Page 126 of XO Karma

She scoffs. “Negative.” And pulls her own pink mask from her bag. Hot.

Glancing around, I note no cameras, and with a nod, we put on our disguises. Rounding the corner, we find Paul leaning against the rear wall of the fun house, a cigarette hanging out of his lips. I set the tiger on the grass, and his gaze finds ours, his brows furrowing.

“The freak show is over there,” he grumbles, gesturing in the opposite direction while taking another drag.

“Actually,” I say, marching towards him, “we’re here for you.”

His brows furrow, and before he can open his mouth, I land a punch right along his jaw, the cigarette fluttering to the ground. My knuckles scream, and I grab him by his collar, hoisting him in the air.

“You think it’s fun beating kids?” I growl out.

He spits in my face, and I flinch in disgust. “How I keep my house is none of your business.”

I take a calming breath. Lily said not to kill him. “It is if you’re an abusive prick.”

“Which one of them little shits put you up to this?” he grits out, blood trickling from his nose. “It was Adam, wasn’t it?”

“Time for you to move on.”

“Piss off.”

“If I find out you haven’t left them by tomorrow night…” Grabbing his arm, I straighten it, then bend his hand until a snap fills the air and he screams in agony. “I’ll be back.”

“Oh my god,” he whimpers, grabbing his broken wrist. Thankfully, the fair is loud as hell, so it’s unlikely someone heard him.

“Do you understand?” I ask.

“Go fuck yourself!”

I glance at Lily. Please let me kill him?

She shakes her head, and damn if her little ghost mask doesn’t turn me on.

Stop thinking of sex, you horny idiot!

“You’re a dead man,” Paul grits out, pulling my attention his way, and I laugh as a putrid familiar scent fills the air.

“Awfully bold words from someone who just pissed himself.”

“What. Do. You. Want?” Tears prick the corners of his eyes.

“Keep your goddamn hands to yourself and leave that family you’re tormenting, or my next visit won’t be a warning.”

He looks towards Lily, and I’m grateful we opted for the masks because if he knew what she looked like, I’d ignore her directions and gouge his eyes out with my bare hands.

“You like this, sweetheart?” Paul asks her. “Your kink watching this ripper wannabe beat innocent people?” I land another punch against his mouth, and he laughs, spitting blood. “I got a bitch like that at home too.”

I go for my knife, but Lily’s unsheathed her dagger and brought it to his neck before I even reach my pocket. I don’t know what the hell she has planned, but whatever it is, I’m on board.

“Your days of abusing are over,” she grits out.

“Those little shits need to learn to behave,” he says between gasps, clutching his arm. “If your parents taught you manners, maybe you wouldn’t⁠—”

Lily stabs her blade into his shoulder. He shrieks, and I use both hands to grip his mouth shut. “If you’re not careful”—her tone drips with disdain—“I’ll leave you alone here with my partner.” She tilts her head, huffing a small laugh. “And believe it or not, he’s holding back.”

Paul’s body trembles. Eyes blazing.

“Are you going to leave?” I ask, and his eyes swing to mine. Lily twists the knife, and he groans. “Are you?”