“Christ, he’s not…” My horror filled eyes cannot tear away from the demented bastard rallying up the dirt mound halfway between the two roads.
“He is,” Jay mutters, shifting into gear and speeding after AJ, who’s bike is now airborne. The sound of screeching tyres fills the air as Jay accelerates to catch up with AJ.
“You don’t do that to a Kawasaki!” I yell, watching in disbelief as the spinning tyres bounce off the roof of a slow-moving car and land with a slight wobble at the crossroads. “The suspension on the poor bike is going to be shot after that.”
I’m right on Jay’s tail, avoiding the dirt mount because, if I tried to jump that pile of debris, they’d be scraping me off the pavement for weeks.
I’ve seen AJ pissed before, but this is beyond anything I’ve ever witnessed.
This wasNOTthe plan. This was an unseen incident that might have just fucked up plans A through Z. By the way AJ is tear arseing his way through Dublin City Centre, I can tell that he gives no fucks about the consequences of his actions. He’ll be carted away in state bracelets by the end of this. There is no other way around it.
With any luck, reckless driving is the only thing they’ll get him on.
* **
KATIE
“Where is he?” Another hammer like fist smashes into my jaw; I’m almost certain two teeth just went flying.
“Up my arse, picking blackberries,” I manage to spit out, blood mixing with saliva. The pain is excruciating; he may have just one-upped my mother. Who’d have thought?
The tip of a dirty kitchen knife gleams in the dim light before it’s pressed against my throat. “You think you’re funny, don’t you?” He growls, his breath hot on my face.
“I’m a scream.” I swallow hard, blood coating my oesophagus to the point where I almost choke on it. “You know what I find fucking hilarious?”
The sting of the knife against my skin intensifies as he leans in closer, his eyes glinting with malice. “Watching you squirm.”
“Knowing that even if you kill me, Aiden is going to gut you like a fish and hang your entrails from the rafters,” I force myself to ignore the invading blade. I meet his gaze with defiance. “And he won’t be quick about it.”
The man’s smirk falters for a moment before he forces a chuckle. He thinks I cannot see the fear in his eyes.
“If they find you,” I add, “they’ll have to piece you back together like a jigsaw just to identify your body.”
As soon as the words pass my lips, I realise I should have kept my stupid mouth shut.
“He likes that, doesn’t he?”
I mentally curse myself for giving him more ammunitionto use against me. “Sending pieces of his victims to their loved ones as a warning.” He moves around the chair, I’m convinced he’s going to open my throat and send my head in a shoddily wrapped package to Aiden.
Trust my mouth to be the thing that finally kills me.
Don’t cry.
DO NOTcry.
Do not give him the satisfaction of seeing your fear.
Please, God, make this quick. Please, please, please, please, plea—
A sound so violent it should not have been possible to come from a human pharynx, echoes through the room. I don’t register the tears or the wailing sobs that follow. All I can focus on is the excruciating ache radiating from my left hand. The pain is unbearable, shooting up my arm and making it difficult to breathe.
“Katie!” Ciara’s voice breaks through the haze of pain, bringing me back to reality. She kicks, screams, and writhes to be free of her binds, but it’s no use.
The bastard behind me comes into view, holding my engagement ring, with my finger still attached to it.
“I think I’ll put this in his letter box,” he chuckles, his eyes glinting with malice.
“He’s going to skull fuck you with a blade,” I snarl, tears spilling down my face. Good God, is that bile? Every single morsal in my stomach is rushing to my throat.
