Page 110 of Psyop Kings

What have you done, little girl? The messes you create keep piling up around me.

As she whimpers in her sleep, I uncap the hypodermic needle with my teeth. Then I press the sharp point into the flesh on her upper arm before suppressing the contents into her arm. The tension bleeds from her, turning her entire form boneless as the Midazolam does its job.

Once I set the used needle aside, I brush her blond hair away from her tearstained face to inspect her now-relaxed features. For someone in a constant state of chaos, she always looks pretty. Even when crying or throwing candles at my head. Beneath the mascara stains, the smear of dried snot, and the bruising on her cheek, I see a beautiful, fiery spirit.

In a normal situation, I’d pursue a woman like her. I’d enjoy taking her to bed over and over until I had my fill. She’s smart and fierce—an arousing match for someone like me.

But this isn’t a normal situation.

Theo set her future in motion when he kidnapped a Langston and I had to do damage control as usual.

Tonight, when I had my fingers inside her, I’d almost forgotten this isn’t real between us. I was so close to saying, “The hell with it,” and fucking the sass right out of her.

Gareth beat me to it.

The anger I feel toward that man finally reared its ugly head when I saw him raping my sweet little captive. Control, which I keep a tight leash on, was lost to the wind. I snapped and actedon instinct. It was reminiscent of those early years in the boys’ home when I had to fight for my life and dignity. There was no careful consideration of consequences, only rage and revenge.

It’s a huge mess to deal with, but one I’m not sorry for.

Everyone will mourn the loss of Gareth Crowne. Everyone but me. To me, it’s sweet justice.

Romy’s eyelids flutter and I wonder if she’s reliving what he did to her. She’ll only have to endure it tonight. By this time next week, it’ll become a distant memory, and she’ll be unable to discern whether or not it was even real.

I was too soft on her before.

She was too strong.

But now? Now she’s primed and ready for a true CUP transformation. The pain Gareth caused her will be what allows her to finally accept the reprogramming required to make her the best version of herself.

I watch her sleep for another hour or so, noting each tiny freckle on her pert nose and how her left eyebrow has a natural, antagonistic arch. Her plump lips are a temptation and a distraction.

You don’t have time to kiss your sleeping beauty.

There’s work to do.

I need to report that my brother is missing.

I wonder what could have happened to him.

What if he drank too much and slipped off the edge of the yacht?

Turning off my emotions is easy the older I get. This thing I do is a job—another step in an excruciatingly long plan. Keeping my heart in check is how I’ve survived this long. It’s how I’ll make it to the end, the sole winner of this fucked-up game.

I have one agenda and she’s been my primary objective since I was fifteen.

I’ll never stop looking for you, Calista.

I’ll never fucking stop.

To be continued…

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