Ruin & Rule (Pure Corruption MC #1)(56)
Author: Pepper Winters

Shit.

“That was low of me, Art. I didn’t mean it like that. I just meant—”

“Fuck, this is all kinds of screwed up. What the hell am I doing?” He pinched the bridge of his nose, grabbing hold of his temper and swallowing it back. “I know you didn’t. It’s just so fucking hard to know you’ve been alive all this time while I thought you were dead. If anyone deserves the award for not losing their mind and being patient, it’s me.”

He slammed a fist against his chest. “You don’t seem to get it…” Looking away, he laughed morbidly. “And why would you—you have no idea what happened while you were gone. But take my word for it—I’ve been planning this for a very long fucking time. I could’ve had my revenge years ago. I could’ve just gone in there and murdered the son of a bitch in his sleep and not cared if they killed me in the process. But Wallstreet—”

That asshole again.

“Wallstreet? What does he have to do with this?”

Arthur smiled sadly. “Everything. He has everything to do with this. And you’ll see why if you just follow me and let me show you.”

How had this turned into an argument? Just being back here—wherever we were—made me irritable and uncomfortable. I wanted to leave. The sooner this was over, the sooner that would happen.

Forcing myself to let go of everything, I murmured, “Show me. I want to see.”

His shoulders slumped. “I know this will be hard in some ways. To recognize this place but not remember.”

It was my turn to smile sadly. “It’s no harder than recognizing you and not recalling our life together.”

He swallowed, his powerful neck clenching with the effort. “You have no idea how true that is.” Shadows swarmed his eyes. “I’m not going to deny that I’m struggling. I’m struggling with every damn memory we ever made together, knowing you don’t remember.” He sighed, looking away. “It’s like I’ve had every wish come true, only to find out that part of what made us so special has disappeared.”

My head ached with the pressure of his pain.

I couldn’t reply.

Silently, he took my hand, looped his fingers with mine, and guided me through the undergrowth.

We didn’t go far off the road before Art darted behind a tree and pressed me against the bark. His heart thundered against mine as he slapped a hand over my mouth.

“Quiet,” he hissed into my ear. My back locked as I listened for what had spooked him.

Only the gentle whistle through the leaves and the soft hum of insects.

My own heart matched his in rhythm, nervousness once again thickening my blood.

A minute ticked past before Arthur let me go, his warm hand falling from my lips. “Sorry, thought I heard something.” His eyes fell to my mouth, hips pressing harder. “However, this position does have some advantages.”

My lips twitched as his head bowed, his lips brushing ever so gently over mine.

I moaned slightly as his hardening erection nudged my lower belly.

Laughing under my breath, I pushed him away. “Stop it. If we start, we won’t get this over with.” And I really want this over with so we can leave. I was spooked for reasons I couldn’t explain.

God, everything hurt. Beyond hurt—agony. No, beyond agony—excruciating torture.

My vision was black, my lungs choking on smoke, and my entire body belonged to eternal flames.

The sound of tires squealing and then the rush of footsteps echoed in my roaring ears. All I could focus on was the crackle and spit of fire. It lived inside me, turning my thoughts to ash.

“Hello. Can you hear me?”

I screamed as something touched my charred arm.

“Don’t touch her. I’ll call an ambulance.”

My life flickered in and out, half in this world, half in the nether. All I remembered was pain, pain, and more pain.

Then bright lights and scents of antiseptic.

“We can’t treat her here. We don’t have the necessary equipment. We’ll arrange an airlift and get her to the closest doctor who can save her.”

“Will she live?”

My ears fought the whooshing sound of fire to lock onto the answer.

Will I live?

Do I want to live?

What is there to live for?

“I don’t know. It’s all on her. Let’s just hope she has someone to pull her through. Did you find any identification? Family we can call?”

My heart picked up its sluggish beat, fighting back the crippling pain.

Family.

Yes, I had family.

Didn’t I?

I screamed again as the pain began to delete everything inside. I grasped harder to each tendril as the flames turned inward, devouring my past, my sanity, my very essence of who I was until I had nothing but emptiness.

I was blank.

The flashback ended. I stumbled, even now feeling the torture of surviving the fire. For once I found my amnesia a blessing. I wished I could’ve continued to forget that crippling agony.

“You okay? Shit, Cleo, you’re shaking.” Arthur wrapped his arm around my shoulders. His body heat was comforting but too stifling after the memory of being burned alive.

I pulled away, rubbing my hands over my face. “Yes, I’m okay. Just—let’s keep moving. I need… I need to keep moving.” My voice was brittle and I knew if Arthur asked me one more time if I was okay, I would lose it.

At least now I knew how I’d been taken far away after crawling through the undergrowth and passing out in a ditch. All I’d known was I had to run. Had to crawl. Had to flee in any way possible.

The nice people who’d found me had probably saved my life in more ways than one—not just my immediate predicament but taking me far away, too.

Who had wanted to kill me?

What had I done to warrant it?

Arthur stood locked in place. The look in his eyes battled with questions and the need to help.

But he honored my wish. Whispering softly, he said, “This way.” Taking my hand, he ran a thumb over my scarred knuckles, granting me an anchor of our love. “One glimpse, then we’ll go, Cleo. I don’t want you here anymore. I hate to think of you reliving things that you’re afraid to tell me.” His gaze dropped to my scarred leg, brimming with hate and regret and sorrow.

“Thank you,” I whispered. “Thank you for understanding.”

Nodding once, he guided me the remaining way. The undergrowth thinned as we moved closer to our destination.

The high wooden fence appeared as if from nowhere, dappled with late-afternoon sunshine and stencils of leaves. The top was protected by vicious curls of barbed wire.

Every paling was straight and perfect, no warped wood or rot to be seen the entire length of the perimeter.

“What is this place?”

Arthur tugged me closer, his large boots surprisingly quiet on the strewn leaf matter and twigs. My sneakers, on the other hand, seemed to find every crackle and snap available.

Not stopping until we were in touching distance of the fence, he pulled me to stand in front of him. Backing me against the wood, he splayed his hands on either side of my head.

The intense look blazing in his green eyes undid me.

My mind raced with need. My core twisted at the thought of him taking me. Here. Now. In the middle of wherever the hell we were.

I wanted sex. I wanted to affirm I was still here. Still alive. Still his—regardless that so much had happened to prevent it.

My lips parted, breathing shallow.

His eyebrow quirked, lust shadowing his face. “As much as I’d like to give in to the idea of taking you here, Buttercup, there is no way in hell I’m dropping my guard down around this place.”

I knew he was right, but it didn’t stop the disappointment dousing my face.

Bowing his head, he nuzzled into my throat. “Fuck, stop looking at me like that.” His hips arched against mine, a soft groan falling from his lips.

My hands shot up and wrapped in his hair as his chest brushed against my nipples. “You better move, Art, otherwise I won’t be focusing on anything but you.”

Swallowing hard, he deliberately leaned away, keeping his hands splayed on the palings. Gritting his jaw, he ordered, “Look through the fence. Then we can leave.”

“Look through the fence?”

He nodded, swirling his finger in the air, motioning me to turn around.

Carefully I spun on the spot, twisting in the barricade of his arms. A piece of wood had a natural knot, which had fallen away, leaving an eye-shaped spy hole.

“See if you remember,” Arthur murmured, his breath tickling the back of my neck.

I shuddered, completely unable to concentrate. “Stop that.”

He chuckled.

The heat from his body warmed me as I closed one eye and peered through the wood.

Another compound.

This one was large, more village style than the large abode of one-story living and location of Pure Corruption. It had a massive Clubhouse in the center that looked like the congregation area and town hall. Surrounding the large building were smaller ones, all nondescript but well maintained, with motorcycles resting in front of gates and in carports.

I looked further, drinking in the lifestyle below. Children’s toys were strewn on yards, cars glinted in the dying sun, and more houses existed in the distance.