Page 37 of Madness

“That wasn’t what I was going to say.” Her wintery eyes looked up at me. My hand moved before I could stop it. Brushing a lock of her white blonde hair out of her face so I could read her expression.

“What did you want to tell me?”

“R-Rodney.” She cleared her throat like she was fighting down the memories of earlier. The fear of her boss almost raping her. The flames roared inside me again. I would rip him apart. Cut him into little pieces until there was nothing left. Until even his own mother wouldn’t recognize him. “He said there were cameras in the private room.”

He’d been watching the little dove. He’d seen her laid out on the table for me. Seen her bare pussy as I finger fucked her. ThatFigliodiputtana.He’d already earned his death, but now he’d earned torture. I’d let him live for a few days, thinking there was hope. Then I would incinerate that hope.

“I’ll destroy the videos.” I tried to calm her worries. “No one gets to see the things I do to you.”

I leaned forward and whispered in her ear. My fingers trailed down her back. “The pain you crave only from me.”

I relished the shiver that ran down her spine. If someone else’s bruises weren’t on her skin, I’d give her my own. But I’d let her heal before I hurt her again.

“Thank you, but that wasn’t the only thing that worries me. If you were doing business in there, he knows about it.”

For the second time tonight, she shocked me. Kincaid was worried about my business. Was she trying to protect me? Did she care about me?

An unfamiliar feeling tightened my chest. Why would she care? I’d only ever hurt her? Although she wouldn’t admit it, she loved the pain. Still, that wasn’t enough to evoke feelings.

“I’ll take care of it.” I said because I didn’t know what else to say. “Sleep now.”

I continued to trace my fingers up and down her back. Appreciating the delicate, breakable bumps of her spine. Savoring the feeling of her smooth skin. Slowly her breathing started to regulate, coming in a steady rhythm.

I lingered a little longer. Watching her. Trying to understand her. Understand the shifting ground beneath me.

Reluctantly I stood. I took a deep breath flaming the fire inside me. I stalked to the door with purpose. With a need to burn the world down.

21

Maddox

The warehouse door rumbled closed behind me. A loud screeching sound in the stillness. The large area was lit by a single halogen work light, the kind construction workers used. It was aimed directly at the man bound to a chair. Blinding him as it cast shadows around the concrete walls.

His face was already unrecognizable from my earlier punishment. Dried blood caked onto his shirt and neck where it had poured down. His hands were tied to the chair, but we hadn’t bothered tying his legs. He was in no state to escape. His eyes were closed, and his breath was a wet, rattling sound.

“Wake him.” I said to Tristan, who stood somewhere behind him in the darkness. The orange ember of his cigarette lighting his face.

His steps echoed around the vacant space as he walked forward. He took the stick from his lips; a sick smile crossing his face was made more insane by the harsh lights. He placed the hot tip to the back of our captive’s hand. The smell of burning flesh assaulted my nose as he let out a blood-curdling scream.

It was music to my ears. A balm to my soul. I would enjoy every ounce of pain that I took from his body. But information first.

“Rodney, nice of you to join us.” I spoke conversationally as I dragged another chair over to sit before him. The metal scrapping on the cold concrete floors. “I assume you know who I am.”

“M-M.” He coughed, and blood trickled from his lips. “Maddox Vancini.”

“Correct. Do you know why you’re here?”

“It’s that whore’s fault.” Anger leaking into his voice. “She wanted it. She came on to me. Said you weren’t man enough for her.”

Rage licked up my veins. I moved quickly, the knife in my hand without him even seeing it. I sliced off his ear before he knew it was coming. Blood sprayed my white shirt as he screamed again. His eyes closed, and he slumped forward. I slapped his face.

“No passing out on me. We’re not doing talking.” I circled behind him, placing my hands gently on his shoulders. Opposite to the pain I had already caused him. He flinched, expecting the worst. I chuckled at his fear. “I might have been willing to forget that you touched my toy.”

It was a lie. I would kill anyone that touched her. Caused her pain. Even looked at her wrong.

“But then you made the fatal mistake of recording our private business meetings.” I tapped his face again with a little more strength this time. “Who have you been selling the information to?”

He stayed silent as if it would save him. His death was inevitable.

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