He shook his head, eyes wild. “He’s always been a pussy, and Kes wasalways a fucking sap. Jet drugged and lied to us—but fool on him. Cut will make you repay the Third Debt. Kes screwed up with that shoddy film—it could’ve been the best-edited video in all of bloody Hollywood, and I wouldn’t have bought it.” Slowly pulling me to my feet, he hissed, “Know why?”
Kes had been a true friend. Jethro had been a true lover.
They’re dead.
They’re dead.
Two friends gone.
My heart cracked all over again, but instead of sinking into depths of despair, something happened. My temper warmed, growing brighter and stronger, nudging aside grief.
Something was changing...building,evolving.
“Answer me!” Daniel shook me. “Tell me why I would never have bought that fucked-up video.”
Temper turned to rage, which turned to fury, creating a bubbling concoction of revenge.
I stood before him proud and undefeated. “I know why. Because you’re a sick, deranged pervert who remembers things like rape and torture.”
He barked with laughter. “Well, fuck me, you do understand.”
Breath by breath, I sold my soul to the churning anger inside. I gave up my innocence. I traded all resemblance of peace and purity, letting the blackness consume me.
Jethro had confused me—making me believe the debts were liveable. That, in the end, we’d win because we deserved to. His kindness outshone his cruelty, mixing the messages he sent.
But Daniel.
There was no more confusion.
I knew as surely as the sun would rise, Daniel would rape, maim, and kill me. There was no compassion or affection inside him.
That fantasy was done.
But with that knowledge came clear-headedness. I no longer wanted to fight hate with love or pain with tenderness.
I meant to meet Daniel in the abyss and kill him before he killed me.
“I know enough to destroy you, Daniel Hawk.”
My heart beat for the last time, frosting over—protecting itself for what I would do. I’d never planned on becoming a villain. But I’d never planned on losing my soul-mate, either.
Daniel snarled, “You’re a dead woman.” He squeezed my throat below my diamond collar, wedging me against the wall. “I mean to fill your final days on Earth with suffering. You’ll see. You’llbegme to kill you before I’m finished.”
I gasped. Every instinct urged to scramble at his tight fingers. But I didn’t beg or plead. The numbness turned to coldness, and I understood my predicament better than ever before.
I’m a killer.
I just needed a weapon to fulfil it.
“Buzzard!”
Daniel froze, turning to face the door. His hand never let go of my throat, anger filtering through his grip.
I couldn’t turn my head, but in my periphery stood my second target. The man I would kill after dispatching his youngest son.
Bryan Hawk.
“Let her go for a moment. There’s a good boy.” Cut tapped a key against his chin—the key which no doubt unlocked the entrance to Daniel’s bedroom. Inching over the threshold, he came further into sight.
