Page 112 of Map of Pain
Shaw’s expression grew almost fond.“Be a good boy and I’ll tell you.”
Play the part.Get him talking.
But be ready,the submissive added.The moment you have what you need, fight.
Nick’s mind raced, trying to determine his next move while holding back the terror of Caleb being hurt. Angry tears blurred his vision as hereluctantly lowered himself to his knees. His glare never left Shaw’s face, defiance burning even in submission.
Shaw loomed over him, satisfaction radiating from every line of his body.“Promise me you won’t hurt Caleb,”Nick said.
“If you stay on your best behavior, I’ll make it so no Society operative ever gets within one hundred miles of your brother,”Shaw said, his tone magnanimous.“I’ll even sweeten the deal, Nicholas. I won’t share you this time. You want your mind intact? We can do that. Would you prefer not to remember? We can do that too.”
The casual offer to destroy his mind again made Nick’s stomach churn, but he forced himself to stay focused.Keep him talking. Get what you need.
“Why me?”Nick asked again.
Shaw’s expression grew contemplative, almost philosophical.“I could say a lot of reasons. I’ve never seensomeone fight as hard as you do to live a life so terrible. You are good at training new hunters. That soft mind of yours can soeasilybe shaped...”His voice dropped to something obscene.“But if we’re being honest? You fascinate me. I’ve never encountered someone with blood so sweet or a mouth so soft...”
Shaw’s thumb pressed against Nick’s lips, pushing into his mouth with possessive familiarity. The violation was casual, expected, just like it had always been.
A sharp whistle cut through the air—clear C with rising intonation.Luka.
Shaw’s head turned toward the sound, distracted for just a moment.
Nick bit down with everything he had.
Shaw screamed as Nick’s teeth sank through skin and muscle, grinding against bone. Shaw tried to jerk his hand back, but Nick grabbed his wrist, holding tight as Shaw yanked backward. Skin and nail and muscle tore away, leaving the thumb mangled and degloved.
Nick spat the flesh onto the floor and didn’t wait. His hand shot out, grabbing the bread knife as Shaw staggered backward clutching his thumb. Nick dove low, swinging his legs around Shaw’s ankle to hold it in place, and drove the serrated edge toward the vampire’s Achilles tendon.
The knife bit through fabric, then skin, then deeper. Nick sawed through pants and socks and flesh with vicious determination until he heard the wet snap of tendons parting.
Shaw’s scream of rage and pain echoed through the empty diner as he collapsed to one knee. His hand shot out, fingers tangling in Nick’s hair, yanking his head back with vicious force. The bread knife went flying, clattering across the tile floor.
“We’redefinitelygoing to keep your memory intact this time,”Shaw snarled, his fangs extendingfullyas he dragged Nick closer.
Shaw’s bite was nothing like Luka’s gentle feeding. Fangs tore through skin with brutal efficiency, designed to hurt rather than pleasure. Nick screamed, clawing at Shaw’s face, his fingernails raking across flesh as Shaw drank.
Black spots danced at the edges of Nick’s vision. Shaw’s grip was iron, holding him in place as blood flowed between them. Nick’s struggles grew weaker as strength left him with each pull of Shaw’s mouth.
Then, cutting through the eerie silence of the kitchen like salvation itself, came a single, rasped word:“Nick!”
Luka appeared in the doorway like a blood-covered angel, jade eyes blazing with protective fury. He moved with inhuman speed, crossing the kitchen in a blur of motion that ended with Shaw and Nick sprawlingsidewaysacross the floor from the impact.
Shaw’s fangs tore free of Nick’s throat as they hit the ground, sending fresh crimson spattering across the tiles. Nick gasped, pressing his hand to the wounds, feeling warmth pulse between his fingers.
Shaw rolled away from the impact, coming up in a defensive crouch despite his severed Achilles. Nick could see his mangled thumb dripping blood, and the way Shaw’s stance favored his uninjured leg.
Luka moved with fluid precision, putting himself between Nick and Shaw. Nick could see his jade eyes had gonecompletelyblack, fangsfullyextended, every line of his body radiating lethal intent. But he didn’t charge—instead, he circledslowly, forcing Shaw to pivot on his damaged leg.
Smart,Nick realized.He’s making Shaw work harder to track him.
Luka whistled a soft B-flat as he continued circling, the soundbarelyaudible but clear enough for Nick to understand:heads up.
Shaw’s eyes flicked between them, and Nick caught the confusion on his features at their musical communication.
Nick scanned the kitchen. The bread knife was too far away, but there—a heavy meat cleaver lay abandoned on the prep counter.
Shaw lunged at Luka with surprising speed despite his injury, fangs bared and fingers grasping. Luka twisted aside, letting Shaw’s momentum carry him passed, then delivered a vicious elbow to Shaw’s spine that sent him stumbling forward.
