The gun falls from my hand, clattering to the ground. Joseph smiles at the sound of it, still unable to see clearly, and nods his head once as he stands up taller, retracting the knife.
“Good. Now, you do understand that you’ll have to pay for killing my friends, right?”
My illusion fades, soaking back into my body as Landon finally takes in the bodies on the ground. He turns his head, vomiting onto the concrete.
I’m a fucking idiot. Landon may be annoying, self-centered, and so fucking bratty—but he’s not evil. He can’t even see death without losing it.
I’mthe evil one. I just killed three people and didn’t even flinch.
“I’ll answer to that,” I tell Joseph. “Now, let him go. You already repressed his gift.”
Landon tenses, and it seems that for the first time since he was stuck with that needle, he’s feeling around inside of himself.
His eyes widen even further, welling up with tears as they lift to meet mine. He’s trembling even harder now, his breath leaving him in sawed-out pants.
I know what he’s feeling. I’ve seen it before. The recognition that something has been taken from you; that a vital piece of you is missing.
“I-I’m empty,” Landon breathes out, watching me as he waits for some kind of explanation. “I can’t feel it. Nate, I feelnothing. I’m empty. What’s happened? When will it stop?”
“Never,” Joseph supplies helpfully. “You will never have your precious power again.”
And I shouldn’t be surprised. Not really. I’ve seen countless reactions of someone finding out their power has been repressed.
But the blood-curdling, desperate scream of sorrow that leaves Landon? I can’t fucking breathe. I can’t believe that sound has left him.
Landon’s entire body goes taut, his muscles straining as he screams and screams. It’s agony and fear and betrayal, all wrapped in one.
Joseph soaks in the sound for a moment like a wicked sadist, appearing to enjoy Landon’s pain. And then, his hand clasps over Landon’s mouth, leaving him to pant and sob against the man’s palm.
“Enough,” Joseph commands. “Are you screaming because your power is gone, or because Nathaniel has betrayed you?”
Big green eyes settle on me again, wet and pained, as he glares at me.
“Here,” Joseph continues. “I’ll give you a gift as an apology.”
He pulls a phone from his jacket pocket, fumbling with it for a moment before playing a crackling audio.
“Okay,”Calum starts, his voice so familiar to me.“Landon Presley, twenty-two years old. Definitely comes from daddy’s money—the Presley empire in California. He’s got an older sister and is set to start working for his father any day now. Just sent you a pic.”
Oh, fuck. I shouldn’t have taken this call on my work phone, where it’s monitored. But how was I meant to know? How could I have predicted that for the first time in my life, I’d change my mind?
“That’s him.”My voice is clear, and I can spot the moment Landon recognizes it, his entire body slumping.
“Want me to send out a repressor?”
“I’ll handle it. I need a plane ticket and a hotel close to his house. Send me the details,”I command.
“Are you sure? You’re working now, aren’t you? Someone else can handle this.”
“No.”My voice is stern and confident.“I’ll be the one to take him down. No one else.”
The audio cuts out, leaving the warehouse in a piercing silence as I stare at Landon’s feet, unwilling to look him in the eyes.
“See? Nathaniel has been planning this for forever,” Joseph explains gently. “Don’t let his murder spree move you, Landon. Tell me where your uncle is, and I won’t slit your throat. Do it, and you can leave. Only Nathaniel will be punished.”
He removes his hand from Landon’s mouth, and I watch as he pants and breathes through his tears.
“Just kill me,” Landon whispers. “I won’t talk, so just kill me. Please.”
