And just like that, everything clicks.
She’s not cruel. She’s not damaged. She’s fucking insane.
Her voice drops, low and reverent. “You have no idea how much Diego and I loved each other. How he protected me. He never left me, he was always there.” Her breath quickens. “Even when I got so angry that I made the mistake of having Elizabeth with Reginald.”
Her chin lifts, teeth grinding together, eyes gleaming.
“He even let me play with you in prison, just to keep me happy. He gave me everything.”
Her breath shudders.
“EVERYTHING!”
The scream rips out of her, raw and unhinged, loud enough to set my ears ringing.
I step back and drag a hand down my face. “Well,” I mutter, “this has been… enlightening.”
I pull my phone from my pocket, and glance at the screen. “But I have more important things to take care of now, so I’m afraid this is goodbye, Grace.”
Her expression flickers with shock, like she can’t believe how much she said. Or maybe she just doesn’t believe that I really don’t need — or want — to know more.
“You’re right about one thing,” I add, walking toward the door of the Fun House. “Adoraisperfect. And I’ll make sure she knows that every single day.”
I knock quickly on the door three times, then turn back to her.
“You, on the other hand,” I continue, my gaze cold as a morgue slab, “are a fucking monster. And if there’s one thing I know, it’s monsters.”
I pause. Watch her breathing hitch.
“But you do have one thing in common with Adora,” I go on softly. “Actually, if the files I found are correct, your thing is much worse.”
I step closer, lowering my voice to a whisper. “How’s your rat phobia these days, Grace?”
The door opens at the exact moment the breath catches in her chest.
Perfect timing — couldn’t have planned it better if I tried.
She starts thrashing, screaming for Sombra, hot tears streaking down her face. I shove the gag back into her mouth. My fucking ears have had enough.
Not even two minutes later, the rope holding her in place is cut, and she’s sealed behind a metal door with half a dozen rats. The fattest, ugliest motherfuckers Fang could get his hands on.
“Snakes are ready too,” Fang says, a satisfied glint in his voice.
“Give her half an hour,” I murmur, eyes fixed on the small trap door Fang used to dump the rats inside. “If she’s not already impaled by then and still screaming, we’ll throw in the snakes.”
Bones shows up a moment later, looking like hell, a six-pack hanging from his fingers.
“Viv and Myth checked in,” he says, dropping into a chair with a tired sigh and offering me a bottle. “They sniffed out a trail, but nothing solid yet on the Bowie front. Domino called too. Everything’s quiet at the bookstore. And Hellbat’s in position.”
“Good.” I take the beer, and crack it open. My chin jerks toward the box. “I’ll stay another hour. See this through.”
Thank fuck the screams are muffled. I’d lose my mind otherwise.
“Your circus, your monkey,” Bones grunts, taking a pull from his beer.
Adora
By the time Ghost steps intoNext Chapterat closing, my mind is clear. He stops just inside the door and looks at me, a silent question in his eyes. I answer it with a nod and grab my bag and keys from the counter.
