Page 78 of Unhinged

33

TAREN

I circle the pathetic excuse of a man before me.

The mere thought of him putting his hands on my little bird turns me savage. The knife in my jacket pocket is burning a hole through the fabric. All I want is to watch him bleed and delight in his screams.

They say madness breeds madness.

There’s no removing the dark, twisted part of me that Ileana forged. It’s too deeply embedded in who I am, and I’ll embrace it. There’s no point running from yourself.

“He’s waking up.” Alice’s voice pulls me from my thoughts as I notice Michael is starting to stir.

I arch a brow. “Are you ready to be free?”

Alice’s eyes meet mine, glinting with anticipation. “Yes,” she says, her voice steady. “I’ve been waiting for this for two years.”

I nod, my gaze never leaving the man who dared to harm her. He grunts as he wakes up, and then panic sets in. “What the fuck? Where am I?” He’s got a hood over his head, so he’s woken in darkness

“You’re at your reckoning, Michael.”

He stiffens at the sound of my voice. “Who are you? What do you want?”

I smirk at the hint of fear in his voice. I’m going to enjoy this. Especially knowing how much he fucked with my little bird’s head. “To bathe in your blood.”

He trembles. “Please. I don’t know who you are or what you want, but I’ve got money. I can pay?—”

“Your money doesn’t mean anything to me. All I want is your pain and fear to pay for what you did.”

Alice steps forward, her face a mask of steely determination. “You took something from me, Michael,” she says, her voice eerily calm. “You violated my sense of safety, peace, and trust.” She pauses, her gaze never leaving the trembling man before her. “Now, it’s time you learn what it’s like to have something taken from you.”

Michael starts to whimper, recognizing her voice. “Alice? Are you insane?”

She laughs bitterly. “Insane? I’ve never been more sane in my life.”

I’ve never felt more connected to someone in my life. As I stare at her, I know my instincts are right. She’s destined to be my queen.

“Take off the hood, baby. Look the monster in the eye. Show him the fear he instilled in you has morphed into power,” I tell her.

She takes off the hood, revealing his terrified face. “Are you scared?” she asks, looking at him.

His lip trembles.

“You know, I was scared too when you pushed me onto the ground after I’d told you no three times.” She tilts her head. “I was scared when you pushed up my skirt and ripped down my panties and then shoved yourself inside me as I screamed for you to stop.” Her jaw clenches. “And I was so fucking scared, I didn’t even tell one after it happened.” She glances at me. “Until I met my soulmate.”

“You’ve lost the plot, Alice. You’ll end up in prison for this.”

I laugh, then. “Not if no one ever finds the body. And believe me, no one ever will.”

Michael turns the shade of ash as he starts to sob.

Pathetic.

“How shall we start?” I ask, knowing she wants to lead on this. And despite trying to persuade her it was a bad idea to be present, I can’t deny Alice this chance. It would be like someone denying my revenge on Ileana, and whoever said revenge doesn’t make you feel better was lying. I’ve never felt more free.

“I want to watch him suffer.” She looks at me. “Whatever way will hurt the most.”

How she’s grown. The little timid, broken bird I met in that basement has evolved into a fierce and beautiful eagle, and she’s soaring high.

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