I slap my hand across Lily’s stalker’s face hard enough to snap his head to the side.
I’m not fucking done with him yet.
He can’t be more than his early twenties. Barely a man. Old enough to make choices, but young enough to regret them too late. A shame, really. The mess he’s dragged himself into will follow him to the grave, assuming he’s lucky enough to earn one.
“Come on, boy. I thought you’d be made of stronger stuff than this.”
My voice is calm. Almost bored.
His body jolts violently as consciousness claws its way back. His eyes flutter open, unfocused, panic swimming in them. Blood runs freely down his cheek, dripping from his jaw onto the concrete floor.
“I told you, I was following orders. I didn’t know who she was. I was just told to scope it out.” His voice shakes.
I grab him by the scruff of the neck, fingers digging in, lifting him halfway off the floor, even with the chair he’s tied to. His toes scrape uselessly.
“Who gave you the order?” I snarl. “Who is he and what does he want with her?”
A whimper slips from him before he can stop it.
I nod once.
Reggie steps forward without hesitation, gripping the man’s left hand. No warning. No buildup. He squeezes with his hands.
Bones crunch, and the scream that tears out of him is animal.
“A necklace!” He screams. “They want a necklace!”
I blow out a breath and drop him, stepping back. Fuck. Reggie looks at me with a puzzled expression.
“Who wants the fucking necklace?”
“M-my dealer gave me the job. I swear, I just deal a bit of coke. But this was big money.”
I run my hand over my face. Sending a runner to do their dirty work. “And who is your dealer?” I ask, even though Enzo will have that information from this guy’s phone. He’s unnecessary now.
“We can make this stop,” I murmur, leaning in close enough for him to smell the blood on me. “Where can I find him?”
Before he can answer, laughter erupts behind me, and I turn slowly.
Madame Eve is watching us, head tipped back slightly as she cackles. Bruised. Bloodied. Cuts mapping her arms and face like a ledger of Charlotte’s patience running out.
Charlotte did beautiful work.
I tilt my head, studying her.
“What’s so funny?” My arms cross over my chest.
She makes my skin crawl.
“Men.” The word drops flat and venomous.
I blink once. “I don’t believe you’re in a position to find anything amusing.”
She shrugs, then winces, pain flashing across her face. Still smiling though. “You all believe it’s just a man’s world, don’t you? Just because you have a dick, you think you run everything.”
I step closer, my shadow swallowing her whole. “No,” I say evenly. “I don’t believe that at all. I mean, look at you. You held a very high position of power. One you used to destroy other women’s lives.”
I lean down until we’re eye level. “How does that make you better?”
