Kill them all, he growled to the others, his gaze shifting reluctantly from his mate to the gang leader staring at him in bewilderment.
“What the fuck!” Tony exclaimed, shoving a kneeling Angelo in front of him like a shield. “Bears!”
Murphy leaped toward Tony, cutting across the room in less than a second. Muscles bunching, he launched himself over Angelo and at the other male, dipping his head as Tony fired his gun in his direction.
The bullet grazed the side of his face; he barely acknowledged the mild sting of pain.
More gunfire erupted in the room, followed by animalistic snarls and screams of panic as his bears attacked.
Jasper reached Nessa’s side, standing on his hind legs and shielding her from any stray bullets.
Grateful, Murphy swiped at the gun in Tony’s hand, his claws cutting through flesh and bone. The gun went off again as Tony bellowed in pain.
Angelo crawled away from them both, diving out of sight.
Murphy clawed at Tony’s hand again, and the male dropped his weapon, jerking backward. He tripped over his own feet, hitting the ground with an ‘oomph.’ Horror was painted over his face.
Murphy rushed after the downed male, feeling more than a little satisfaction as he watched Nessa’s abuser crawl away on his hands and knees, his movements panicked. He let him think, just for a second, that he stood a chance of escaping.
Then, just before he could push to his feet, Murphy slammed into him, ramming his head into the male’s back. Tony pitched forward, hitting the ground again. His scream cut off as Murphypressed a paw into the middle of his spine, his claws digging through his clothing and into the flesh beneath.
He wanted Tony to suffer, to experience, even for just a few minutes, the terror and pain he’d put Nessa through for years. It was the least he deserved.
Before he began, he glanced back at Jasper and Nessa, assuring himself they were both alright. Colter had joined them, working on the bindings at Nessa’s feet as the gunfire quieted in the room.
Nessa kept her wide, frightened eyes on Murphy, murmuring something to Colter while he spoke to her.
Murphy returned to his task, his bear’s fury feeding his own. He put some of his weight on the male, slowly applying more and more pressure until he heard bones strain and then crack as Tony’s ribs broke.
The gang leader grunted in pain, clawing uselessly at the floor. He kicked at Murphy with his legs, but he didn’t stand a chance of breaking free.
With a growl, Murphy lifted his paw. He dug his claws into Tony’s side, tearing through skin and clothing as he flipped the male over. He wanted to stare into this fucker’s eyes when he ended him. Wanted to watch the light fade from them, wanted to know that they’d never look upon Nessa again.
With grim determination, Murphy leaned forward, opening his maw and snarling in Tony’s face.
Tony cried out, throwing his head to the side. A second later, the putrid stench of his piss filled Murphy’s nose.
Satisfied and disgusted, Murphy hit the gang leader in the face, over the exact same spot he’d seen the red mark on Nessa’s cheek. His claws caught skin, ripping open the male’s face in five jagged lines.
Blood spurted from the lacerations, that thick red liquid dotting Murphy’s fur. He relished the feel of it, pinpointing the next spot he’d tear open.
He sliced open Tony’s neck next, not deep enough to hit the artery, but enough that the male felt every ounce of pain. Murphy wanted him to feel more; he needed him to realize that his life was forfeit.
Tony had signed his own death warrant by coming after Murphy’s mate.
He’ll suffer for everything he’s done.
Tony gurgled, choking on his own blood as Murphy hacked into his flesh. He cut into him with his claws, over and over, remembering everything Nessa had told him before.
How she’d trembled when she’d asked him not to grab her neck during sex. How she’d eventually opened up and trusted him, telling him every heartbreaking detail of her past. How she’d cried as she’d confided in him.
The male beneath him, covered in his own blood and piss, was the reason she’d been so hesitant to trust in the first place. He’d been the catalyst of all her pain and fears. He’d tried to break Murphy’s mate. Tried to kill her.
He tried to take her from us!his bear roared.Make him pay!
Murphy’s motions became frenzied, claws tearing into Tony’s spinal cord when he ran out of muscle and tissue to slice through. He lost himself in the gang leader’s misery, savoring each pathetic, distressed sound he made, until eventually, he didn’t make any more noises. Still, he dug into him, craving more destruction.
Murph!Jasper’s voice slid into his mind, startling him out of his haze of retribution.He’s dead, brother. Leave the corpse and come get your female. She’s scared.
