“We can make this quick if you’d like, but that’s all up to you.” I say once I’m back in front of him.
“Fuck you.” He spits on the ground in front of my feet, I only look at it, but Brandon takes the bat to Darren’s shoulder blades this time.
“I hear your ex-military, so this will be fun getting you to break. I just have a few simple questions, and your kids will stay safe.”
Now I have his attention. “You won't touch my kids, the Karma’s never hurt innocents.”
“Maybe they don’t, but you don’t know just how much liars piss me off.” I lie through my teeth, knowing damn well I won't hurt his children. It sickens me that a man with children is dealing with the skin trade, so I know once I kill this wet-blanket of a human they will be in a better situation.
“You’re nothing.” Darren snorts.
“Oh?” I ask as I crank the lever to begin the lift of his arms, he doesn’t make a sound, but I see him clench his jaw.
“I figured we can have some fun tonight, make a game out of these questions. We will each get to ask you a different question and when you don’t answer, Karma will pick the punishment.” I turn to my men with a bright smile, “Doesn’t that sound fun?”
“I find myself feeling quite inquisitive, Harpy.” Max chimes.
And to my surprise Dean says, “I feel incredibly curious tonight.” Brandon lets out a low whistle and Teddy only chuckles.
“How does that sound Darren?” I ask.
“Good luck with that. I won't be answering anything.”
“No?” I tilt my head, “Well, then at least we’ll get to have some fun before we kill you. Max gets to go first.”
Max stands from his rocking chair after finishing his glass of whiskey, “Where are the Cambion holding houses?” As expected, there is no answer from Darren, and I watch as Max takes a fillet knife from the side table and glides the blade down Darren’s peck, cleanly removing his right nipple.
This will be more fun than I thought.
I kept the numb packed away, I want to take in everything that happens tonight. This waste of oxygen, piece of shit, tiny dick, motherfucker deserves everything he’s going to get tonight, and I refuse to feel guilty about this one.
Darren yells through his teeth, but it’s not a satisfying sound just yet. I want him begging for mercy, so to up the ante I crank the lever again, stretching his arms back even high, this gets me another pained sound.
I grab Max’s phone and quickly select a song I’d like to work to, and I press play on ‘Ready or Not’ by the Fugees. Brandon perks up at the first note and smiles over to me, “Fuck yeah! I love the 90s!”
I smile back, “Good, because it’s your turn.”
He looks around the tools for a moment but just looks over at Darren, abandoning the idea of another weapon. “Darren, is it the Cambions that are accepting the hits on The Sparrow here?” He asks, in a tone too light that you’d assume he is asking about an upcoming football game.
To everyone’s surprise, Darren answers, “Yes. The boss wants her.” Brandon starts to walk away but turns back on his heels to crank the lever by two notches and Darren is just barely on the very tip of his toes and there is an audible crunch from his bones so loud it echoes over the music.
“What the fuck, Brandon?” Darren barks, “I answered the fucking question.”
Brandon shrugs with a crooked smile, “I heard you tried to attack The Sparrow when she was a girl, you have to pay for those crimes tonight as well.”
A burst of warmth spreads through my chest, and it’s like for the first time in a long time my heart isn’t dead. I feel it beat in my ribcage, hard enough that it rattles against the bones.He wants to defend me; he wants me to get my payback.
“You can pick who is next, Brandon.” I sing-song his name, finally giving in and being flirty back with him.
“I think Dean should get his turn now.”
Dean is still wearing his furious expression and approaches Darren with a pair of hedge clippers, and I perk up at seeing him with an actual tool. I have never seen Dean work, unless it was physical, back when I was stalking them.
“Who is the Cambions’ boss?”
I never find myself scared or even worried about Dean, sure he can be a dick, and he’s knocked me out once, but I don't see him as a threat. But the anger that is weaved into his voice sends a shudder throughout my skin, and every cell on my body seems to pay attention to Dean. At this moment, I see Dean as an equal. I am no longer the biggest threat in this room,weare.
Darren stays silent and stares over Dean’s shoulder and smiles at me. It’s a knowing smile, and it’s the same smile he gave me that night he tried to attack me. When Dean realizes that we won't be getting an answer for that question, he leans over and snips off all five toes from Darren’s left foot. Finally, a real reaction to the pain escapes Darren’s lips. It’s finally my turn to smile and I can’t help how wide it stretches across my face. Dean finally spins to return to his earlier position, but he stops to smirk at me when he sees that I’ve been pleased by his action. I don’t think he was necessarily looking for my approval, but I think he’s happy he was able to impress me.
