Page 55 of Spitfire

I've also caught the way she's flinching in pain. It was too soon for this. She wasn't nearly recovered from surgery, the stitches in her side requiring rest. I should have tied her to the bed, or kept her in an orgasm induced coma. Anything to stop her from coming here tonight on this reckless mission.

In a way, I hate that Ashmaker is the stronger of the two. She can be more manipulative and determined than even I am, and that doesn't bode well for me, if she decides she doesn't want me around. I need her to see that I won't hinder her hunger for death and bloodshed, and instead will do everything I can to protect her and Scarlett, and will always have her best interest at heart. That's all I've ever truly wanted: to be near Scarlett, and to save her from harm, even though I know she's more than capable of saving herself.

"Pleeaassseee..." Jacques whimpers, his breath becoming faint, as his blood soaks the hardwood below him. This wretched creature is not going to give her the satisfaction she craves. He'll die before he tells us where the bodies or the trophies are, and I'm not sure if that will push her over the edge. Am I prepared to remove her by force from this evil place if she won't come willingly?

It's also only a matter of time before he shows up. Jasper thought he was so cunning with the tracking app on Scarlett's phone, and the hidden cameras, but it didn't take me long to find them. The only reason I've allowed them to remain is because I think Jasper needs to see Ashmaker in all her glory. To understand that being in love with Scarlett means loving all the parts of her, including her darkness.

Do I worry that, once he realizes that she's the serial killer he's been hunting all along, he'll react badly and try to stop her? Sure, but I'm putting my faith in his feelings being stronger than his moral compass, and if I'm proven wrong, he'll die painfully by my hand. I won't allow anyone to betray my Spitfire. I wish I could save her heart from the pain he's caused her since the accident, but she needs to feel that, and needs to understand he's not like us.

Oh goodie, we get to kill the uptight, cunt cop?

I didn't say that, and don't put words in my mouth, X. For now, we wait and see how this plays out. He may still surprise us.

If he doesn't?

Then he's all yours, and I'll gladly let you out to play and avenge my girl. A sense of excitement flows through me, and I can feel X's anticipation. The asshole really wants to hurt Jasper, not that I blame him. In doing that, however, he'll hurt Scarlett too, and I'm hoping I can avoid that. Maybe if Jasper fully rejects her, she'll realize he was never worthy of her.

Are you prepared to have to share her forever, Xavier? I thought you wanted the psycho bitch for yourself?

I release a loud, frustrated sigh, and Ashmaker's so lost in her thoughts she doesn't even notice. I want her happy, and if that means I have to share her until one of us draws our last breaths, so be it. I'll find her in the next life, in all of them, forever. She will always be mine.

God, you're so fucking sappy! I can't handle this shit. Can we please get back to murdering this cunt?

I meet Ashmaker's gaze, and she nods her head to the lump of flesh in my grasp. "Last fucking chance, where are the trophies?" I demand, as blood and saliva gargle from Jacques' mouth, spilling down his face. I pry his lips apart, forcing my fingers between his clenching teeth until I hear a pop from his jaw. I slip the bloody cock inside, and push it down with my fingers until it blocks his airway, and then force his mouth closed again, my fingers pinching his nostrils.

"The instrument of your pleasure will be your demise," Ashmaker whispers as she stares on, and watches Jacques' final struggle, his chest heaving once, twice, and on the third time a horrific rattle sounds in the too-quiet air. I'm just about to apologize to her, and attempt to take her in my arms to soothe the misery I'm witnessing on her features, when the door slams open with a bang.

"Hands on your fucking head, Xavier Poine!"

Ah, here we go, the boy scout has arrived. You should just let me kill him right now, Xavier.

"Jasper!" Ashmaker's panicked glance meets mine, and for a moment I'm filled with regret that I allowed this to happen. My glance switches back and forth between them, as I raise my bloody hands and make no attempt to move, thanks to the gun pointed directly at my head. I wouldn't put it past Jasper to pull the trigger. The man has had a desire to end my life since our first encounter, not that I haven't given him reasons to. A part of me wants to see how Ashmaker and Scarlett react to me being threatened.

"WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON HERE, SCARLETT?" Jasper demands as his eyes widen, taking in the blood coating Ashmaker's clothing, gloved hands, and the splatter on her face. Did he expect to find Scarlett tied, and forced to come with me to perform my gruesome task, like some unwilling victim? I'd love to glimpse inside of his mind right now as he tries to piece together what he's seeing: A dead, dismembered Jacques, both Scarlett and I covered in blood, and, on cue, the young woman in the room starts fucking thrashing in her restraints.

"Drop the fucking blade, Poine, or should I call you Messor?!"

The boy scout's been doing research, Xavier. That's bad news, and you know it. We won't survive being confined in a cell.

It won't come to that, I hope. I drop the blade, and kick it towards Jasper and Ashmaker without being asked, pull down my mask, and thread my hands behind my head. I catch the slight lift of Ashmaker's lip, as she realizes that I've just ensured she has a weapon to defend herself against Jasper if needed.

"Hello, Jasper, how nice of you to join us." I grimace.

"Join us?" Ashmaker turns fully towards me, slipping her booted foot over the blade and dragging it closer to herself, all while Jasper's distracted, staring from one to the other, attempting to make out what's happening here.

"He knew I was tracking you, and that I had cameras set up at your place. Please, little vixen, move away from Ashmaker, he's dangerous! You're safe now!" Jasper takes a step closer, his muzzle trained on me, as he glances down at Jacques' dead body, before returning his furious gaze to me, and giving Ashmaker his back. "Who the fuck is that?!"

Bloody idiot, turning his back on the most dangerous person in the room. He really thinks she's a victim. He deserves to fucking die.

"God, is he always this dense? I don't know how she puts up with him," Ashmaker cackles, and that catches Jasper by surprise as he spins to look at her, his dark brows shooting up. She meets his glance and holds it, her features devoid of all emotions. "He's not the most dangerous person in the room, Jasper, and he's not fucking Ashmaker."

Shit, the unhinged bitch is confessing. Tell me you have an exit strategy, Xavier, this is about to implode, and I don't want to fucking die for her.

"What the hell are you talking about? None of this is making sense. I know he's the killer, Scarlett! He's purposely led me here with you as bait. What the fuck is the matter with you? How can you just stand there covered in blood? You're an agent."

"No, she's an agent, and that makes her weak. Her moral high ground is fucking pathetic. Imagine how many more I could have cleared from the board had she not restrained me."

All color vanishes from Jasper's face, as his midnight blue eyes ping-pong between us, the gun finally wavering, as he realizes I'm not the only threat in the room. Just then, Ashmaker drops to her knee, yanks the blade from the floor, and brings it to her neck, against her jugular vein. "I wonder which one of you would be more devastated if I ended her life?"