Both Liv and Tania lift their heads. The anguish on both their faces sends me in motion, but I come to an abrupt halt when I get a look at Terrell. He’s almost unrecognizable, his face a battered, swollen mess. All I can do is stare at him as he lies there, completely lifeless, even though the beeping machines prove otherwise.

“Who the fuck did this?” I ask through clenched teeth, the intense ache in my chest making it difficult to breathe.

“It was those masked cowards.” Tania grits through another pained sob. “I called him all morning and he never answered or returned my call. I know he doesn’t like to answer his phone when he’s working out but he always calls me back. So I tried again later this afternoon and still nothing. So I finally went to his place and found him out in the backyard, barely conscious and unable to move.” Liv rubs her back as she begins to cry harder. “Who knows how long he had been there for.”

Blood roars in my ears, whispering words of bitterness and rage. “How do you know it was them?”

“Because he told me before he passed out,” she says painfully. “He said I was to only tell you and no one else.”

“What did he say?”

She shakes her head, trying to compose herself enough to speak. “I couldn’t make out much. He said something about a compound. They have a compound, and then he whispered two names.”

My heart thrums viciously in my chest, relentlessly anticipating her answer. “Who?”

She sniffles, replacing the pain and sadness with deep, dark hatred. “Prichard and Larson.”

I stand there, overwhelmed and fueled by the knowledge. It swirls with my earlier rage, transforming into something so powerful, so indescribable, it shreds every ounce of control I have left.

I look over and point at Walt. “Do not leave their side.”

At his nod I leave the room, my blood pumping so violently I don’t hear Liv yelling my name until she grabs my arm. “Grayson, wait, where are you going?” I spin on her fast, making her flinch. The terrified look on her face has me pulling her against me. “Please don’t leave.” She sobs against my chest.

“I have to, Liv.”

“No, you don’t. It’s the middle of the night. Call Sheriff Dixon. Let him take care of this.”

I shake my head, my eyes trained and focused on the exit. “Terrell told her to tell me and no one else for a reason.”

“Grayson, please, I—”

“Will you listen to me?” I shout before I can stop myself. Leaning down, I bring my forehead to hers and lower my voice. “They went too fucking far this time, Liv, and they need to be stopped. I have to be the one to do it. Who knows who they’ll hurt next. I can’t let that happen.”

“What are you going to do?” she asks fearfully.

“I’m going to find the truth then deliver fucking justice.”

Her shoulders tremble from her stifled sobs and it rips me apart.

“It’ll be okay, baby. Just stay close with Tania and Walt. I’ll be back soon.”

After a hard kiss to her forehead, I walk out of the hospital and into the brisk night air. The breeze does nothing to cool my heated blood. I only have one thought in mind as I get into my truck.

Retribution.

I stop by my apartment first and grab my other gun I keep locked away. It’s faster than driving back out to the farm. Then I haul ass to Prichard’s. I want to deal with him first. I knew that fucker was no good, but this… He’s crossed the goddamn line.

All the lights are out at his place when I pull up, the street completely dark and deserted. Pulling my ball cap low on my brow, I take a deep breath. I casually stroll up to his house then slip through the wooden gate to the back door. I quickly pick the lock before quietly letting myself in. His patrol truck is parked in the driveway so I know he’s home and likely sleeping since his shift starts at five a.m.

I maneuver through the dark kitchen and living room with stealth-like ease, remembering the layout from the few times I’ve been here in the past. Once I make it to his bedroom door, I unleash the wrath of my vengeance with the thrust of my boot to his door.

“What the fuck?”

I’m on him before he can reach for his gun. All of the pent-up rage that has accumulated over the last twenty-four hours has been completely unharnessed.

I pound him, my fists raining down blow after blow of unrelenting fury. “You’re not so fucking tough now, are you, asshole?”

“What the hell, Taylor?” he bellows, registering my heated voice. He throws his hands up, trying to block my punches, but there is no stopping this maddening darkness erupting inside of me.

“I fucking warned you. You went too far this time,” I seethe, landing another heavy blow to his face. Bone crushes beneath my fists, blood splattering my face and clothes.

It makes me think of all the other blood lost.

Terrell.

Liv.

His fist clips my chin, but I feel nothing except deep satisfaction and my ruthless aggression taking over. Grabbing my loaded gun that’s tucked into the back of my jeans, I press the hard steel to his head.

“Jesus Christ, what the fuck are you doing?” he sputters, looking ready to piss himself.

“Where the fuck is the compound?”

Something flickers in his eyes, masking some of the stone-cold fear. He licks the corner of his bloody mouth. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

I bring my hand back and slam the butt of my gun into his jaw, making him howl in pain. “He’s alive and he named you, motherfucker. Now tell me what I want to know, or I will put a goddamn bullet in your head.”

“I swear, man, I don’t know anything.” The lie oozes from him, seeping into my blood with heated force.

“Fine. You had your chance. I’ll go fucking beat it out of Larson instead.” I apply more pressure, pressing the barrel into his forehead much harder than last time. He growls in pain.

My thumb releases the safety.

“No! No, wait!”

I freeze, my finger hovering with temptation just above the trigger.

“Please, they’ll kill me if I tell.” He blubbers like a coward, cracking like I knew he would.

“Should have thought about that before you joined the fuckers.”

He shakes his head. “Listen, Taylor, it ain’t that simple. This shit is bigger than you think. If you don’t back off now they’ll kill you. They don’t fuck around.”

“Blood will be shed, but it won’t be mine.”

“Will you fucking listen to me?” he shouts. “There is no stopping them, even your—”

I cut off his words with another crack to his face, tired of listening to his shit. “No. You fucking listen to me. Either you tell me what I want to know or you die now, by my hand. What’s it going to be?”

His eyes close as defeat settles over him. He visibly swallows, choking back his own blood before opening them again. “It’s thirty miles north of here. 1866 Mercer Road.”

“If you’re lying to me I’ll come back and finish you.”

He lifts his chin in defiance. “You’ll be lucky if you make it another day. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

I smirk down at him. “You think I’m afraid of you? You’re all a bunch of fucking cowards.” Fisting his shirt, I yank him up just enough to bring his face inches from mine. “You should have never fucked with him. Now you’re all going to pay.” Raising my hand, I drop the butt of my gun down to his temple with enough power to knock him unconscious. Hopefully, the bastard is out long enough for me to do what I need to do without alerting anyone. Before I leave I snatch his cell phone from the bedside table and toss it out the window when I get down the road.

Half an hour later I park my truck on a hidden dirt road, about a mile from the address and go in on foot the rest of the way.

I stay hidden behind the thicket of trees, easing my way up the long driveway. The enormous metal building finally comes into view. It’s dark. Quiet. Nothing more than a small, yellow bug light above a large metal door indicating its presence. There’s a deadbolt securing the entrance so I make my way to one of the side windows. I wait silently, listening for any movement before peeking inside. Only shadows cover the floor, so I push up on the window, trying to get in. It doesn’t budge at first but with a little jiggle it finally gives way.