Page 54 of Psycho Saviors

I was a mess, my body shaking with the force of our shared climax, the taste of Julian a little extra salty, and he pulled out of my mouth.

Afterward, we cleaned up as best we could, buying some of the clothing and leaving the store, my cheeks burning as the cashier woman watched me intently but didn't say a word. We headed straight for a restroom, where I changed my pad and cleaned up more, my body still humming from the wildness of the encounter. They really were unafraid, towering above all the rules and laws of us civilians.

Then again, I'd been right there with them, taking some wicked pleasure in knowing their power and wealth offered me the same protection in the moment.

I returned to find them waiting for me, and Cristian decided it was time for food, having chosen a burger joint for us to try.

Afterwards, we piled into the back of a sleek black car, laden with shopping bags. I sat between Julian and Cristian, Kenny purring contentedly in Julian's lap. The laughter and lightness of the day still lingered in the air, and I relaxed between the pair, a contentment settling over me after the day we'd had.

Julian's phone buzzed, and he answered, his brow furrowing as he listened to the voice on the other end. "Change of plans," he said to the driver, a curtness creeping into his tone. "There's been a development with the Russos."

Cristian's hand found mine, his fingers intertwining with my own. "Time for them to pay for what they did,” he said, his eyes glinting with a dangerous kind of anticipation.

The car sped up, turning away from the route that would have taken us back to their apartment.

My stomach tightened. I knew exactly where this was going. It was blood, retribution, and a grim reminder that beneath the laughter and the shopping sprees, there was a darkness that I was now irrevocably tied to.

25

SCARLET

Istepped into the old warehouse from the vehicle that pulled right inside, my heart racing as I took in the grim scene before me. The musty air hit my nostrils, thick with the metallic scent of blood and sweat. A man sat strapped to a chair in the center of the room, his face a mess of purple bruises and blood. His eyes, barely visible through the swelling, darted around in panic. Tyrone stood nearby, his massive frame casting a shadow over the captive. His knuckles were raw and flecked with blood, whether it was his own split skin from beating on the man or it was the man's, I couldn't say. The sight made my stomach churn, but I steeled myself as Julian and Cristian guided me towards the pair.

The warehouse stretched out before us, a cavernous space devoid of life save for our small group. Beams of afternoon sunlight pierced through the grimy glass skylight above, casting long shadows across the concrete floor and illuminating motes of dust dancing in the air. I couldn't help but shiver as I took in our surroundings, the isolation of this place weighing heavily on me. Tucked away in some forgotten corner of the industrial district, this building was the perfect spot for shit to go down. No prying eyes, no nosy neighbors, no chance of interruption. Whatever was about to unfold here would remain our dark secret, hidden from the outside world that continued on, blissfully unaware of the horrors taking place within these walls.

"This is Angelo Russo, head of the family," Tyrone announced, his voice cold. "His two sons carried out the kidnapping and attack, ordered by him."

I swallowed hard, wondering why I'd been brought here. This wasn't my world. I didn't belong in this nightmare of violence and retribution, did I?

Angelo's one good eye flickered towards me, confusion evident in his battered features.

Tyrone gestured in my direction. "This is the woman you took, whose life you endangered. The one you took alongside our brother."

Cristian's voice cut through the air like a knife. "She's ours, fuckface. And we protect our own, we kill for them."

I flinched at his words, glancing at Kenny in Cristian's arms, unfussed by this scenario, as if he was accustomed to being brought to such things. He probably was for all I knew. He also likely had no idea what was going on.

"Why am I here?" I finally found my voice, surprised at how steady it was despite the fluttering of my heart.

Tyrone turned to me, his dark eyes unreadable. "You're here because you were involved. They took you, put your life in danger, and now, you get to see what happens to those who threaten our own. The Russos need to learn their place."

I glanced back at Angelo, noting the fear that now clouded his remaining eye as he let his gaze fall to the floor. He knew what was coming, and so did I.

I stood there, my breath hitching in my throat as Tyrone's words echoed through the warehouse. "She's ours" he declared, his voice a low rumble that filled the space with an undeniable weight. My stomach clenched as he grabbed Angelo's hair, yanking his head back with a cruel twist of his wrist. "Look at her, Angelo," Tyrone commanded, his tone leaving no room for disobedience. "Look at the woman you were stupid enough to threaten."

Angelo's one good eye rolled in its socket, trying to focus on me. I could see the fear etched into the lines of his face, the tremble in his lips as he realized the gravity of his mistake.

"Did you really think you wouldn’t pay for that? Get your last look at her," Tyrone continued, his voice as cold as the steel of the gun tucked into his waistband. "Because she's the last thing you'll ever see."

Before I could fully comprehend his words, Tyrone's thumbs dug into Angelo's eyes with a sickening squelch. My hand flew to my mouth, stifling the gasp that threatened to escape. The sight was horrific as Angelo's screams echoed around the warehouse, and I took an involuntary step back.

Julian's presence loomed behind me, a solid wall of warmth in the chilling atmosphere of the warehouse. I turned into him, seeking refuge from the scene before me. Kenny was cradled in one arm, squished between us as he wrapped his other arm around me.

"We protect our own, pyro," Julian murmured into my hair, his voice barely above a whisper. "If you choose us, no one will ever hurt you again."

I shook my head slowly, the words catching in my throat. It was too much to take in, too much to process. The violence, the promises, the sickening feeling of being trapped in a world I never asked to be a part of.

I turned slightly in his arms, unable to keep from glancing back at Angelo.