Page 8 of Psycho Pack

"He's not a fucking psycho," Thane snarls, but there's worry etched in the lines around his eyes. "He's?—"

Another roar drowns out his words like a devil's bellows echoing up from the bowels of hell. The walls shake harder, and I catch the distinct sound of metal being torn apart.

"He's tearing the building apart from the inside out." I press my palm against the wall, feeling the vibrations intensify. "We need to get to Ivy before the whole damn place caves in on itself."

Thane growls. "If he's in the basement, the structural integrity will be compromised."

"Drop the fancy words and move!" Whiskey barks, charging ahead.

Now we're the ones following him. But there's no time to bitch about it. The secure wing where they were keeping Ivy looms ahead, all reinforced steel and bulletproof glass. My heart slams against my ribs as we sprint toward it.

The door to her cell hangs open.

Empty.

"FUCK!" I slam my fist into the doorframe. "No! Fuckingno!"

I run in anyway, desperate. Grab the thin mattress with her scent all over it, drink it in, memorize her scent as if it isn't already branded on every cell in my body, tear into the filthy stained fabric with a snarl just in case she might somehow be hiding inside, knowing she can't be, knowing?—

"I fucking told you!" Whiskey's fist connects with my jaw, sending me staggering back into the cell. "You never fucking listen!"

Blood fills my mouth. I spit it onto the concrete floor, my vision tunneling to red. "You want to do this now? Here?"

He advances into the tiny cell, filling the doorway with his bulk. "Yeah. Here. Now. I'm gonna kick your fucking ass and then you're gonna listen tomefor a change."

My knuckles crack against his nose. The satisfying crunch of cartilage gives way to hot blood spraying across my hand. He roars, charging forward like an enraged bull.

We crash into the far wall. The impact drives the air from my lungs, but I bring my knee up into his gut. He grunts, doubling over. I slam my elbow into the back of his neck.

"Stop it!" Thane's voice cracks like a whip. "Both of you!"

Whiskey ignores him, wrapping his arms around my waist and driving me to the ground. My head cracks against the concrete. Stars explode behind my eyes.

"You arrogant fuck!" His massive hands wrap around my throat as he straddles me, pinning me to the floor beneath his weight. "Always think you know better than everyone else?—"

I drive my thumbs into his eyes.

He rears back with a howl of pain. I roll, reversing our positions, straddling his chest. My fists rain down on his face.

"I—had—to—try!" Each word punctuated by another blow. "I had to?—"

Thane's hand locks around my throat, yanking me off Whiskey. He slams me into the wall hard enough to rattle my teeth.

"Enough!" he roars in my face. "You're both compromising the mission!"

"What mission?" I snarl, clawing at his grip. "She's not even here!"

"The mission to find her, you idiot!" He gives me a hard shake that makes my head snap back against the wall. "Which we can't do if you two kill each other first!"

Another tremor rocks the building. Dust rains down from new cracks in the ceiling. Somewhere below, Wraith roars again, followed by the sound of concrete being pulverized.

"Let. Me. Go." Each word drips with venom.

"Are you done?" Thane's eyes bore into mine.

My lip curls. "Yes."

He releases me. I slump against the wall, rubbing my throat. Across the cell, Whiskey pushes himself to his feet, blood streaming from his nose.

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