Using all the stealth that came with my training, which had started at puberty, I made my way up the tree.The window was cracked, and I smirked.She never fully closed or locked it at night, just in case I stopped by.Reaching over, I slid it up slowly and squinted into the darkness.Slipping inside, I left it up in case I needed to escape quickly.Her parents had never woken up before though.They both took sleeping meds.If they didn’t, I’d have drugged their wine bottles.Luckily, they made it easy for me.
I’d not taken the first step when I saw it.The other figure in the bed.I blinked, unsure I was seeing it clearly, although the blood I heard rushing in my ears told me I was.For a moment, I didn’t move.I stood there and stared at them.My world hadn’t just tilted from its axis, but it had been taken and fucking thrown against a wall, exploding into pieces.
Pain became a monster as it roared through me.I bent over, grabbing my knees as I tried to breathe through the crushing weight on my chest.
My Songbird.My goddamn soul.How could she do this?
Every inhale felt like my lungs were on fire.My temples pounded, and a beast began to unravel.The fury unfolding wasn’t normal anger.It wanted blood.The image of Pirate lying beside her, his arm around her as they slept, was burned into my memory.Even if I wasn’t looking at them, I’d never be able to unsee it.
Had he fucked her?
My head snapped up, and I began moving.Long strides, I was no longer in control.The agony that had morphed into bloodlust and madness had taken over.It was as if I was on the outside, looking at this from afar.Or perhaps that was my sanity.I’d left it on the floor the moment I saw them together like that.
When I was standing over him, I began to picture all I would do.Slice off his hand first.Then his limp dick.I’d shove it in his mouth and let him gag on it while I continued cutting him up, piece by piece.
The betrayal clawed at me like a wild animal.It felt as if it was ripping my skin over and over.
She moved, turning, and her lashes fluttered as she began to wake before she stilled, then shot out of bed as if it were on fire.Her wide eyes went from Pirate in her bed to me standing over him.My knife already in my hand.Even now, after finding her like this, the urge to protect her coursed through me, trying to overpower the other.She was MINE!Yet she’d let another touch her.
“Did you fuck him?”I seethed.
She began shaking her head frantically.“No!No!I—”
“What the—” Pirate cut her off as his eyes opened, and he stared up at me.My knife at his throat silenced him.
The fear in his eyes should give me some pleasure, but I would feel none.She’d robbed me of ever feeling any pleasure again.
“Kash, don’t—” she began to plead.
“If you beg for his life, it will be more brutal,” I warned her.
Tears filled her eyes, and she trembled.Did she love him?Her gaze dropped to his, and when his locked with hers, my grip on the blade in my hand tightened, and I shoved it through his ribs and pierced his lung.The moment it sank inside the organ, I let out a savage growl.His breathing instantly became fast and short.I thrust harder.I heard Cressida say my name, I heard her crying, but for once, I didn’t care.She would watch him die.Right here in the room she’d betrayed me in.
Present Day
“Where were you last night?”
I hadn’t heard Oz enter the kitchen, but then I hadn’t even known he was here.I stood, staring at the espresso machine as it filled my cup.I’d not fallen asleep last night.My inability to take a goddamn shower and wash her scent from my body probably didn’t help.
“Where were you?”I shot back at him.
He let out a heavy sigh.“Why can’t you stay the fuck away from her?”he asked in a whispered growl.
Fuck.He knew I’d gone to see Cressida.That meant Bane most likely knew too.Dammit!
“I don’t see anything wrong with visiting an old friend,” I replied, taking my cup, then turning to look at him.
Oz ran a hand through his hair, frustration marring his brow.“Because you are a fucking psycho when it comes to that girl.”
I shrugged, trying not to show him how close to the truth he was.“I was a kid.I’m not that kid anymore.I was curious as to how her life had turned out and why she was at Aunt Glenda’s, working as a sitter.I don’t see any issue with it.No one has to know.I got my answers, and I don’t plan on seeing her again.”
I’d also kept the used condom because it smelled like her cunt.Yeah, not psycho at all.
“She’s not good for you.Seeing her isn’t good for your mental health.You were toxic together.Where she was concerned, you were insane.You stabbed her goddamn brother in her bed and watched him bleed to death.”
I took a drink before responding, “Thanks for the recap.I was there.I’ve also stabbed other men and watched them bleed to death.We all have.”
Oz shook his head.“Not the same thing, and you know it.”
