Page 84 of Traitor

"Day two," I murmur. "That's when I found out."

The tension in the room thickens, tightens, coils around us both like the shadow of a nightmare.

"After this," I say, flicking ash onto the concrete floor, "I'll let you down for a few minutes. Call it a bathroom break."

His eyes snap to mine, but he stays silent.

I smirk, tilting my head. "If you try anything, think again. I already have a backup plan to put you under again. And next time?" I step closer, voice dropping. Soft but lethal.

"There won't be any more bathroom breaks."

He nods slowly, voice gravel and steel.

"I'll take my punishment any way you want to give it, Temper."

Bones

The cigarette burns sting like a motherfucker.

I deserve this.

I know I do. But fuck, what I wouldn't give to throw myself into a tub of ice water right now.

Every inch of my body screams. My muscles are torn to hell, my skin a patchwork of welts, burns, and open wounds. Crawling to the small bathroom nearly broke me. Arms useless, legs barely functioning. Two more days.

I can do this. I have to.

I glance at her —Temper.

She stands a few feet away, gripping a long stick, watching it with disconcerting fascination. The kind of curiosity a scientist might have before an experiment.

Fuck.

"This looks harmless compared to a big, brooding guy like you, right?" she muses, shaking the stick lightly. Her lips curl into a vicious smile.

I say nothing.

"Think again, big guy." She twirls it once, the movement fluid, controlled. "This thing is a hazel stick. You don't need to be strong to use it. You just need repetition."

She steps closer, tilting her head, mocking sympathy dripping from her voice.

"With enough repetition," she continues, "welts turn bigger, uglier, deeper. And finally?" Her smile sharpens. "Skin breaks."

She pauses.

"It's especially painful on hands, feet, ribs."

She's going to fucking ruin me.

I expected pain. Humiliation. I prepared myself for whatever she was willing to give me.

This is nothing compared to what she went through.

I flash her a grin that barely holds together.

"Just watch the face, Temper." My voice is rough, but I push through. "You'll be looking at this handsome guy for the rest of your life. Might as well keep something nice to stare at."

Brave words. Weak delivery.

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