Page 84 of F*ckboys

"Sure thing," I say, grabbing the tool from the workbench and passing it to him. As I watch him work, I can see the sweat pouring off him, the grim determination etched in the lines of his face. And yet, despite everything, there's also a sense of pride in his eyes—pride in what we're accomplishing together.

"Almost there," he mutters, tightening the last bolt on the cage. "Just need to get these chains attached and we'll be ready."

"Good," I breathe, my heart pounding in anticipation. The thought of finally exacting justice on Harvey Maxwell sends a shiver down my spine—one that's equal parts fear and excitement.

As we work together to put the final touches on our makeshift torture chamber, I can't help but feel a twisted sense of pride. Soon, Harvey Maxwell will know what it means to be trapped, to be powerless, just like Claudia was.

And in that darkness, he'll find me waiting—cold, unforgiving, and relentless. Just like the vengeance I seek.

"Alright, that should do it," Grave announces as he steps back from the cage. "What do you think?"

I survey our handiwork, taking in the cold metal bars, the heavy chains, and the concrete floor stained with sweat and effort. It's not pretty, but it doesn't need to be. It's kind of the point. This is a place for punishment—a place where monsters will come face to face with the consequences of their actions.

"It's perfect," I whisper, my voice barely audible over the pounding of my heart.

"Good," Grave says, clapping me on the shoulder. He seems a little excited, even, despite his warnings. "Now let's get cleaned up and grab some food. We've earned it."

"Sounds good," I agree, though part of me wants to stay here until the moment we bring Harvey Maxwell. But I know there's still work to be done, and I can't afford to lose focus now. Without Grave's reminder, I almost certainly would have forgotten to eat.

As we make our way upstairs, my phone buzzes in my pocket, startling me. I pull it out, expecting to see Aksel's name on the screen, maybe a text message just checking in. Instead, I find a missed call from him—one that came in hours ago, while I was lost in the depths of my vengeance.

"Shit," I mutter under my breath, guilt twisting in my gut like a knife. He needed me, and I wasn't there. Reception must be finicky down here.

"Everything okay?" Grave asks, his brow furrowed in concern.

"Yeah," I lie, forcing a smile onto my face. "Just a missed call. Nothing important."

But deep down, I know it's anything but unimportant. It's a tangible example of how my priorities have shifted, and I don't know that there's ever any going back. As I stand there, surrounded by the darkness of my own making, I can't help but wonder if I'm losing myself in this quest for revenge—and if the price of justice will be too high for any of us to bear.

Chapter 47

Fallon

The excitement surges through my veins as I envision Harvey, broken and tormented in the basement. A smirk dances on my lips, and I reach for the phone to call Aksel. I'd never tell him about the man I'm holding captive in my basement, but I sure can use this energy for our mutual enjoyment.

"Hey, it's Fallon," I say as soon as he picks up. "I'm sorry I missed your call. Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, I was just checking in and had something to ask you."

I can't wait for my turn to speak, feeling more than a little hyped up after taking another look at my gorgeous new torture basement. "I have a proposition for you," I blurt.

"Is that so?" Aksel's voice is low and seductive, igniting a fire within me. "I like the sound of that."

"Come over tonight. We're going to make some magic happen."

"Sounds like fun. I'll be there."

The anticipation builds throughout the day, and by the time Aksel arrives at my doorstep, I'm practically vibrating with energy. As soon as he steps inside, our mouths crash together in a fierce, passionate kiss. The hunger between us is palpable, a dark craving demanding to be sated.

"Are you ready for this?" Aksel whispers against my lips, his hands gripping my hips tightly.

"More than ready." My voice is breathless, and I can't suppress the wicked gleam in my eyes. If I was in another world, I'd bring Aksel down into the basement and we'd fuck in the middle of Harvey's future torture dungeon, just because we can. But I don't think that would go down well with him. Maybe I'm underestimating the guy, with his family company's well-known mob affiliations, but it's too soon to take any chances.

So I do the next best thing. I take sick pleasure in knowing what lies in the basement, and the fact Aksel is oblivious. It's a delectable, dark power imbalance.

Regardless of who knows what about my basement, we need to satisfy our own desires. Our clothes are quickly discarded, a trail leading to my bedroom. Aksel pushes me down onto the bed, his powerful body hovering above mine. His eyes pierce into me, dark and full of lust.

"Tell me what you want," he growls, his fingers trailing along my inner thighs.

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