Page 50 of Knot Broken

“Still inside. No visual. Stay sharp.”

We sweep deeper into the compound. Fox and I fan out around Kingston, every hallway a threat. My blade is already red, still warm from the last man who tried to slow me down.

Then—I hear it.

A muffled sound. A shout.

My heart claws its way into my throat.

Fox’s head jerks toward the sound. I raise my fist—signal to halt. We edge toward the intersection of three halls. There, in the middle, stands Marcus.

And he has Violet.

His arm is locked around her waist, a knife pressed tight against her throat. Her legs dangle, tiny compared to his hulking frame, blood smeared across her skin, her curls wild, mouth stained crimson.

My vision goes white-hot.

But then she grins. A slow, feral, wicked thing that slices right through my panic. She winks—winks—at me, bloodied andbruised like some vengeful goddess. “Don’t make a short joke,” she drawls with venomous sweetness. “Or I’m kicking you in the shin the second I get down.”

The laugh that rips out of me is half-mad, half relief. She’s not scared. She’s pissed. And she’s waiting for us to finish the job. I adjust my grip on the blade in my hand. Every breath, every heartbeat narrows to this moment.

Marcus has no idea he’s already dead.

Dare

June 10th

2:35 P.M

“Don’t worry,” she drawls, voice calm and almost amused despite the blade pressed to her neck, “None of the blood’s mine.”

Marcus yanks her upward slightly, clearly panicking, but he only manages to make himself look absurd as he tries unsuccessfully to hide his tall, bulky frame behind her petite body. Violet’s legs dangle a good foot off the ground, toes barely brushing the floor.

She narrows her eyes at us playfully, despite the knife. “If anyone makes a short joke, I’m kicking you right in the shins when this is done.”

Fox snorts quietly, shoulders shaking slightly in amused disbelief, while Jex’s eyes glitter dangerously, tension rippling through him as he assesses the situation. Kingston’s expression darkens with lethal fury.

Marcus shouts frantically, desperation cracking his voice. “Stay back! I’ll kill her, I swear!”

I step forward, the sight of Marcus clutching Violet against him sending a surge of cold fury pulsing through my veins. My voice cuts through the tension, each word measured, icy with lethal promise. “If you harm her, Marcus, your death won’t be quick or merciful. Put the knife down now, and maybe we’ll let you live.”

Violet huffs loudly, visibly annoyed, despite the blade pressed tightly to her throat. Her brilliant blue eyes roll dramatically, unimpressed as always. “Oh, please. This jackass could barely pick me up. If he’d just put me down, I’d handle him myself.”

Marcus snarls, panic sharpening his grip, pressing the blade tighter against her skin. A thin trickle of blood appears, but Violet remains perfectly still, fearless. Her gaze locks onto mine, and I catch the briefest flicker of her eyebrow—a signal.

Without waiting another heartbeat, Violet moves with startling speed. She jerks her head back sharply, knocking Marcus’s nose with the back of her skull. His head snaps back, blood spurting as he cries out, loosening his grip just enough for Violet to drive her elbow ruthlessly into his stomach. He wheezes, doubling slightly forward, struggling to breathe.

In that same instant, Fox lunges forward, movements fast and brutal. He seizes Marcus’s wrist, twisting violently until the knife clatters uselessly to the ground. Jex is right behindhim, pulling Violet swiftly from Marcus’s weakened grasp, immediately folding her safely into his protective hold.

Rage consumes me, and I waste no time closing the distance. My fist slams directly into Marcus’s face, the satisfying crunch of his jaw shattering beneath my knuckles echoing through the corridor. He collapses instantly, hitting the floor with a pathetic groan, blood streaming from his broken face.

Chest heaving, I glance back at Violet. Her face is flushed, blood smeared across her cheek, purple curls wild—but she’s alive, eyes bright with adrenaline and triumph. She flashes me a wickedly satisfied grin, lifting her thumb in an ironic salute.

Violet

June 10th

10 minutes earlier

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