Page 68 of Wicked Lord

“I can fix this without killing him, Radcliffe.”

He arched an eyebrow and smirked. “And how are you going to do that? Scare him?”

“Yes.”

He scoffed. “You’re intimidating, but you’re no Killian Davenport.”

The cruel smile that twisted my lips certainly had Vaughn sinking into his chair. “Trust me when I say I can give Davenport a run for his money.”

My heart cracked against my chest as I waited for Micah in the parking lot near Stonewall U’s library, lightning flashing across the dark sky, revealing the ominous storm clouds rolling in. Thick shadows shrouded the area around his vintage Jag now that a few lights had been busted out.

My throwing arm was always spot on.

After Micah left the house, I stole Susanna’s wallet from his hiding spot beneath the loose floorboard and then ransacked his room, so it appeared as if the thief had to search for it. He couldn’t know I was the culprit.

Lying to Lorelei about having some bullshit bonding exercise with the team had my stomach in knots almost as much as the sinister act I was about to pull. Would she think I was so sturdy and dependable if she saw me creeping in the shadows, waiting to attack someone?

She’d only seen a glimpse of this part of me the night I attacked Kyle after walking in on him fucking Cordi, but that explosion of violence had been in the heat of the moment, a crime of passion.

This was premeditated cruelty, and it wasn’t my first time either.

Finally, Micah entered the parking lot through the rows of dogwoods framing the entryway. I crouched between two dark sedans, my black clothes blending into the night. A trickle of sweat slid down my nape as I shoved the ski mask over my face.

It was now or never.

His steps suddenly slowed, and he furrowed his brow when he noticed the lack of lighting. A flash of fear whipped through his hazel irises as if he’d sensed danger on the horizon. But it was too late. I silently jumped from my hiding spot and swung my fist at his surprised face.

Micah’s cry echoed through the night as blood spurted from his nose and his glasses fell off. But I pushed aside any empathy—because this was better than death—and punched him in the jaw, knocking him into the side of an SUV.

“What the fuck!” he garbled out through blood and a howl of pain.

I gripped the back of his head and landed a few more punches to his torso, the hits hard enough to bruise my knuckles. Crimson leaked down his temple and speckled his blond hair.

His arms flailed as he tried to hit me. “Get the hell off me, asshole! Who are you?”

Someone he’d never met.

I never wanted to be this guy again, but somewhere deep inside, I knew he’d resurface one day. The Lords liked the squeaky-clean version of me for the public and loved my vile, immoral side in private, as long as I followed their rules of course.

“Our blood is from one cup. Our bones are from one beast. Our soul is from the same shadow. Brothers above all. We enter this world together. And we shall only leave with a dagger pressed against our throat and the serpent’s poison in our veins.”

The moment the Serpents & Dagger oath hit the air, Micah stilled, his ragged breaths resonating through the dark parking lot. His eye, the one that wasn’t swollen shut, searched over me. There was no recognition in his fearful gaze. The deep, roughcadence curling around my words sounded nothing like my usual voice.

“Why are you doing this?”

He knew exactly why.

“Stop digging.” I shook him, his head snapping around. “This is your one and final warning. Betray us again, and you’ll find a dagger at your throat and poison in your fucking veins.”

When I shoved Micah against the hood of his car, the alarm blared so loudly I flinched. It allowed him the opportunity to strike. His fist crashed into my mouth, briny, metallic blood exploding from my lip and over my tongue.

Son of a bitch!

That was going to leave a mark.

“Hey! Get away from him!”

My heart stopped as none other than Lorelei came charging around the corner with a little can of pepper spray, her finger on the trigger.