Fingers curled around Newton’s jaw in a rigid hold, every muscle locked with the effort it took not to bury his fist in the bastard’s face.But that wouldn’t do.He had to hold back if he was to make sure none of what happened here got linked to him.“Liar.”
“Or maybe you didn’t know her as well as you thought.”
A red haze was swiftly descending on Adrian’s vision.The instinct to lash out pulsed with urgent need at the base of his skull.Intent on regaining control, he closed his eyes, drew his attention inward, focused on slowing his breaths and bringing his heartbeats back to an even rhythm.
A predatory sense of calm wrapped itself around him, shielding him from the impulse to strike without thinking.He shoved Newton’s face from his hand and took a step back.
Tossing the rope aside, he turned to Murry.“I need some writing supplies.”
Murry nodded and went to collect the items.Adrian crossed his arms to prevent himself from grabbing a dagger and shoving it through Newton’s throat.“I’m going to give you two choices.You can either confess your sins to your father in writing and face his wrath, or I can slit your throat right now and let you bleed out.It’s your choice.”
Newton narrowed his gaze and leaned forward as much as he could.“You would honestly let me go?”
“Make no mistake,” Adrian told him darkly.“Your father will know what you’ve done.There will be no escaping that if you pick the first option.”
“But I’ll live.”Not a question but a deduction.
Adrian picked up the dagger and studied it briefly before glancing at Newton once more.“What will it be?”
The door opened and Murry returned.He swept the tools on the table to one side and set down the writing supplies.Adrian thanked him then shifted his attention back to Newton.“Well?”
Body hunched as he stared at the floor, Newton curled his fingers around the ends of the armrests.His breaths were ragged and loud, filling the space with a saw-like sound.When he finally raised his chin, an involuntary need to comply was imbedded in his murderous gaze.“I’ll write the confession.”
“Make sure to mention all your victims,” Adrian said once Newton began.“And don’t forget to describe how you lured them or why you did what you did.”
The tip of the quill scratched over the paper, the words flowing with notable swiftness.Adrian glanced over Newton’s shoulder and read a few lines.No hint of remorse could be found in the matter-of-fact account he gave.
“Showing regret and begging forgiveness might soften your father’s response, don’t you think?”
Newton paused, finished the sentence he was working on, and followed Adrian’s advice before signing his name to the bottom.
“Blot this please,” Adrian told Murry while he himself went to collect the rope he’d been using earlier.
Roughly ten yards long, it would serve his purpose nicely.He proceeded to casually loop and twist one end, enjoying the soothing effect of the process and where it would lead.
“Wha…what are you doing?”Newton asked.His attention had been on Murry before, but was now directed at Adrian.
“What does it look like?”
Newton shook his head, dread showing in his stricken expression.“You said you’d let me go if I wrote a confession.”
Finished with the noose he’d been making, Adrian climbed onto a stool and slipped the rope over a hook in the ceiling.He jumped down and secured the end of the rope to an iron ring embedded in the wall.
“I don’t negotiate with curs who murder women.”Arms crossed, he considered the noose that would hang the bastard.“Let’s get him over here, Murry.”
Screaming for help, Newton struck them with fisted hands, landing blows that were sure to bruise as they dragged his chair backward.When they reached the right spot, Murry untied the rope from the iron ring, lowering the noose.
Adrian dropped it over Newton’s head and pulled it tight, all the while fighting Newton’s every attempt to free himself from his fate.
A sideways swipe put Adrian briefly off balance, but when Murry drew the rope taut, Newton’s attention shifted toward his own neck.
He grabbed the noose with desperate hands, tried to create a gap between it and his neck – some room in which to breathe.
Lowering to a crouch, Adrian untied Newton’s ankles then gestured for Murry to pull a bit harder.“Let’s get him up.”
Sputtering, Newton continued to grip the noose while his feet began scrambling for purchase.Lifting him slightly, Adrian helped him gain his footing before yanking his hands away from the noose.
Grim faced, Murry pulled the rope until Newton stood on his tiptoes then retied it to the iron ring.
