Page 19 of Chasing Secrets
“They didn’t share details. Just paid for results.”
The demon’s fingers traced an invisible pattern in the air, and suddenly Vaughn felt as if his blood was boiling in his veins.
Gritting his teeth against the fresh wave of agony, he focused on breathing. In, out. In, out. The pack would be looking for him by now.
Zeppelin wouldn’t just let Vaughn disappear.
“They were quite clear,” Vex’s said. “They want you to experience pain unlike anything you’ve felt before. They want you broken.”
The demon’s mouth thinned to a hard line, but his eyes glinted with a cruel sense of pleasure, as if each flinch from Vaughn fed something hungry inside him.
“They seemed particularly motivated.” Vex slowly spun the blade. “Personal, they said.”
“Personal, huh?” Vaughn’s mind raced through possibilities. For the life of him, he couldn’t figure out who he’d recently pissed off. If it was an enemy from the past, why wait so long to exact their revenge? Maybe an ex-lover? Someone whose parking spot he’d taken?
“Payment and clear instructions. That’s it.” Steel glided softly along Vaughn’s collarbone like foreplay, a gentle touch that lasted only seconds. Then the blade sank deep, unleashing warm trails that mapped his torso.
“Your screams are truly delicious,” he whispered into Vaughn’s ear.
Pain built like a gathering storm, each wave higher than the last. Vaughn’s jaw clenched until his molars threatened to splinter under the pressure.
Then the agony retreated like a tide, leaving only phantom echoes behind.
“Impressive.” Something flickered in Vex’s eyes. “Your pain threshold is exceptional.”
Vaughn breathed through the agony. No way in hell would he let Vex see him break. He’d learned at an early age to swallow his suffering. That lesson was carved into him by unspeakable things, but that hard-won silence had saved him more times than he could count.
Though never with stakes this high.
Vex’s laugh was soft, almost appreciative. “They warned me you wouldn’t break easily. Good. I enjoy a challenge, wolf.”
The knife returned to the table as Vex selected something else. Vaughn couldn’t see what it was from his angle, but the demon’s anticipation was palpable.
I’m about to be fucked sideways.
“You know…” Vaughn managed a bloody grin. “This would go a lot faster if you just told me who hired you.”
If death was coming, he deserved one final truth: the name of whoever had unleashed this hell upon him.
“They were clear about anonymity,” Vex said, the corner of his mouth lifting. “Though they did say to tell you this was for Amariana.”
The name hit Vaughn like a physical blow, emptying his lungs in one sharp exhale. “Amariana?” His voice cracked on the final syllable.
Vex’s eyes narrowed, a ghost of satisfaction flitting across his impassive features. “Ah. That means something to you.”
Vaughn’s mind reeled. Amariana. It had been nearly ten years since he’d heard that name. Ten years since he’d rescued that human girl from becoming a demon’s plaything, killing the demon in the process. A demon who, he later learned, had powerful connections.
“Someone knows how to hold a grudge,” Vaughn murmured.
“Demons have long memories.” Vex’s voice drifted from behind Vaughn. The chains bit deeper as Vaughn’s muscles contracted, shoulder blades drawing together. “And apparently,” the demon continued, voice sliding close enough to Vaughn’s ear to disturb the fine hairs at his nape, “so do their families.”
Something hard pressed between Vaughn’s shoulder blades. Before he could brace himself, electricity surged through him, muscles seizing as agony consumed everything. His vision whited out, a scream tearing from his throat, showing Vex exactly how to break him.
When awareness returned, Vaughn found himself sagging from the shackles, legs no longer supporting his weight. Vex stood before him, examining what looked like a modified cattle prod.
Vaughn lifted his gaze, canines bared. “You better kill me,” he snarled, blood trailing from the corner of his mouth. “Because if I get free, not even your memory will survive me.”
Something heavy crashed above them, followed by shouting.
