Page 59 of Wicked Nightmare

Had Spider known? Had he been part of it?

I shoved that thought down before it could take root. Not now. Not yet.

I could see Lakey's patience fraying at the edges. Her fingers twitched, itching to wrap around Skeeter's throat.

"Babe," I murmured, "let me handle this."

Lakey shot me a look that could've melted steel, but she stepped back. I sauntered forward, towering over our captive.

"Listen here, you worthless sack of shit. Your time's running out fast. You've got two options: tell us how Chimera works, or I'll let my girl here get real creative with that rusty spoon she's so fond of."

Skeeter's laughter faltered for a split second, but there was fear in his eyes. Good. The fucker was starting to realize just how deep in shit he was.

"Tick tock, asshole," I growled. "I'm growing tired of your fucking games."

Skeeter's bravado crumbled. His eyes darted between me and Lakey, panic setting in as he realized we weren't bluffing. And that we didn't give a fuck about Chimera or his role in it. Not beyond getting what we needed and then shoving his body in the garbage bin.

"Wait, wait!" he blubbered, his cocky grin replaced by a pathetic grimace. "I can tell you more! Just... please, don't kill me!"

"What?" I hurled a spitball, pleasantly surprised when it landed smack dab in the middle of his forehead.

He sighed. "My laptop. It has everything. If you just let me go, I can help you. I promise."

"Thank you for your service, Skeeter."

I didn't even blink. My mind was made up the moment this piece of shit opened his mouth. Without breaking eye contact, I pulled out my blade, its edge glinting in the dim light.

"But you sa—"

"Nah, I didn't, you just assumed." I said, my voice cold. "Should've thought about that before you decided to play games. Thank you for your honesty, may your sacrifice please Chimera."

In one fluid motion, I plunged the knife into Skeeter's chest. He let out a strangled gasp, eyes wide with shock. I twisted the blade, feeling the resistance of flesh and bone give way. Taking my knife, I pushed it in again, starting with his left nipple and slicing horizontally to his right. A beautiful cross. Same as the one branded on Dagger's chest. Same as the one on the black SUV. Let them find this and know it was us. Let them know we weren't rats in a maze anymore.

The room fell dead silent, save for the wet gurgle of Skeeter's final breath. I stepped back, wiping my blade clean on his shirt. Normally I wasn't so theatrical, but given how fucking stupid this whole situation was, I thought it called for a bit of fun.

"Well, that was anticlimactic," I muttered, glancing over at Lakey.

She was grinning from ear to ear. "Efficient as always, babe," she purred. "Though I kinda wish you'd let me have a go at him first."

I couldn't help but smirk. "Next time, my wicked little psycho. Promise."

A high-pitched giggle burst from Lakey's lips, echoing off the dingy walls as adrenaline set in. Her eyes raked over me, drinking in the sight of Skeeter's blood splattered across my chest and arms. We'd gotten what we needed, and I could take it from here.

"Holy shit, Cam," she breathed. "You look fucking gorgeous right now."

I met her gaze, feeling that rush of arousal hitting me, as it always did after a kill. The corner of my mouth twitched up in a half-smile. "Yeah?"

I took a step back, letting the blood drip from my fingers onto the grimy floor. Lakey's eyes followed every crimson droplet, her pupils dilating with each splash.

"God, yes," her tongue darted out to wet her lips. "It's like... art. Bloody, beautiful art."

"You always did have a twisted sense of aesthetics, Lakes."

The endorphin release from killing Skeets was phenomenal, and I was hard as a rock.

"You know," I ran a blood-stained hand through my hair, "we should probably get cleaned up before we split. Can't exactly waltz out of here looking like extras from a slasher flick."

Lakey's grin turned wicked. "Mmm, I don't know. I kinda like you all... messy."