Page 133 of Left in the Dark

Lindsey holds up her hand. “No, he’s right. My silence allowed too many people to get hurt.” She blows out a long sigh. “What the hell kind of life did I give you when you had a father who beat you? A brother who held your arms behind your back while his piece of shit friends hit you.”

Shame colors her cheeks. “The words you hurled at me before you left were true, Laney. You’ve always been strong and wise. Even though it hurt, I was proud of you. Watching you from a distance was hard, but I didn’t deserve to be in your life.” She swallows audibly, swiping at her tears. “I hope one day I can earn that honor.”

Delaney nods. “You’ve already earned it, Mom. I forgave you for everything when you came and visited me.”

“Thank you, sweetie.” She stifles a yawn. “I’m getting a little tired and need to rest. But before I go…” Her expression is fierce, reminding me of Delaney when we were sparring in my gym. “Kick their fucking asses before you put the pieces of their bodies in the ground.”

The room erupts into boisterous cheers, except for the four men hanging to our left.

Delaney blows her mom a kiss. “This one’s for you.”

She breaks free of my hold and walks over, punching Richard as hard as she can in the nuts before delivering an uppercut to his face. His head snaps back, blood spraying from his nose.

“My fierce minx,” I whisper, amazed by her.

CHAPTER 84

Zayne

In unison, Delaney and I slit Tim and Aidan’s throats.

Delaney grins at me, handing me the knife she used. She nods at the one in my hand, and I grin. “We doing this together?”

Her eyes move from mine to Daniel’s, nodding. “They’ve confessed their sins. Now, they can go burn in hell for an eternity.”

“The power couple,” Devyn and Keira yell like cheerleaders.

“I second that,” Jaxson says. I hear bottles clinking behind us, but I’m focused on her.

Always on her.

I toss the one she used onto my torture table.

Positioning myself behind her, I give her my knife. My hand covers hers on the handle as I whisper against the shell of her ear, “On three.”

“One,” she says.

“Two.” My hand moves with hers, already knowing she was going to slice his throat before we hit three. My minx can be an impatient little thing.

Richard screams behind his gag, his eyes wide. His body shakes as he watches Daniel fall to the floor, his head turned toward Richard, eyes devoid of life.

“What’s the matter, dickhead? Does it hurt?” Delaney’s voice drips with sarcasm, the dark part of her persona coming out to play.

“Not enough. But we’ll make it hurt.” I wink at her.

Delaney still looks irritated. “These assholes ruin everything. I didn’t relish in autumn like I usually do. Now it’s November tenth, and the leaves are dead and withered on the ground. The trees are bare…” She glares at Richard.

“We’ll make up for it next year. I promise, minx.” I pull her against me, tickling her side. “This year, we’ll celebrate Thanksgiving with the crazies behind us?—”

Their boisterous cheers fill the room.

She looks up at me, a smile curling her lips. “Can we invite Callie and Mark?”

“Of course. And we can have one helluva Christmas celebration.”

“I love those ideas. Not as much as I love you, though.”

“Nothing ever compares to my love for you.” I kiss her, and Jaxson makes gagging noises behind us.

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