“How”—punch—“could I”—punch—“forget your fucking ugly mug.”
There was no distinguishing his features anymore. He was a bloody mess. But I didn’t let up. My fingers dug into the muscles and tendons in his neck until the skin broke open, and my hand was around his windpipe. I reached inside and began to pull when I was knocked on the back of the head. The room spun, and I squeezed my eyes closed, trying to quell the ringing and lights behind my eyes.
“I’m not mad you killed Sterling,” another familiar voice taunted. “He was a pussy. That’s why he’s dead.” Rick. Another one of Cillian’s men stood over me, 44 to the face. “I’m kind of disappointed you didn’t bring that sweet, sweet piece of ass with you. Been wanting to have a taste of that.” He circled me, trying to evoke fear, but I was only getting more enraged with every word out of his mouth. “I have a feeling she’ll show up, and when she does, I’m going to bend and fuck—”
I grabbed both ankles, sweeping his legs out from under him. A bullet pierced the ceiling when his body hit the floor. Without a moment to lose, I pulled Leni’s blade from my pocket and plunged it into his chest. His eyes widened like fucking saucers. “Looks like she fucked you first.”
“Well, you wouldn’t think I’ve eviscerated a man and enjoyed it either. What can I say? I’m just full of surprises.”
A grin tipped the corners of my mouth as I remembered her words.
“My girl sends her regards.”
I sliced deep into the side of his abdomen before raking it across the other side and opening him up. His body jerked, mouth gaping open as death closed in on him.
“You know, Silas, I always thought you were smarter than this. But maybe I gave you too much credit.” I froze, the blood in my veins running cold. “That was my mistake. My downfall, if you will.”
I whirled around to face the bastard after two months, and of course, he wasn’t alone. He’d never have the balls or be dumb enough to confront me without an entourage of yes men. Two armed lackeys stood on either side of him, and I recognized every face staring back at me.
Cillian stepped forward, his sinister grin widening when I took one step back.
“Oh, come on. We were friends once.”
“Get fucked.”
He lowered his head and chuckled. “I believe the only one fucked here is you.” He clasped his hands together. “Well, you and all these poor bastards, including that one over there. The one who thought it would be wise to betray me and feed your accomplice information. But he did me a solid. And just as sure as I knew you’d be stupid enough to come, here you are.”
I followed his line of sight to the mangled stump of a human propped against the wall. He sat in a pool of his own blood and torn flesh. What used to be his head had been caved in.
My stomach reeled, and I clenched my fists, internally strategizing how fast I’d be able to get to my weapons, though I knew the answer to that question. I toyed with the attempt, having them kill me quickly instead of ending up like the man on the floor. But dying without putting up a fight wasn’t an option. After everything, cheating death time and time again, meeting Leni, futile as it might have been, I needed to try.
With my arms raised, I met Cillian’s gaze.
“I’m here to talk.”
Another cynical laugh. “I’m sure Rick and Sterling would disagree. You think me a fool? If that had been the case, you would have come through the front door. Instead, you tried to crawl your way in through the back like the scum you are. Same way you left.” His features hardened, the smile wiped from his face, replaced by hard lines and tension. “My daughter is no longer here to help you escape. You and that whore made sure of that, didn’t you?” He signaled to one of his men. “Get his bag. If he moves, put a hole through his face.”
“You know I had no choice but to kill Collin. It was either me or him.”
“I quite literally couldn’t care less if he wanted to slit your throat and drink your blood.” He closed in as two of his men twisted my arms behind my back. “Collin was my only son. And you claimed the life of my daughter.” A devious smile split his face. “I’m going to have fun with you, Silas. So much fun that you’ll be begging for death.”
Cillian turned his back and snapped at one of his men. “Cellar B. Cuffs.”
* * *
My eyelids were heavy, wetness pooling around my mouth, and the smell of iron permeated the air. I attempted a deep inhale, but liquid beneath my nose and mouth seeped into my airway, burning my lungs.
Blood.
My fucking blood.
Everything was foggy. I remembered moving forward a step minutes after Cillian had left when the room went black. The throbbing on the side of my head indicated that one of those sons of bitches had taken a cheap shot with the butt of their weapons.
Lifting my head, I blinked away the blood caked around my lashes, a fresh wound there making it nearly impossible to see out of my left eye. I clenched my teeth and suppressed a groan, refusing to let them see me weakened.
“Sleeping beauty is finally awake. Couldn’t have you sleep during all our fun.”
I spat blood, forced to remain with my torso bent forward by the restraints, cuffing my wrists to a dark metal table.
