Page 4 of Ink Deep Devotion

“Your cousins didn’t talk as much at first.” He digs his knees into my spine.“But then I made them.” He snickers.“I can always make them talk. Some even sing for me.”

“I’m no tenor.” I joke.

The crushing weight vanishes as I’m yanked to my feet. Overhead, the deafening roar of rotor blades tears through the air, making the trees tremble. A helicopter hovers above, slowly descending, and thick ropes are thrown down.My captor grips me lightly, almost taunting me to try to make a run for it, as his partner secures a harness to the rope.

“Fight me, and I’ll drop you without hesitation,” he growls in my ear.

Suddenly, I’m jerked upward. My feet leave the ground, the world tilting as we ascend. I’m helpless, hands bound, dangling in the air with nothing beneath me. My heart pounds in my chest—yeah, I’m scared, defenseless as we’re pulled higher toward the chopper. I’m at the mercy of this stranger holding me, hoping he doesn’t drop me to my death.

A pair of rough hands seize me as we’re dragged inside. Dante and Cillian are hauled up next and shoved into the back corner. The space is massive, cold, and metallic—no doubt, this is a military-grade helicopter. The sound of the rotors fills the cabin, vibrating through every bone in my body as we huddle together, trapped.

Cillian’s body lands with a hard thud, unmoving.

“He’s still alive for now.” The man laughs, then signals to the pilot.

The helicopter lurches forward. I land on Cillian’s side, struggling to right myself since my hands are tied. I scan Cillian,looking for injuries, but besides some bruises and perhaps a newly broken nose, he seems as okay as one can be in our situation.

Five men stand in front of us, each clad in black tactical gear—military-grade uniforms, helmets, and rifles slung across their chests. Their faces are smeared with the darkest black camouflage I’ve ever seen, blending into the shadows as if they were born from them.

“Welcome to Initiation 101,” the leader crosses his arms.“where youwilldie as boys, and if you’re lucky enough, you’ll emerge as men.”

I part my lips, a snide remark on the tip of my tongue. My eyes collide with Dante, and that’s when we both lose the ability to speak.

Initiation 101.

Of course, we know about it. To be honest, I thought it was just a made-up story, like some boogeyman used as a scare tactic.

Cillian had a right to be worried. No wonder his brother died. As a matter of fact, all the stories I’ve heard about Initiation 101 end in a cruel death.I’m not talking about a bullet to the head; it’s torture, exposed bones, rotting flesh, and pain so intense you can’t scream because you bit off your tongue to try and smother your cries.

My dad had a guard who survived Initiation 101; the guy was…off. I can’t describe it; he was silent, and his eyes were so dead they needed their own definition to describe them.

Initiation 101 is a boot camp that kills most, but if you survive, rumor has it, it churns out, not just killers; that’s toosimple of a term. Machines, emotionless monsters who kill for pleasure.

I was wrong.

It wasn’t just me who died tonight, but Dante and Cillian as well. None of us will ever be the same again.

I close my eyes, leaning my head against the cold metal walls of the helicopter. The surrounding rumbling dulls out what the man says next as it beats against my head.

Mila, thank you for showing me what heaven tasted like.

I never deserved it.

I was just a demon who was given a moment of freedom.

Now it’s all gone. I’m being dragged down to a place I deserve to be in. A place even a fallen angel like you couldn’t survive.

Chapter 2

Dash

One year later.

18 years old.

I inhale fast and deep, hoping the sound is louder than the high-pitched buzzing in my ears. Nope, the buzzing wins; I seal my eyes shut, feeling hot tears slip out from my lashes. The sound grows louder, drowning out every other sensation.

But then it hits me. Yuck! The acrid taste of fire and ash invades my mouth, searing my throat. I roll my tongue, but my mouth is bone dry, making the flavors press into my taste buds the way water seeps into a parched river rock.

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