Page 63 of Madness & Mayhem

“Whichever way death ends, I am certain you won’t be there to see it,” I growl.

Lunging forward, he anticipates my move. He rushes to Lakyn’s side of the bed, wielding the knife in her direction. She shouts, grabbing the woman and pulling her up, using her as a shield. My father plunges his knife down, right between the breasts of the naked woman.

She chokes, coughs, lets out a cry as pain rolls through her body. Lakyn tosses her to the side, and I can see the rage in her eyes through her mask.

“Bought her a psycho killer mask, just like you, huh, son?” my father growls, stepping toward her.

Lakyn stands quickly, lifting her knife. “Get the fuck out of my face,” she snaps.

My father laughs, and then he bolts, rushing behind Lakyn and grabbing her arms, hauling them behind her back. He brings his knife up to her neck, pressing the bloody blade against her throat.

My entire body freezes, turning to stone as I stare at my father hold a knife to Lakyn’s throat.

I take a step forward, and he takes one back, pressing the knife harder to Lakyn’s throat. “Ah, ah, ah, son, careful where you step. This knife might slip and nick a main artery.”

I grip the handle of my knife harder, feeling the blood cut off from my fingers. “Don’t you fucking dare.”

He smiles behind Lakyn’s back. “Why don’t you walk out of here, Reign. I’m sure you don’t want to see this.”

My eyes flit to Lakyn’s, and I can see the fear through her mask. My father reaches forward, pulling her mask below her chin. Her face is pale, not an ounce of blood left beneath her skin.

“Please help me,” she whispers.

And the thought goes through my mind on how I can possibly allow anyone to put any ounce of fear inside of her.

“Put the knife down, Dad,” I command.

His eyes narrow slightly, the humor wiped from his face. “You couldn’t possibly think I’d allow her to walk out of my house, right? You’re an idiot to think otherwise. This was all a setup, Reign. From the man I sent to your house, to changing my security code to your birthday, to bringing a whore here. Life isn’t that easy, Reign, I just made it seem to be that way.”

He’s an idiot. Of course this is a setup. My father might be an idiot, but he’s one of the smartest men I’ve ever met in my entire life. Never in a million years would anyone be able to walk into his house and stab him in his bed. He’s a clever man, and I’m almost disappointed he would think otherwise.

I stare at Lakyn, telling her with my eyes exactly what I need her to do. We’re the same, and she instantly knows, swallowing and narrowing her eyes slightly.

Prove it to me, baby Lake. Prove to me you can do this.

“Let her go, and I might spare you,” I lie effortlessly, turning my gaze back to his.

His shoulders drop slightly, “You’re disappointing me, Reign. I figured you would put up more of a fight for he—” Lakyn grabs the second blade from the back of her pants, swinging it back into my father’s thigh. The knife drops from Lakyn’s neck, and he stumbles back a step, his hand flying to his thigh. “Fucking bitch,” he growls, lifting his gaze to Lakyn.

I step forward, grabbing onto Lakyn’s arm and pulling her behind me. “No. That was the first and only time you’ll ever put your hands on her.” I tear my mask from my face, since there’s no reason to hide from him. He shouldn’t die at the hands of the masked man, the slasher. No, he should die at the hands of his son, his heir, his fucking weapon.

His own weapon that’s turned on him.

Fear trickles into his gaze, and he stumbles back, blood trailing down his thigh. “Get the fuck out of here, Reign. You’re going to regret it.”

I shake my head, taking another step toward him. “I can assure you, this will be the last thing in the world I regret. I’ll very much enjoy taking your life.”

He lifts his knife, pointing it at me. “I’ll kill you. Don’t think I won’t do it.” He stumbles back another step, tripping over air.

I lunge toward him, my free hand grabbing his neck. He darts the knife forward, and it swipes against my arm. I ignore the stinging pain as I squeeze his neck as hard as I can. He chokes, the knife falling from my arm as they grow limp at his sides.

I throw him onto his back, his spine meeting the creamy carpeted floor. Looming over him, I growl, “Say goodbye to Lakyn. She’ll be walking out of here tonight. You won’t.”

“You’re a coward. Choosing a spineless bitch over your own father,” he spits at me, his eyes going bloodshot in stress. “You’ll regret it.”

I lean over him, my feet on each side of his waist. “The only thing I regret is letting you speak at all.” My hand shoots forward in the blink of an eye, swiping across his neck. I can’t even see the knife, but can only hear the swipe of the blade against his skin. Moments later, blood pools from the slice, trailing down his neck and onto his naked chest.

He chokes, his brow furrowing, almost as if he’s in shock this is happening. His hand raises to his neck, and his fingers dive through the blood, swiping it across his skin. He stares at his blood-covered fingers before his hand falls to the ground.

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