Craving Truths (The Razer Series Book 3)

by K A Sands

  Warren stood off to the side when I shooed him away, wanting to be strong and clean myself up, determined to do as much as I could on my own. I was grateful he didn’t try to take over and intervene.

  He shrugged on a black t shirt he’d taken from the trolley, and I stripped out of the blood-stained clothes from earlier. Wet wipes hadn’t managed to clean enough, the water was a blessing this time around. I tumbled into comfy sweats and a baggy sports jumper that I would never had been caught dead in in a million years but now I wore them like a coat of armour, feeling better once I was covered and warm. The fluffy socks I laughed at, showing them to Warren who grinned back at me.

  This fuck had beaten me down, but I wasn’t staying on the floor, no fucking way. I straightened as much as my injuries allowed and eyed Warren who seemed to have trouble taking his eyes off me. At least he could still look at me.

  “I’m okay.”

  He gazed at me for a long time, his eyes softening. A quick nod of his head and he closed the distance between us, fisting the jumper at my sides in his hands.

  “You’re more than okay, Chrissie.”

  Just as imposing as the first time, the beast entered the room again making me jump and grab hold of Warren. He was such a menacing creature I couldn’t help but be afraid. I tried to push down the fear and anger fighting within me. Warren found my hand and his fingers coiled tightly with mine.

  He circled us, around he walked twice, never taking his eyes off either one of us, looking us both up and down. As if he hadn’t already stripped me of my dignity enough. Gritting my teeth, I held steadfast and resisted the flinch when his fingers reached out to touch the mess he’d made of my ear.

  “You hold onto this one, boy.”

  Warren snorted beside me and the man’s head snapped to him, eyes cutting sharply, a warning.

  “You couldn’t just settle for the money? This served no purpose.” Warren spat on the floor in front of us and I stiffened as the man took a step back and glared maliciously.

  “A deal is a deal; a debt, a debt.”

  Warren shook his head in agreement. “And where were your morals? You don’t touch something that doesn’t belong to you, never mind attack.”

  “And I suppose she belongs to you?”

  I rolled my eyes at the absurdity of the situation, were they fighting over possession? Like who was going to piss on my leg and claim territory. Well fuck that, I didn’t belong to anyone.

  “You touched without consent, you bastard. You abused her!”

  He laughed, his head tipped back, a loud bellow erupting from his mouth. “I’m afraid to tell you, it’s nothing personal.”

  Of course, it wasn’t. I understood, but Warren had never run in the circles I had, he was unlikely to get the bigger picture. Breaking up the pissing contest, I asked about Ryder.

  “Has done his end. Your brother is on his way.” The relief that washed over me almost made my knees buckle but Warren held tight, keeping me upright, his arm around my waist. “Our business is concluded. And you’ll understand if I say I hope to never see you both again. Our paths should never cross.”

  Amen.

  “Your father was not a nice man, you of all people know that, Princess, but I can assure you his death - or absence rather - has been noted. While I’m content to collect on the debt he owed and walk away, if there are others, it’s unlikely they’ll be so lenient.”

  How many people did Charlie owe? With my back flat to the wall, I watched my nightmare take his leave for what I hoped was the final time. I mirrored his wishes and trusted we’d never see one another again in the flesh, the malice of him would come in the dead of night along with Charlie.

  It wasn’t long before all hell broke loose, and the thunderous roar of Ryder’s voice rang around the room as he strode purposefully inside. His face was a mask of anger until he clapped eyes on me still clinging to the safety of Warren in the dingy light. Wrestling me from Warren’s grip, he pulled me into a crushing hug that I refused to cry out at even though he was hurting the places I’d been bruised.

  “I’m here,” he said into my ear as my resolve splintered and cracked, and I surrendered to the darkness and the tears I’d kept at bay for the last few hours. “I’m here.”

  He was, and it meant everything. How could I have doubted him?

  “Let’s get you out of this shithole.” He took a step back and held me at arms-length, a strangled cry coming from his mouth as he scanned me up and down, finally resting on my sorry looking face, probably seeing the hand print of the slap still warm on my skin. “Fuck. I’m going to kill the prick.” Letting go, he rounded on Warren, pushing him roughly against the wall. “Where the hell were you?”

  Warren pointed to the large window and shook his head, his words as absent as mine.

  “Ryder,” I croaked, eager to just be gone from this room of horrors.

  “Fucking hell.” Stepping away from Warren, he let go and balled his fists, looking to the ceiling. I gave him a minute, it was all I was willing, wanting out of this God forsaken place, needing to put it behind me.

  Grabbing for his arm, I yanked him toward the door with as much strength as I could. “Please,” I begged.

  When we finally walked out into the sunshine of the day, I squinted my heavy eyes up at the sky and took a great big gulp of fresh air. I left behind the fear and terror I’d become accustomed to and made a promise that no one would ever take advantage of me again as long as I lived.

  I’d paid my dues; the old Chrissie was a thing of the past. Charlie’s Princess, and her crown, lay broken on the cold floor of a dingy cellar, left behind with the memory of blood. No thicker than water when it came to my father.

  Warren

  Ryder had taken us back to Beaufort. The ride was deathly quiet, and when we arrived, Lucca disappeared from sight as soon as we entered the house, Ryder ordering me to sit at the kitchen table while he showed Chrissie to the guest room. I wasn’t inclined to argue with the man. As exhausted as I was, he had something on his mind, and I had no desire to piss the man off any more.

  There had been very little conversation on the drive back to the village. Ryder was stewing on something, Chrissie understandably lost in her own head. All I wanted to do was curl up with her and forget the world for a while. Her brother had other ideas.

  When my boss re-appeared, he beckoned me to follow him and we ended up in his garage. A garage with no cars in it. The second the adjoining door had closed, I was up against the wall with his forearm across my throat, his fist at the side of my head.

  “Start fucking talking,” he growled, his eyes furious.

  “About what?” If he wanted a play by play account of what happened, he could go fuck himself, I wasn’t repeating it for anyone.

  “Your ex-wife.” I looked at him confused, what the hell did Kayleigh have to do with any of this? “She was the pickup, the person I had to meet.”

  “What?”

  “Don’t play fucking dumb with me. I want to know why.” His fist punched the concrete wall hard enough to hurt but he didn’t flinch.

  “What are you talking about?” I couldn’t grasp what he was saying.

  “When I walked into the café, she was the one who gave me the location of Chrissie. I never forget a pretty face even if the woman behind it is trash.”

  “I’ve no idea, Ryder. I swear. If she was there it had nothing to do with me.” What the fuck? “Where was my kid?”

  “It was just her.” Ryder shook his head, his arm loosening from across my neck.

  “What the hell is going on?” I shouted.

  “If you’re playing games with me, you’ll regret it, I promise you, Warren. I’ll put you where Charlie is. You don’t fuck with my family and get to walk away.”

  “I’ve no idea what the hell you’re on about. I don’t know the company she keeps. Are you sure it was her?”

  “Positive. I have a file on her, including a photo, in the drawer at work.”


  I stared at him stupidly. I knew he’d looked her up, but I hadn’t realised he’d gone to those lengths. What the fuck did he need a file for? What on earth was Kayleigh mixed up in, and where the hell was my boy? “Kieran...” I mumbled out, my body losing the will to fight with Ryder.

  Completely letting go of me, he stroked his fingers through his hair and simply looked at me. I hoped to God he believed me because I did not want to be his enemy. I was going to need help to figure out Kayleigh and how to get my son away from her if she was tied up with the monster that had assaulted Chrissie.

  “Who else was in that house? I didn’t see anyone; the house was empty when I got there.”

  “I don’t have a clue. He didn’t exactly invite us to have tea, for fuck’s sake.”

  He pulled out his phone and punched out a text quickly. “Did you recognise anyone?”

  “No. But the Yannick guy seemed like a big player. Not someone to fuck with.”

  “Do I look like I give a shit if he’s a somebody, Warren? Don’t mistake me for someone who scurries away with his tail between his legs.” He levelled me with a look of contempt that made me feel all of two feet tall. Ryder’s whole body visibly sagged in front of me. The man looked utterly defeated and exhausted, a look I’d never seen on him before. “How is she?”

  There was nothing to do but shrug because in truth I didn’t know despite her telling me she was all right. I sensed it was a front - I mean, why wouldn’t it be? “She said he didn’t...” I couldn’t bring myself to say the word. It had certainly looked like he had, and he’d definitely gotten off. Still a violation in my head, even if he hadn’t. I’d never forget what I’d seen him do to her regardless, I guessed Ryder wouldn’t either. I could at least give him a little assurance.

  He looked at me confused. “You believe her?”

  “I have to. Besides, I saw for myself, cleaned her up.”

  “Fucking hell. It doesn’t matter. The cocksucker attacked her. I can’t forgive it and if she means an ounce of anything to you then neither should you.”

  “Of course I don’t,” I snapped angrily. “But the chances of seeing that guy again are slim, Ryder. He said as much. He had an accent, a faint one, maybe he’s not even from the UK?”

  “That’s a possibility. I have a name, I can dig. It was just your ex-wife at the pickup, sitting there smug as fuck. I wanted to throttle the bitch; I swear.”

  “What did she say?”

  “Nothing that matters.”

  I thumped my head back against the garage wall. “I have to get Kieran away from her.”

  Ryder nodded, lost in thought. “Who ever the bloke is, he doesn’t mess around. Tony’s going to hunt about too, he’ll probably do better than me. You’ll need to talk with him, I don’t want Chrissie doing it. She’s been through enough.”

  “Whatever you need.”

  “They took you both from the house?”

  “Someone woke me up with a gun to my fucking head, I wasn’t going to argue. She was already gone by the time I was marched down the stairs.”

  “And you didn’t recognise anyone at all?” he asked again.

  “No.” I had just as little to go on as Ryder did. “Maybe Chrissie can tell you more? Then again, she maybe wants this left alone.” I remembered what she said as she clung to me.

  Ryder had me pinned back against the wall quicker than I could blink. “No one gets away with doing what he did to any of my family, you hear me?” He bared his teeth at me. “I swear to fuck, Warren, if you’re involved in any way...”

  “Ryder!”

  He let go quick and heaved in a breath, taking a step back, his head turning toward the voice that had barked out his name. “What Lucca?”

  Lucca entered the garage, walking purposefully toward Ryder. “What the hell are you doing?”

  He shrugged, no apology in it as he glared at his best friend. “Making sure Warren knows where I stand.”

  “Cut it out. How does this help? Threats achieve nothing, especially directed at the wrong person.”

  “Oh, come on. His bloody ex was the one who took the cash and the books. How on this fucking earth is that simply a coincidence?”

  “Stranger shit has happened, and you know it.”

  “I don’t buy it.”

  I huffed out an aggravated sigh when Ryder turned and looked daggers at me. “I refuse to be blamed for this. Kayleigh is Kayleigh, I have no idea what she gets up to. But that’s going to change, she’s putting Kieran at risk and I won’t have it. Believe what the fuck you want, Ryder, you’re not as important to me as you think you are.” I pushed off the wall and past him. “I don’t need this shit. I need to make sure Chrissie isn’t falling to pieces, not deal with this crap you’re handing me.”

  Neither Lucca or Ryder said a word as I left the garage, but I guessed they’d be waiting until I was gone.

  Back in the kitchen, the room was now full and all eyes on me. Wonderful. I couldn’t take the weight of the stares, especially from Shaun, who stood against the far counter with his arms crossed over his chest, his look contemptuous. Stalking past everyone without so much as a hello, I flinched when I reached the door and Shaun’s arm blocked my escape.

  Looking up into stormy eyes, I dared him to accuse me just like Ryder had. I was spoiling to hit something and big as he was, he would do just fine.

  “Be what I couldn’t,” he said quietly before removing his arm and letting me pass.

  I knew which room Chrissie was in; a guest bedroom Taylor and Ryder refused to allow anyone else to sleep in, the reason now clear. It had been Chrissie’s all along, they’d just been waiting for her to come on her own terms. I hated it was because of this but I got Chrissie’s trepidation now that I knew her better.

  All anyone had ever done her entire life was let her down. I refused to be added to that list. I had a child to think about, but Chrissie stood right at the top of the list of my priorities, alongside Kieran. If she’d have us, I’d make sure she was never disappointed again. Not by my hand at least.

  Chrissie

  My fourteen-hour sleep was blessedly dream free. When I woke, Warren was sitting in a chair at the side of the bed, smiling at me. It was a beautiful way to wake up, the only thing that would have made it better would have been if he’d been in the bed with me.

  “Hi.” My throat dry, the greeting came out raspy.

  Handing me a bottle of Lucozade, he returned my hello. I gratefully took the juice, guzzling down half the bottle, the cool liquid giving a temporary reprieve.

  “How do you feel?”

  “Like I got beat to a pulp,” I moaned, trying to stretch out the pain I still felt all over.

  “Got some ibuprofen here, but you need to eat with them.” He held up a banana and I nodded while he peeled the skin off and handed me the fruit along with the tablets.

  Taking the two pills, I swallowed them down with another swig of Lucozade before slowly eating the banana. It was the first time I’d eaten anything in what seemed like weeks.

  “We need to talk,” Warren said once I’d finished and sat up, trying to find a comfortable position against the headboard. “Kayleigh was the one who picked up Ryder’s cash.” I didn’t know who Kayleigh was or why she was significant so asked and watched as Warren’s face fell. “My ex-wife.”

  “Oh. Right.” Well, there really wasn’t much to say to that was there? His past had never had a name before, had barely come up in conversation between us. I guessed I needed to confront it if Warren and I were going to move forward together.

  “He threatened me. With Kieran.” I thought I’d already mentioned it but couldn’t be sure, much of the last three days were a blur.

  Warren simply nodded. “Ryder doesn’t trust me.”

  No, I supposed he didn’t. “But I do. How does he know Kayleigh?”

  “He checked up on me. After Charlie he went looking again.”

  Why was I not surprised? “I trust you,” I said again holding eye
contact with him, urging him to see the truth in me. “Implicitly.”

  His body slumped in the chair. “Can I...?” He waved his hand toward the bed.

  Tugging back the duvet, I shimmied over, making room for him. Standing, he stripped out of his jeans and carefully climbed in beside me, pulling the duvet over us both. His arm came around my shoulder and he drew me to his chest where I laid my head, listening to the steady thump of his heart beats.

  “This doesn’t define us.”

  “No. Fuck, no.” Kissing the top of my head he added, “But we need to figure out how to move on.”

  “Ryder’s gunning for revenge, isn’t he?”

  “Oh yeah.”

  “I don’t want that. Charlie’s the only one to be angry at and well...” I tailed off remembering the way I had plunged the knife into his chest. “Will you stay?” I asked.

  “For a little while. There are things I need to see to. Kieran for one.”

  “He’s not in any danger, is he?”

  Warren tensed beneath me, his arm tightening but not painfully “I don’t think so. But I need him with me, I can’t leave my son with Kayleigh if she’s mixed up with a man like that. I’m probably going to have to fight dirty to get him.”

  “Do what you need to do, I’ll be here, whatever you need.”

  “Are you ready for that?”

  Was I? I didn’t know truly but there was only one way to find out. Whatever baggage Warren came with didn’t really matter. I wanted this man in my life and if that meant his little boy was a permanent fixture then I’d learn whatever I needed to.

  I changed the subject. “Who’s in the house?”

  Chuckling, Warren said, “Everyone.”

  “Shit.”

  “Yeah, shit. I’m sure they mean well. Your family want to love you, Chrissie. Maybe it’s time you let them?”