Page 106 of Riot's Thorn
The easy-going giant’s eyes darken as he squares his shoulders. “I’ll give you that one because you’re in a shit position, but one is all you’ll get, so I recommend taking all this energy and figuring out how to get your girl back.”
The fucker’s right. I nod and turn back to Bart. “Where is she?”
“You’re a fucking lunatic. She’s better off without you.” He spits a mouthful of blood onto the floor.
I kick him in the chest, and his arms windmill as he falls backward. Straddling him, I grip him around the throat and squeeze. “Where is she?”
“Why would I tell you? You ruined my life,” he chokes out.
“That’s what I do.” I slam his head into the tile floor. “I ruin lives. Started with my mom and dad, and now, I ruin lives for a living. But I won’t be the reason Parker’s life is ruined, so if I have to, I’ll set up shop here and kill you so slowly and painfully, you’ll pray for death. Now, tell me.”
“Why would I? You’ll kill me either way.”
“You’re right.” I release his throat. “Get him on the table.”
My brothers right the table and lay him down, each holding one of his limbs. The stench of piss fills the room, and I notice a puddle forming under him. Fucking sick. I hate it when they do that.
“What’s the play?” Rigger asks.
I take my knife and have my brothers hold his legs up so I can slice through each of his Achilles tendons. Blood sprays everywhere, and Bart’s screams of pain are otherworldly. Leaning over him, I look him dead in the eyes, hoping he can see just how far I’ll take this. “If I don’t get her back, this pain you’re feeling will be nothing. I’ll take you to the brink of death and bring in our doctor to fix you up just so I can do it all over again.Every single day I’m without her, I’ll take it out on you. Trust when I say, you don’t want that.”
“Fuck!” He writhes, every muscle in his body taught. The Achilles tendon being severed is excruciating, at least from what I hear. “I don’t know, okay? I don’t know.”
His split lower lip wobbles, and it makes me sick. When a man does something wrong, he has to be willing to suffer the consequences and own up to his mistakes. It’s something I think about before I take a life.Would I regret killing this person if I were found out?If the answer is no, bullets fly.
“Why don’t you know?”
“If I tell you, you have to promise to kill me fast.” He’s in the resignation phase and knows he won’t escape this, so now, he just wants it to end.
“Bullet to the head. Promise.”
“Fine. I’ll tell you.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
PARKER
“Have you looked at what’s in these boxes?” I ask.
“No. It seemed pointless because there’s no way out.” Louisa’s voice comes from my right. We’ve managed to clear a small area, sitting in a tight circle, exchanging information.
“You never know what could help. Let’s look.” I get up and feel around until I find the closest stack of boxes. “The challenge will be getting to the top.”
I hear hands patting boxes, and I’m glad they’re on board with my idea. Being taken made me realize I need to control my own destiny. I can’t just wait around to be saved. I’m certain I’d still be pouting on Riot’s couch if I hadn’t felt out the situation. I also wouldn’t have gotten to know the most incredible man I’ve ever met if I hadn’t put myself out there.
“I can’t climb,” I say after trying and realizing I’m too injured. My hand, wrist, ankle, and ribs send shooting pain through me each time I reach or grab. “I was beaten, and I’m pretty messed up.”
“I’ll do it.” Thea’s young voice is easily recognizable. It makes me sick to think about what she must’ve gone through before she ended up here.
“Come over here to me.” When she bumps into my side, I place her in a good position. The boxes here are staggered and will give her better footing. “Anne, can you come help, just in case she falls?”
“Sure.”
Thea huffs her way up until she reaches a box with nothing on top of it. “There are plastic boxes in here. Not sure what’s inside.”
“Open it up,” I say.
“It doesn’t feel like anything recognizable, but there’s a battery in here too, so it’s something electronic.”
