Page 58 of Wicked Little Nightmare

His eyes flew open, panic setting in as he realized his predicament. I grinned, all teeth and malice. "Now, now. No need to be scared... yet."

I stood, circling him slowly. My fingers trailed across his shoulders, feeling him tense beneath my touch. "You see," I explained, voice sickeningly sweet, "we're going to have a little chat. And how much fun we have depends entirely on you."

Grabbing the letter opener, I pressed the tip against his palm. Just enough pressure to dimple the skin, not quite breaking it. "Shall we begin?"

I dug the letter opener in just a hair deeper, drawing a thin line of blood. The operative winced, his eyes darting between me and Cam.

Cam leaned against the wall, arms crossed, watching us with that infuriatingly sexy smirk. "Let's talk about Janine Almine," he said. "What's her role in Chimera?"

Steven’s mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water. I giggled, trailing the letter opener up his arm. "Cat got your tongue, Steve? Better start singing before I decide to carve you into a pretty little melody."

"Fuck… nothing! I don’t know what you’re talking about!” He stared at my unmoving face and then started blabbering again. “I—I don't know much," he stammered. "She's high up, that's all I know!"

I tsked, shaking my head. "Now, now. We both know that's not true. Lying makes me very... upset."

Cam pushed off the wall, his steps thudding against the floor as he walked up behind me, laying a hand on my shoulder. "Let's try again. What's Chimera planning?"

His eyes widened, fear rolling off him in waves. Why were all these guys such bitches? Even I wouldn’t be this afraid, but I could smell the terror. I leaned in close, whispering, "Better answer him, darling. He's not as patient as I am." A lie, but he didn’t need to know that.

"They're... they're planning something big," he blurted out. "Something about reclaiming what's theirs. That's all I know, I swear! What the fuck do you even need this information for? It’s useless to a couple of fucking nuts."

I frowned, unsatisfied. My body tensed, eager to inflict more pain, to peel away his lies along with his skin. But Cam's hand on my shoulder held me back.

"Reclaiming what, exactly?" Cam pressed; his voice dangerously low.

The operative shook his head frantically. "I don't know the details. It's all cryptic. Something about lost assets, a project from years ago. Please, that's all I know!"

I locked eyes with Cam, disappointment clear on my face. This wasn't nearly enough information. My grip tightened on the letter opener, imagining all the ways I could make this man scream.

But first…

“What do you know about Lakey Aldrich and Cam Axley?”

“Wha—” his eyes narrowed as he studied our faces, a smile creeping over his face. The air felt like it had gotten sucked out and this fucker seemed to grow in size as familiarity swept over his face. How curious. He didn’t seem to be afraid anymore. Perhaps he knew death was knocking. “I know they’re a pair of bitches, taking on more than they can chew.”

Cam laughed, “Yeah, maybe. But how’s about you humor us and tell us what you know.”

The guy shifted in his seat, eyeing the letter opener in my hand as I tossed it back and forth. “Fine. Cam Axley, 28 years old, born in a laboratory to some cunt that didn’t make the surgery. Placed into foster care, bounced around, committed a crime and went to prison. Fell off the map upon release. Until now.”

“And me?” I pressed. I needed to know. Needed to hear the truth.

“Ahhh, Lakey. The Father’s favorite little girl. You know, he called you the prodigal daughter, right up until you escaped. Stupid fucking nuns. I told them you wouldn’t fit in there. After your escape, he went nuts, but… then he wiped his hands clean of you. Something else came up. Lost interest in finding the two of you. Got what he wanted and the rest… but, man, just look at you. You’re stunning. A true masterpiece. The best we ever made. Well, almost the best. The role has been… reassigned.”

“The fuck you mean, ‘made’?”

“Oh, you’re not as bright as I thought you’d be. Odd considering how fucking high your IQ scored in all the tests.” He laughed, the sound grating on my nerves. “You and Camwere the result of several decade long experiments. You were designed; each gene carefully selected until you were placed into your host. You were supposed to be something great. Something… more. How disappointing to see that this is what you’ve become.”

What. The. Fuck.I stabbed the letter opener through the armrest on the chair, into the flesh between his thumb and index finger, eliciting a shriek of pain from him. “Explain yourself. Now!” Cam was silent, as if he too wanted the answer to this question but was trying to remain calm or composed or whatever the fuck.

He winced. “After you two… left, they destroyed everything... Thought they did, anyway. Word came down the pipes that someone ransacked the place. Suppose that was you two. Surprised you didn’t fucking figure it out yourselves. It was all there.”

I pulled the letter opened out, driving it into his thigh. “What. Do. You. Mean?”

He screamed like a little bitch, trying to grab at his leg as blood seeped out, staining his pants.What a baby. It’s just a fucking letter opener.When you think about it, it really could have been much worse. I could have stabbed his sweaty little dick. Rolling my eyes, I opened my mouth to taunt him, but he heaved a sigh and started talking before I even had the chance to stab him again.

“Man, you’re slow, aren’t you? You are a byproduct of something greater. Greater than either of you could ever picture, ever dream of. I’d have given them my own daughter, if they could have made her into half of what they’d made you into, but they only want ‘pure’ stock. Bloodlines, untainted.” He breathed heavily as I pushed the letter opener in, pulling it out slightly and changing directions. Blood oozed from the wound, dripping ontothe floor. “I am not lost, for I belong. And those who stray, I shall find.” He whispered, staring straight at me.

The words wrapped around me, putting me in a haze for just a moment. Long enough to see his rotten teeth glimmering at me as he smiled. Shaking my head, I dispelled the feeling, grabbing him by the collar of his shirt and driving my fist into his shocked face.

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