Page 28 of Intense
“This,” I snarl, hauling him back to his feet, “is for my brother.” I slam my fist into his nose.
His screams are music to my ears. His blood spatters across the floor in bursts of red. Still not enough.
I grab him by the throat and drag him to the edge of the chocolate pool.
“Tell me the truth,” I whisper in his ear, breath heaving. “Was it worth it? Giving your life for a cause that is worth nothing?” I seethe.
He wheezes, blood bubbling at his lips.
“I—I don’t know what you’re talking ab?—”
I plunge his head into the chocolate. He thrashes violently, arms slapping the edge of the pool, fingers scrambling for purchase. I. Don’t. Let. Go.
His air is gone. His screams are muffled. His fear… now that is delicious. I don’t have a sweet tooth really, but I do have a deadly one.
I count the seconds. One. Two. Three. Four.
On five, I pull him up. Chocolate clings to his face in thick drips. He gasps. Chokes.
I stare into his eyes, waiting for something. Pain. Panic. Remorse for nearly killing Conan.
But there’s nothing. Just empty pleading. It disgusts me.
I shove him under again. Harder. Longer. This time, I don’t pull him back.
The bubbles rise, slow and erratic. Then stop. The room is quiet again.
I toss him out onto the floor, and he just lies there still. My fists ache. My chest heaves.
And still—I feel nothing.
No redemption. No clarity. Just silence.
I sink to my knees, hands stained in crimson and cocoa, chest hollow.
And then I laugh. Just once. A low, broken sound that echoes across the white walls.
“I wish that lasted longer.” I sigh, dragging myself up to my feet.
I’m still the only monster in the room.
Reggie cracks open the door like he’s afraid of what he’ll find.
“You good?” he asks.
I nod once.
He steps in further, holding out a phone wrapped in a cloth. “I took this before you had your fun. Figured it’d be fucked in that chocolate if I left it.”
A chuckle escapes my throat. I wipe the mess from my hands onto my pants and take the phone from him.
“You unlocked it?” I ask, rotating it in my palm.
He shakes his head. “Nah. Can’t take credit. Drago hacked it. Said it was amateur shit.”
“Of course he did.” I blow out a breath and unlock the screen.
These stupid fucks never learn.
