don’t like this.”

  “I know that’s where they’re going to be.”

  “Then send soldiers to do some recon. We don’t know what kind of backup your fathers have. We don’t know their power.”

  “They don’t have any because we’ve taken it all.” Caleb laughed. “This ends tonight and as soon as it does, we’ll be able to handle Valentine. I’m doing this for you, Emily.”

  I kissed her again and headed out into the night where a van was already waiting to take me away.

  Climbing into the car, Gael jumped into the front seat. “You’re not acting out of your ass, are you?”

  “No. We can’t find them, and we all know what our fathers are like. Emily is right. They’re going to be in places we wouldn’t think to look.”

  “I hope you’re right. I don’t want to be indebted to Valentine when the truth is I want to fucking kill him.”

  “After we’ve made him pay,” I said.

  “Of course.”

  I smiled. Tonight, we would end this. I could already feel the sweet sense of victory.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Emily

  I rushed toward the door, but they were already on their way. The car lights already disappearing.

  “Get inside,” Drake said.

  I was getting pissed off with being left alone with him. He wasn’t exactly my favorite person to spend time with. “Stop ordering me around.”

  “Don’t get pissed with me because your men go off half-cocked.”

  I wanted to slap him, but instead, I just glared at him as I stepped away from the door. He rolled his eyes at me and then before I even realized what I was doing, I put my hand out as if to slap him.

  He caught me before it even landed.

  “You want to fight, I’m all for it, but I don’t let anyone off easy, little girl. You should know that.” He pushed me away but I was able to keep my footing.

  “You’ve got to go and stop them.”

  “No can do. I can’t do anything that they don’t want me to.”

  “I bet you can. You’re just choosing to be difficult.”

  He sighed. “I’ve got strict orders.”

  “And I’ve told you to go after them.”

  “You don’t pay me.”

  I growled, and feeling even more like a child rather than a grown woman, I stormed off toward the back of the house, only I stopped at the library.

  Rather than go to my room, I stepped inside. The scent of books flooded my senses. I used to love the library when I was a teenager. Especially while I waited for my driver. It was the one place I felt completely safe. No one could get me here.

  Stepping into the room, I flicked on the light.

  I know Drake wouldn’t be too far. He’d become my own personal shadow, and it pissed me off. I knew deep down he was only doing what my men wanted of him, but what about me?

  They’d taken me from my old home, and it seemed at each opportunity, they abandoned me. Sure, there was a huge threat to my life, but still, wouldn’t they want to spend what time they could with me before I died? I reached out and touched the spine of one of the books. It hadn’t been read, and I slid it out, not recognizing the title. It looked like a really old title, maybe even a first edition.

  If this was Caleb’s dad’s collection, then I would understand him doing nothing with these books other than using them for display pieces. All of them.

  Running my fingers through my hair, I hummed to myself as I continued to touch unread spines.

  None of them were read. All for show.

  Coming to a stop at a giant globe, I smiled at the pretentiousness of everything. The classic-looking family library but never used. I wondered how many people would have appreciated this room and yet no one else could because it was locked up in this house.

  After several minutes, I’d lost the feeling of someone watching me, which was nice. Drake knew how to do that. He wouldn’t be far.

  When I heard some movement in the stacks on the floor above, I paused.

  No one else should be here. This was a private room. Going to the fire, which looked like it had never been lit, I grabbed a metal poker, gripping it in my hands as I started to move up the steps, going toward the stacks. More unread books. More pretense.

  The sound of movement made me stop.

  Someone was in the stacks.

  My heart raced and my hands shook. I held the poker even tighter. I didn’t make a sound.

  I’d always hated it in movies when it came to a scary or tense part where the hero or heroine, or any one of the characters would call out hello, or who is there. Yeah
, it pissed me off. Everyone always knew someone was there, and most of the time, it wasn’t good. My stomach turned as possibilities grew.

  I wouldn’t give away where I was or what I had.

  Patience.

  A sound on my right had me turning. Nothing there.

  Someone knew these bookshelves, and it wasn’t me. There were only four people I knew who would be able to get into this house undetected and be familiar with these bookcases. Holy shit. I turned on my heel and rushed back to the steps. As I reached the top step, I felt the hands at my back shove me hard. I released the poker as I cried out, falling down the steps, hitting my head as I went.

  Once I reached the ground, I was thoroughly winded. I groaned at the sudden jolt to my entire body. This wasn’t good.

  Opening my eyes, I attempted to scurry away from the attacker. I was shocked to see Ace Block standing before me.

  He wasn’t as big as I remembered, but the demons within his gaze were exactly the same as the last time I saw him.

  “So, they finally brought you back, you little slut.”

  I grunted, feeling pain explode as he landed a blow with his foot to my stomach.

  Where the fuck was Drake? I couldn’t believe I even wanted him here to save me, but I was no match for this man. He was dangerous.

  Rolling over, I ignored each sparkle of pain and got to my feet, only to have a blow across the cheek. He didn’t hit me with an open palm but a fist so hard, I saw stars. Not good. Really, not good.

  I fell against the table and in my hand, I found some kind of box. With my weapon, I spun around when I felt him close, and lashed out, hitting him over the head. He took a step back, but it wasn’t enough to take him out. Still with the box in my hand, I went in for the attack again. He caught my hand, twisting it so I had no choice but to drop my weapon. I lifted my foot to try to stomp on him, to kick him, to do anything that would free me.

  He pushed me away and I fell into a cabinet.

  More pain exploded throughout my body. It had been a long time since I’d taken a beating, and I was starting to feel it, and what was more, I didn’t like it.

  As I turned to try to block him, I wasn’t fast enough. He grabbed my head, holding me up by my hair until I cried out. I couldn’t stand the pain and I knew he was going to rip chunks of hair right out of my head.

  Tears exploded in my eyes.

  “Fucker!”

  Never had I been so relieved to hear Drake’s voice. I heard him hit Ace and the tightness of my hair loosened.

  Dropping to the floor, I turned and tried to scurry away, but my leg was captured and I was pulled back. Ace had me and his fingers were wrapped around my neck, cutting off my air supply.

  The movement was so quick, I couldn’t stop it. I tried to claw at his arms, to get him to release me. Nothing. I couldn’t stop him.

  He was the one in charge.

  Where was Drake?

  I hadn’t been able to spend enough time with Gael, Caleb, Vadik, and River. I didn’t want to die without at least being with them long enough to appreciate it. I’d been too pissed about everything to be happy to be with them.

  Suddenly, out of the corner of my eye, I saw Drake with a knife. Ace was so focused on me that he didn’t hear Drake, who was sporting a gash across his forehead.

  Within seconds, Drake embedded his knife into Ace’s throat. Blood spilled out and I tried to turn away, but I felt it drip down onto my face and neck.

  I gasped, hoping I didn’t get any blood into my mouth.

  Ace’s weight was off me and I rolled over, going to my knees and taking large gulps of breath.

  “One down, three to go,” Drake said. “Fuck.”

  “Where were you?” I croaked the words out, my hand going to my throat. I glanced toward the door and saw a tray of food spilled to the floor. “Oh.”

  “I was trying to get you something to eat. I’m going to need a fucking assistant. I’m not letting you out of my sight.” Drake grabbed my arm and helped me up. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m alive. I’ll take that for now. I’m alive.”

  Ace’s body was on the floor.

  Drake hadn’t pulled the knife out, and the man lay completely lifeless.

  “Do you need me to move it for you?”

  “No, I’m fine. I don’t need to be protected like that. I can handle it.”

  “You sure?”

  “I’m sure. Believe me.” My voice didn’t sound like mine, and my throat still felt so incredibly tight. I let out a little cough, hoping to clear my throat, but nothing. Drake put a finger beneath my chin and tilted my head back.

  “You’re going to have bruises.”

  “Yay.”

  We were still sitting on the sofa hours later when my men returned empty-handed. Their search had been completely useless, which I had suspected. Rather than be pissed at them leaving me alone, I went to them. They were angry and they all held me. I didn’t want to let them go, but eventually, we walked over to the corpse of Ace Block.

  I glanced at River, but he wasn’t showing any emotion at all.

  He didn’t seem to care.

  I wondered if they even realized that Ace had been in this house before they’d left, and we hadn’t known it. It made me wonder where the other three were because I had a feeling they were a lot closer than was comfortable.

  ****

  River

  “I’m fine. Really,” Emily said.

  “Don’t care.” I had a pillow. Gael, Caleb, and Vadik are already camped out in Emily’s bedroom, and I joined them. Her bed was big enough to take us all, but some mattresses had been pulled into the room around her bed.

  Caleb sat on the bed, as did Vadik. Gael sat on one of the mattresses, cleaning one of his guns. I’d never been a fan of guns. I much preferred the clean cut of a blade.

  “You want us to go?” I asked.

  “No, of course not, but I don’t want you to stick around if you don’t want to.”

  I laughed. I couldn’t help it. She didn’t want us to leave, but she was also nervous about asking us to stay. She was so cute.

  Climbing onto the bed, I touched her ankle. Bruises had already started to appear on her flesh.

  I glanced up her body. Marks were on her legs, and I’d already caught sight of the ones across her stomach and chest.

  Finger marks dotted her neck, and she had a cut across her eyebrow, as well as a swollen cheek. My dad should have suffered.

  When we’d arrived at the empty apartment building, we discovered subsidence had taken effect and part of the structure had already crumbled down. When we’d gone there years ago, there had been a large split within the walls. We’d decided, as an investment, it had been useless and we’d wait to see where the natural fall of the land happened. There was no reason to pull down the building. It was tightly restricted and guarded. The men we paid had been there waiting. There had been no signs of movement. I’d known we wouldn’t catch our dads.

  They were clearly much better at the game of hide-and-seek than we were.

  After running a hand down my face, I crawled across the bed and wrapped my arms around her waist as I put my face onto her lap.

  “I’m fine, River. You don’t have to worry about me.”

  “I’m never going to stop worrying about you.” I rubbed my face against her. Letting her go had been the hardest thing I’d ever done, but living with her dead, I couldn’t do that. I wasn’t strong enough to do that.

  She ran her fingers through my hair. I closed my eyes, basking in her touch.

  “I’m here, River. I’m alive.”

  Her voice was croaky from being strangled. “We shouldn’t have left you.”

  “Now you know where they’re not.”

  “You don’t understand, Emily,” Caleb said. “If they’re not in any of their usual places, or even in old buildings they owned, where are they?”

  Silence met Caleb’s question.

  “Have you ever thought that
maybe they’re here?” Emily asked.

  I lifted my head. Gael had finished cleaning his gun and joined us.

  “What?”

  “Well, Ace was here. No one detected him and Drake went and did a sweep when you guys arrived. No soldiers were killed. He got inside this house undetected.”

  “Because he knows this house,” Caleb said.

  “Do you guys know this house?”

  I looked toward Caleb, who stared at each of us.

  “I’m starting to think we don’t know it as well as we could.”

  “We could get the blueprints,” Vadik said. “It would give us a clear picture of every single part of the house.”

  “I’ll call up the architect,” Caleb said.

  Emily reached out, putting a hand over his. “Not tonight,” she said.

  “Em, baby, every second I waste puts you in danger.”

  “Drake killed one of their own tonight. I imagine if they are close, they know what happened. They’re brothers, like you, right? They will want to mourn the death of their friend. At least for tonight.” She breathed out a sigh. “Besides, there is something I want to talk to you guys about, and I think it’s important.”

  “Is this about Ashley?” Vadik asked.

  “No. I’m looking forward to seeing her.”

  I sat up and she smiled at all of us. “I should probably just get this over with and you know, just deal.” She breathed out a sigh. “Okay, so, we all have a history together. We’ve been through a lot.”

  “Em, where are you going with this?” Caleb asked.

  “Seriously, let her fucking speak,” Gael shot back.

  I chuckled at the sudden death glare Caleb sent Gael. If we all shut up, Emily could get to whatever was on her mind.

  “You all speak about me being your woman. I don’t know how this is going to work. If this even can work. There are four of you, and I’ve told you all that I love you.”

  We all spoke at the same time, telling her how we felt that we loved her as well. I did, more than anything in the world. I loved her so damn much it scared me.

  “I know,” Emily said. “But, I’m only me. I’m one person. I’m not some magical woman that you can split down into three or four of me. What if you grow tired of me?”