Page 38 of Sins of Autumn

Atlas, leaning casually against the doorway and playing with what was left of Amber’s hair, gave an amused chuckle. “Look at that, a real hero—”

His words were cut off by wood splintering and a piercing scream from upstairs. A moment later, a body crashed over the banister, slamming into the ground with a sickening thud. Liza wasn’t far away, sprawled on the ground since Thorne had rendered her unconscious.

She wasn’t dead yet, but Gabe was. His neck was twisted at an unnatural angle, head facing completely backward. The silence that followed was deafening, broken only by the ragged gasp that tore from Daniella’s throat behind Romeo’s hand. He held her close, mockingly soothing her with gentle shushing sounds while laughing like the brilliant maniac he was, balancing on the balls of his feet.

Ryan was frozen, his eyes wide and locked on the mangled body of his closest friend. His chest heaved as he stared, shock rendering him immobile.

“Aw, don’t look so upset,” Thorne sneered. “That could’ve been you if you’d been as stupid as he was.”

I started to walk away, but a thought stabbed through me like a blade. He had wrapped his arm around her and then kissed her temple. The image was burned in my mind, raw and unforgiving.

It could have been a lingering handshake and my reaction would’ve been the same. I knew the way he looked at her wasn’t wholly platonic. Autumn never saw what I did, because she only ever saw me. I had been ready to come in the moment I watched it happen on the cameras, but Lucian and Hunter helped me see reason.

I turned back, crouching down beside him. His chest was heaving, his face contorted with pain as he tried to push himself off the floor. I grabbed his hand and twisted sharply.

I ignored his pained cries and kept twisting until I saw visible bones breaking, popping, and shifting beneath the skin.

“You know what that was for, don’t you?”

“Y-you’re fucking sick,” he groaned.

I laughed and took hold of his wrist. “I’m not sick,” I replied smoothly, twisting his wrist in the same manner. “I’m devoted. There’s a difference.”

He tried and failed to get away, his entire body trembling. I tossed the broken limb away and rose, watching as he flailed pathetically pushing against the floor with his good arm. I brought my dress shoe down between his shoulder blades. Hard.

His chest hit the hardwood with a nice little thunk, the impact driving the air from his lungs as he flattened under my weight.

“You guys are having all the fun,” Thorne sighed, his voice tinged with a pout.

“You’ll get your turn,” Lucian promised.

I turned my attention to the rest of the room. Jason and Liza were out cold, and Daniella was still in Romeo’s grip, her terror palpable. Her wide eyes darted between us, looking for some escape, some mercy where there was none to be found.

“Kristy,” Lucian called to get her attention, his tone calm but commanding. “Help get these three tied up in the dining room.”

KJ didn’t hesitate. She skipped into the living room, her gloved hands reaching down to grab Jason by the hair. Despite his limp weight, she dragged him effortlessly, humming a tune to herself.

Romeo shook Daniella. “Do I tie her up too?”

“Didn’t she say she wanted to fuck you? Maybe let her live out the fantasy.”

He canted his head, pretending to think it over. “What do you think?” he asked her, his voice mockingly sweet as he leaned in closer.

“Should I play with you? We all saw how you rode that tiny dick last night. It was very…theatrical. On top of the dining table was a bit much, though.”

She glared at him, refusing to let her fear fully show. “Fuck you.”

Romeo laughed. “Oh, I like it when they’re like this. The false bravado really makes a difference.”

“Let’s go get the sisters,” I said, my voice low, almost bored. There was no rush. Not when everything was already in motion and we knew exactly how this was going to play out.

“Help Kristy,” Lucian directed at Atlas as a scream of "No!" rang out upstairs, followed by the unmistakable crash of glass shattering. None of us paused or cared to investigate.

My girl was trapped below me. Scared. Pissed off. Vulnerable.

That’s exactly how I needed her.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

---