Page 69 of Crimson Tears

“She can’t die in here,” he says. I pull him in for a hug, landing a pat on his back a little rough.

“I got her, Old Man. Now hide in the shadows under the stairs until they pass. Once their attention is on us, you should be able to get to the top without an issue. After that, I don’t know what there is for you to expect, but I saw a lot of grass outside. Run and get some help.”

He nods and I hand him the weapons I acquired. When his light flashes on a table, I notice water bottles and granola bars along with a large first aid kit that must have been used to patch up the bite mark on Green’s hand from when Nessa bit him back.

Boris pauses long enough for me to grab everything I possibly can and haul it all into my room, then I go get Nessa. Instead of picking her up, I slide the mattress she is on into my cell. Everything goes dark as Boris disappears, but I know what I need to do.

Quickly, I head back to the door and feel inside for the button. I know I saw it earlier, but when the tunnel leading out of here shines with lights headed our way, my heart rate kicks up even more.

Feck. Shite. Feck.

More light grows from the opening and finally, I see it. Pressing the button, the door slams back into place with a force I was not expecting, embedding itself into the stone more firmly than ever before.

Good.

I make my way to the panel and pull the wires out that should make the thing as useless as a toddler's toy phone. Typically, on these doors, once the safety latch is activated and the bolts are sealed, there’s no way to open it without a backup code. But after disabling the backup, there should be no way to open it.

That might make things tough for when Boris brings in the calvary, but I have faith that once the threat is gone, we will be able to find a solution.

Nessa and Boris’ doors are still open, so when the guards get to us, I can see their lights through the glass separating us. I’ve had time to study it in depth, and I believe it is close to six inches thick, similar to what they use for large underwater exhibits.

They would need to bring very heavy and very specialized equipment down here to break through that. And the steel doors have fail-safes in case they are tampered with. You can’t just cut through it. Either way, it would take time, and that’s all I need.

Green steps into Nessa’s room, his gaze finding mine quickly as I stand between her and the glass, arms crossed.

I have about three inches on the guy even in his thick boots, so I am able to look down at him and really let the crazy loose. A grin spreads across my face as I imagine him bleeding at my feet, but that is nowhere near enough. I will make him bleed the same way he did to her, I will flay the flesh from his body and burn it in front of him. I will make him pay for what he’s done to my love.

I know, at this moment, he can see everything I intend to do to him reflected in my eyes. A glimpse of fear has my lips tilted fully, showing my teeth.

He messed with my girl, he should be more than a little afraid right now.

The speakers no longer work because of the power shortage, but I see him begin to laugh. To him, this is all a game. He gets to sit in the background while the big boss gives him a job and then he gets to walk away, no real skin in the game.

But what he doesn't know is I love to carve skin up just as much as him. I don’t eat it because I’m not aninsanepsychopathic cannibal, but I know how to make it hurt.Okay, maybe I am a little insane but definitely not a psychopathic cannibal.

As I stand there, staring at Green while he barks orders at his team. I am sure to let him see all of the deranged plans floating through my mind in my eyes. All the men around him frantically try to get through to us, but after a few minutes, they realize it’s useless.

They have no idea who they are really up against, but they will find out soon enough. Before long, I will rip the flesh from Green’s body and hang it up for him to stare at as he gasps for breath and screams in pain unlike anyone has ever known.

Mess with my girl, and you will feel the wrath of a demon worse than Hades himself.

???

All the guards left except for one sitting just outside of Nessa’s cell, no doubt keeping an eye on us. I would be bothered, but I know they can’t touch or hear us, and at least they set up a light so we can see. It’s not much, but my eyes begin to adjust.

“Sweetheart,” I encourage, touching her swollen face gently. I have ice packs from the first aid kit on her cheek and her ribs,hoping if some of the bruising can numb she will be able to breathe easier.

“Mm,” she moves, then winces.

“I know, baby. I know. Here,” I say, pressing a bottle of water to her lips, “try to drink. Just a little.”

Her lips try to form around the bottle, but half of it dribbles back out. I can see it’s hard for her to swallow, but she needs it. I keep going, every minute giving her a break, then a little more.

She slowly comes back to me, her eyes fluttering open just slightly. “Killer,” she rasps so low I hardly hear it.

“I’m here now, I’ve got you.”

She hums lightly, as if this were just a dream to her and she still isn’t believing it.

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