“Everything will be okay,” I murmured, kissing her forehead before reluctantly focusing on my stepbrother. “He isn’t going to die. Yet. That would be too easy a punishment.”
If I had my way, I’d strap him to a chair and torture him for a few weeks.
A savage snarl curved Bass’s lips even as the color drained from his face. “If I die, my father will ruin you both, and you’ll wish for a spot in the gutter with the rest of the trash.”
The gun dangled in my hand as I stood over Bass and kicked the knife out of his reach. “It’s only a flesh wound, you weak bitch.” I pressed my boot against the wound on his thigh, his shriek nearly busting my eardrums. “Do you really think I’d simply hand over this video of your father?”
“You should.” Sweat trickled down his temples, dampening his golden locks. “There’s still time to help your situation.”
My laugh sounded like a distant rumble of thunder as I squatted next to him. “Even if I sent you the video file, don’t you think I made a copy?” I tapped the tip of the gun to his forehead. “You aren’t the brightest Davenport, are you?”
As I sped here, I concocted a plan to unveil the real Stanford Davenport to the world. Maybe he wouldn’t spend time inprison, but if this video was released to the public, his reputation would be ruined.
All of those fancy, high-powered connections would dwindle away to nothing, leaving him vulnerable, and more of his victims might have the courage to come forward. He wouldn’t have a leg to stand on then.
I could play the long game to ensure he got everything he deserved. I just hoped Lexi understood.
“My father will?—”
I pistol-whipped Bass, blood exploding from his mouth. “That’s for thinking you could touch her and get away with it.” If Lexi wasn’t here, I’d rip this sniveling piece of shit apart and watch him take his last, painful breath before finally succumbing to Death’s cruel hands. “And your father already knows I have a copy of that video. How long will it take him to figure out you stole it first?”
A ghostly pallor ripped the color from Bass’s complexion. “You’re a fucking psycho, Killian. And did you forget that you’re bound by blood to this organization? You won’t be able to walk away after trying to murder me. I’m the fucking Domnus.”
I motioned the gun around the secret catacombs under the frat house. “The Domnus who brought an outsider into these hallowed halls without permission?” I tutted. “Sharing our secrets with others is punishable by death, even for you.”
Lexi gasped, and my head snapped in her direction as she clutched my shoulder. “He’s got Cordelia too.”
I angled toward Bass, baring my teeth. “Where the fuck is Cordi?”
With that manic grin, blood coating his teeth, his monstrous outsides finally matched the rot on the inside. “She’s good and hidden, Kill. And you’ll never prove that I brought anyone here. I shut off the security cameras before entering.”
The son of a bitch actually used his brain instead of just his dick. Security cameras didn’t cover the entire span of the catacombs—that would be too dangerous—but they did film the entrances, the archives, and a few other places. They would have captured Bass bringing the girls down here had they been on.
“Oh, I wouldn’t worry about that, Kill.”
Gage slinked out of the shadows, turning on a few gas lanterns along the walls, the light dancing across his purple hair. Lexi glanced at me, probably wondering if I’d expected him.
Nope.
“You missed a few cameras, Sebastian.” Gage lifted his phone as the screen played a video of my stepbrother dropping Cordelia onto a couch in one of the lounges near the archives. “The Inner Circle won’t be too pleased with your behavior.”
For once in his life, Bass was speechless. The fight drained out of him as he realized how screwed he was. He should consider himself lucky to be at the mercy of the Ascended and not me.
That didn’t mean I wouldn’t seek revenge for harming Lexi later. A fucking flesh wound wasn’t nearly enough damage.
“Oh, and Bass.” I stood and then stepped on his fingers, grinding them into the rough stone. “You’re going to make sure you rescind the murder hit on that mysterious girl. You can tell the Inner Circle or whichever Ascended you got permission from that you made a mistake. No one got wind of any Serpents and Daggers secrets.”
He gritted his teeth, pain flashing in his gaze. “And if I don’t?”
Gage chuckled. “Stop pretending you have any power right now, Bass. I have evidence of your betrayal on video. One click, and your ass will be the one on a kill list.”
The bastard was still on my kill list.
“What are you doing down here, Gage?” I reached for Lexi’s hand, needing to simply touch her. “I don’t want you involved in this.”
My friend arched his pierced eyebrow. “When you asked me to set up a meeting with Declan from Arcane, I knew some serious shit was going down. Did you really think I wouldn’t have your back, Kill?”
“Did you not thinkwewouldn’t have your back?” Axel sauntered into the room with Slate beside him.
