“No mercy,” I croak, deadened. “Kill ‘em all.”
The cartel troops are on the march. Engines instantly blaring from outside.
I flip the kill switch, turning the power back on. Only the backup generators are working.The gall of these goddamn prisoners…
I think it’s clear now that Lexington Deon was in here. The place has been ransacked and his preciousdeviceis gone.
No matter. He’ll be dead soon, too.
They’ll all be… dead.
And I will sit here, alone on this island. Besieged by the flames of a wrathful blaze. And I’ll watch it all burn…
My chin dips to the collars on the floor, and I suck my teeth in irritation.
“Well, you tried, Johansson…” I scoff, reaching into my pocket for the remote to the collars, his final creation. He was soproud. “See you in Hell, you creepy old fuck.”
I toss the remote onto the table, closing my eyes, rubbing them until they ache. But then they spring open.
Wait…
I stuff my hand back into my pocket, feeling for the key.
No…
My pocket’s empty.
I dig into the other one, frantically checking them both. Turning them inside out. But it’s not there… I can’t find it.
No.
No no no…
“Fuck!” I bellow.
It’s gone. Mykeyis gone.
“Hijo de puta,” I hiss under my breath, stalking through the library.
Running to the garden, pops and blasts of a war outside stiffen my spine. I move as quickly as I can in the dark of emergency lighting and a full moon. I know the layout. This is my home, after all.
All of these intruders in my home, messing with my things.
I’m foaming at the mouth, but swallowing a dry gulp of anxiety at how suddenlyquietit is in here. The atmosphere is already gone…It’s already dead.
In the aviary, I rush the path, the bronze cage just ahead…
“Do it, pajarito,” my voice is gruff. Thick with hunger and a storm of adrenaline, together like fierce, decadent need. “Tu puedes… I know you can, baby.”
“S-stop,” he whimpers, soft as velvet, but soangryabout it. “Shut… up. Uhh, Diablo… ayúdame, Dios…”
“You should,” I hum, kissing a line up his inner thigh. “Sweet Angelito… You shouldabsolutelykill me.”
“Lo sé…” he whines. “Fuck, I know… mmff, Papi… Don’t stop.”
Dazed amusement tugs at my lips while I kiss and kiss, and lick andlick, relishing the way he’s unfurling, as he does. Muscles easing…
Grip on my knife loosening.
