Page 33 of Saviors

“They attract girls. Brought them in. They get paid per head.” He panted, ready to give up his own mother if that would save him. It wouldn’t. “Their sister was a gift. A buy in.”

Rage exploded in my chest. People were the fucking worst. Animals treated each other better than humans did. They were only evil out of survival. We did it for fun. For money. Sold our own flesh and blood to get some green paper in our pocket. What was the fucking point?

I snipped the next finger. He needed to be punished for his part in it. For not telling them to fuck off when they offered up their sister.

“So you’re the boss?” I asked over his screams.

“What? No. I’m at the bottom. I just-just earned a reward. She was my reward.” He screamed as I twisted the knife, cutting through the tendons until his hand went limp. But he seemed to sense the rage pumping through my veins and continued spilling his guts, hoping it would save him. “I bring the guys in and what they do from there is up to them.”

“Who’s in charge?” I ran the dull shears over another finger, giving him incentive to answer.

“I don’t fucking know.” His chest rose with his frantic breathing. His body going into fight-or-flight mode. Though neither was an option for him. “I’ve never met him. All I have is a code name.”

I believed him. He was a piece of shit. Spineless. Untrustworthy. He’d squeal to save his life.

He breathed in relief as I moved back to the table. The shears clattered against other tools as I tossed them down and picked up another knife. It was long and serrated. I ran my thumb over the tip, checking the sharpness. “I guess that means no one will miss you when you’re gone.”

“The McCabes are above me now.” He screamed as I stepped closer. “Aaron expanded into Sayton City.”

I almost felt bad for the asshole. They probably had no idea who owned that town. I knew a little of Maddox Vancini because he’d visited Eros. He was a sick bastard. Sicker than me and that was saying something.

“Please, man. D-don’t do this.”

All men, no matter how strong, no matter how powerful, begged in the end. Cried. Screamed. Prayed to a god they didn’t believe in.

They’d have better luck asking the devil for mercy. They wouldn’t find it in me.

“And Craig?” I sliced into his cheek, watching as the blood bloomed on his skin. It was interesting how it cut so much easier after the water had burned the top layer. I’d have to remember that.

“He’s still in town. I—I don’t know where.” My teeth clacked together. My hand gripped the knife tighter. I hated that he was here; close to my belladonna. And that I hadn’t known about it.

“And your boss’s code name?”

“Fuck man. I can’t. I can’t give you that.”

I moved quick, shoving his head to his shoulder. It only took another second to saw through his ear. It flopped on the floor like his fingers. A burst of blood coated my face as it went.

His scream sunk under my skin. But instead of extinguishing the rage inside me, it only seemed to make it burn brighter. “I think you will tell me.”

I jammed the handle of the knife into the hole where his ear had been to encourage him.

“Hyena!” He screamed. “I’ve never met him. All I have is the name Hyena.”

I twisted the blade, cutting into his flesh. “Give me more.”

“Hyena lures the girls. He takes specific ones. B-but the McCabes wanted to try something different. The Hyena let them branch out and start kidnapping forcibly. Violet was their first. If their experiment fails or draws negative attention, they’ll kill them.”

“Not if I get to them first.” I withdrew the knife, but smacked the wound just for fun. “Good job, Simon.”

His body sagged in relief. His gaze flooded with hope. “Can I go?”

“Sure.” I jerked his face up, smiling down at him. “You can go to the afterlife.”

He didn’t have time to respond; my knife was already buried in his exposed neck. He gurgled, choking on his blood. I kept his head tilted; let it all drain back down his throat. Let the metallic tang fill his lungs. His body twitched as it tried to save itself. But it was too late.

I stayed like that until his eyes went milky. Until his pathetic life was gone. Until Violet would never have to fear him again.

17

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