Page 165 of Sweetheart: Part Two

“He’s telling the truth.” Ebony sounded pleased. “In fact, you took all of them across Europe last month. Tickets were booked last minute. It was a very expensive trip—especially the private tours in Pisa. I wonder what they would say if they found out how you paid for that—as an outreach worker in the Gritch.”

“It was inheritance, I was—”

“Now,” Ebony cut him off. “This omega, she would have been particularly valuable because she already had mates. In fact, that’s why you targeted her. Because she posted online about the celebrity pack to whom she had scent matched.”

“I swear I don’t know… Please!” He was begging me now. “Please, I’m not who you think.”

“M-mate, we should be sure—”

But I cut off as Ebony did something that turned my blood to ice. He tugged his hood down and removed his mask.

No.

I took a step toward him, but it was too late. There was a nasty smile on his face as Wrenly Hammond looked right into the face of Ebony Starless.

I watched as his eyes bulged. It was recognition, but not the way I was used to. Instead, his skin went a sickly shade. That was terror in his eyes, no doubt about it.

Not the reaction I had expected. Not the reaction anyone should have to seeing Ebony in person, unless—

“You took my mate,” Ebony growled.

Shock seemed to have paralysed Wrenly Hammond entirely, and his eyes darted to me. It wasn’t desperation like before, instead he was scanning my features as if he were trying to figure out who I was.

“Ourmate,” Ebony added.

“Who did you sell her to?” I asked.

He whimpered. “I, I d-don’t know. We don’t get that kind of information about clients.”

A low growl rose in my chest as he confirmed the truth. “But you were the one who set it up?”

“I leave them at the door. I don’t see names or faces. That can get us k-killed.” Again, his eyes darted between me and Ebony in panic. “Please, I do have information you could use. If it’s the Hounds you want, I could—”

“No need, Wheatgrass. We’re here just for you.”

“But… Ebony, what if he does know—?”

“He won’t know anything special,” Ebony said. “If he did, we can’t trust him not to lie.”

“N-no—I know things that c-can be of use—” He cut off as Ebony replaced the gag. “Don’t worry, Harrison. We don’t need him.”

So.

I got it.

Just a bit.

Love would never know, but there was a thrill to this, to carving out revenge for Vex across flesh and bone. To the sounds of his screaming. Even down to the warmth of his blood that soaked through my gloves.

Every time the alpha looked close to passing out, Ebony would jab him with another needle. His pupils would constrict and he’d scream for me a little longer.

“He’s not so nice to the others, I hear,” Ebony said as I worked, goading me on with delight. “If he can get away with more, he does—but Vex’s value wasn’t worth the risk. Funny, though, that it’s not enough. He still has ladies over here so often.”

Rage boiled up at those words as I looked into this man’s eyes, red edging into my vision.

How many had he hurt?

How many like Vex?

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