Page 18 of Victorious: Part I

Her nostrils flare like she’s affected by my words, and then she drops eye contact as I continue, “Livvy is my best friend, and I love her witheverythingI have. So, in answer to yourpatheticattempt at a question. No, there iszeropart of me that wants a world without Olivia Landry in it.” I glance down at Livvy, her face so pale it’s worrying. Her eyes are closed, but I don’t miss the tears slowly rolling down her face. Every part of me wants to reach out and hold her. But I don’t want to give away that I’m loose just yet.

Suddenly, Javier raises his brow and begins to slowly clap, completely mocking me like the jerk he is. Slumping my shoulders, I turn to face him as he approaches. “It’s sad really, seeing a bird fall so far from The Nest. You had so much potential, Blue Jay.” He shrugs and spins away from me, moving back toward Nighthawk. “Lucky, I have your protégé to take your place where you have failed. And even though you were my muse in my big idea, Nighthawk was the one who carried out the task.”

“Are you ever going to actually tell me what the fuck it is you’ve done? Or is this all a stalling technique until you actually come up with arealidea?” I blurt out, growing tired of his stupid games.

He huffs, seemingly annoyed with my outburst. “So impatient. All right, not one for theatrics, huh? I’ll get right to the point. When I saw you were now engaged to Alpha, my mind started ticking. Why send a video to him when we can hand deliver a message from the both of you.”

Furrowing my brows, I shake my head. “I’m not following.”

“The club knew you were going out to buy all that food for them, the chicken, a celebration feast if you will. So, my bright idea? Send a bucket of chicken, so then they know we have you and a part of Livvy along, too, so they know we have her as well.”

My eyes widen, my mind flashing back to just before I blacked out.

There was so much screaming as I lay on the cold concrete. My breathing was labored, my vision fading in and out. The last thing I saw was Livvy’s finger falling to the floor, right beside my head, before everything went black.

My head snaps up, staring at Javier, and this time, seeing him for the monster he truly is.“Yousent Livvy’s severed finger to the clubhouse in abucket of fucking chicken?”I growl, my voice coming out harsher than I even realized it could.

Javier tilts his head, seeming impressed. “Oh, there she is. Here’s that fire I’ve heard so much about. You want to know the real kicker, Haven?”

Tensing, it takes every ounce of fucking inner strength I have not to launch at this motherfucker right here, right now, but I wait. Bide my time.

“Tell me,” I answer.

His designer shoes begin to pace, making their way back toward me. “Because I saw your engagement ring, it sparked thisgloriousidea. I had my guys go to Livvy’s house, tear it upside down until they found the engagement ring Alpha had given her all those years ago, and then when they found it, they put it on her severed finger in the chicken box. Just so Alpha would know the finger was hers and not yours.” He steps right in front of me, drops his chin, and waggles his brows. “I know! Fucking genius, right?” He chuckles after he’s finished.

I feel sick.

Physically sick.

Not for me and not even for Livvy right now, but for Alpha and how opening that box will send him into a tailspin.

I hate to admit it, but Javier’s right.

Alpha’s world will collapse around him.

And once he realizes what’s going on, it will be all out anarchy.

Chapter Five

HAVEN

My emotions bubble to the surface, anger raging like a typhoon as I meet him, chest to chest. My arms are still behind my back as he widens his eyes in curiosity, but I coat my mouth with saliva, draw back, and spit. Blood-tinged spittle lands squarely on his face like a tiny beacon of defiance. “You’re a fucking dead man walking,” I rasp, my voice raw, my breathing rapid as I fight to hold myself back.

Slowly, deliberately, he wipes it away. His eyes lock onto mine, a smirk creeping across his lips. Then, without warning, his hand snaps out so fast I don’t have time to brace. The backhand slams into me, sending me sprawling onto my side. I land on my injured shoulder, pain flaring intensely, but it’s a blessing in disguise because it keeps my hands behind my back, maintaining my cover.

“Such spirit,” he muses, straightening out his shirt. “I see why Alpha likes you. Though, I wonder if he’ll still want you if I send you back in pieces? Perhaps we should start with your fingers too? Make it a matching set? I mean, Livvy already has the sympathy vote, so we reallyshouldgive him a reason to pick you over her, too,right?”

On the table, Livvy lets out another weak moan, drawing Javier’s attention. “Ah, but where are my manners? I’ve been neglecting our other guest.” He strolls toward Livvy, running a finger along her jawline. “She’s held up remarkably well, hasn’t she? Most would have broken by now.”

“You keep your fucking hands off her, you psychotic piece of shit!” I growl, struggling to sit up.

“Tell me, Blue Jay…” Javier continues, “How does it feel to know your club will be destroyed by the very organization you betrayed? To watcheverythingyou love burn because ofyourchoices?”

He doesn’t wait for an answer, turning instead to Nighthawk. “Prepare the next phase. I want to record a message for Alpha. Something that willtrulybreak him. It’s time to make Alpha choose whichlove of his lifehe wants to save.”

Nighthawk nods, moving to retrieve equipment from a nearby table. As she passes me, her boot scuffs the concrete in a pattern I recognize instantly—three quick taps, pause, two taps.

It’s a signal we use during missions, a warning between birds. I give no indication I’ve understood, keeping my expression fixed as I glare at Javier.

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