"There’s no getting out of this," I tell him, my voice low and devoid of mercy. "No one knows where you are, and noone is coming to save you." I grab his chin, forcing him to look at me despite the blood slicking his skin. "You're not leaving this room, Zack. Not until you tell the truth.”
That seems to break something inside the beta. His face crumbles, and his body shakes. “I–I’m sorry,” he sobs.
I nod slowly, encouraging him to continue. "Go on," I say, my voice dropping to a deceptive calm. "I'm listening."
“I d-didn’t mean to,” he chokes out, the words rushing together in a desperate jumble. “I swear. I’m j-just…s-sorry.”
"Sorry forwhat, Zack?" I keep my tone soft, almost gentle, like I'm a parent trying to coax a child into admitting they stole a cookie before dinner. "Tell meexactlywhat you’re sorry for."
Zack shakes his head frantically, his eyes darting around the room as if the answer might be written on the walls. "I...I don't know," he stammers, his voice rising in panic. "I don't, I just?—"
His words are cut short as I drive my fist into his mouth.
His head snaps back, making the chair rattle where it’s bolted to the floor. The beta slumps forward, dazed, blood trickling from the corner of his split lip.
I pull my hand back and glance at my knuckles. A jagged cut splits the skin, and a thin line of blood wells up, dark and stark against my flesh. I touch it with my thumb, smearing the warm liquid, savoring the sharp sting and the metallic scent.
It feels so fucking good.
“We’re going to try that again, Zack,” I say with an annoyed sigh. “What are you sorry for?”
But Zack doesn't answer. He’s slumped in the chair, his head lolling to the side, eyes glazed and unfocused. He looks like he's on the verge of passing out.
“Hey!” Jimmy steps forward from the shadows and tapsthe side of Zack's face with a firm, stinging slap. "Pay fucking attention!" he barks. "Don't you dare check out on us."
The sharp shock forces Zack to focus. He flinches, his eyes clearing slightly as he looks up at Jimmy, then me, panic setting in all over again.
Then the beta starts to ramble through his bloody teeth, the words spilling out in a desperate, disjointed stream. "I touched them.” He begins to cry again, his voice cracking. "I touched a lot of them. I don't know their names, I swear, but I touched their bodies. I groped them when they were unconscious. I grabbed their tits...there was one that I, uh... I fingered her. I did it. I touched them all." His words fall apart as he sobs hard.
My whole body sears with rage as he lists his crimes, each confession making my blood boil hotter. But I need one more thing.
Leaning down, I get right in the asshole’s face, forcing him to look me in the eye. “Do you feel bad for what you did?”
"I do," he sobs, the words tumbling out in a rush. "I swear, I feel bad. I know it was wrong."
The beta is a fucking pathetic sight.
Blood is gushing from his broken nose, mixing with the snot bubbling from his nostrils and the endless tears streaming down his face. His skin flushes a dark, blotchy red, making him look even more grotesque.
"You owe my omega an apology," I growl, my voice low and dangerous.
Confusion washes over Zack's face. His dazed eyes sweep the tiny room, clearly looking for her, as if she might be hiding in the corner.
Losing the last of my patience with this asshole, I grabhis face, my fingers digging into his cheeks, squeezing until his lips are forced into a pucker. He whimpers in pain, his eyes widening as he’s forced to focus solely on me.
"Say it," I command, my voice a lethal whisper. “Tell Tansy you’re fucking sorry.”
"I'm sorry, Tansy!" he screams out, the words tearing from his throat. "I'm sorry, Tansy! I'm so fucking sorry!"
Deep satisfaction settles in my chest, heavy and dark. I stand up straight, a slow smile spreading across my face as I look down at the trembling wreck of a man.
"See?" I say, my tone almost light. "Was that so hard?"
Zack shakes his head, blood pouring from his broken nose and over his lips, dripping onto his shirt in a steady, dark stream. He looks pathetic, utterly broken.
"Good," I say, the smile vanishing instantly. "Because now it’s time to get started."
Then I raise my fist and really get to work.
