Page 99 of Fractured Memories

“Let’s have a chat.” My lips twitch, but I fight it. I like my target bloody and terrified before I fully unleash. “I’m going to ask a question. You are going to give me an honest answer. And this will stay pleasant. Understood?”

He just glares at me, which sends a thrill through my body. I never want to do it the easy way.

“Let’s start simple. I even know the answer to this one, but I’ll give you a freebie. Are you with the rebel cause?”

He doesn’t answer. He doesn’t so much as blink.

I cluck my tongue. “You’d rather I make you talk?” Silence. I shrug. “Your choice.”

I move so fast that the man can’t track it. Hand still fisted in his hair, my other slams into the side of his face. My knuckles make solid contact, and he groans.

“Do you want to answer now?”

“Yes,” he snaps, his cheek already swelling.

“Good job.” I pat the spot I just hit like I’m praising the asshole. “Next question, what were you trying to accomplish when you got caught?”

He just glares at me, and I’m getting tired of that response.

I shake his head with the grip I still have on his hair. “Come on. It’s a simple question. Were you cutting wires? Setting the fuse for another fire? I’m not asking anything hard here.”

His jaw ticks as he clenches, and I sigh like I’m annoyed. Really, I’m eager to hit him again.

I release my grip on his hair so I can land two quick punches, a combo that whips his head side to side. This time, I’ve managed to cut his cheek, and I try not to let the need to go further, to spill more blood, overtake me before I can ask more questions.

“Do you have an answer now?” I stand, crossing my arms. Briefly, there’s a light hum as the power flickers, but I suspect it just isn’t well connected this far down.

He doesn’t move, but that dark gaze is pinned on me.

I chuckle, knowing that I need to keep a tight leash on my control. “You don’t want to push me. You have no idea how much I love to break people.”

To prove my point, I grab his hand and twist. With the right pressure and angle, there’s a sickening pop and the man groans.

“Start talking before I decide to test how many broken bones it will take to make you pass out.”

His breathing is a little ragged, but he doesn’t twitch. A part of me feels like I should wait until Kieran gets here to go too far.

But a larger part wants to make him bleed.

I’m no saint. That’s why Kieran loves me.

Pulling a knife from my thigh sheath, I drag it up the column of his throat. For the first time, fear flashes across his face, and I can’t hold in the grin. I love when people finally realize that I won’t hold back.

Tipping his chin up with the end of my blade, I lean in close. “I have several blades and know a lot of ways to make you scream without letting you die. Don’t test me.” I apply a little more pressure, and he strains, trying to get away from the sharp edge. “What were you doing when you were caught?”

“Cutting wires.” He says it so softly his throat barely bobs. I ease off the pressure a little. “I was given a map of the specific wires.”

“Broadcasting wires?”

“I don’t know.” His eyes widen when I step closer, digging the knife into his skin. Blood trickles down his throat, and he gasps, “I swear.”

I hum, dragging the blade down through the blood. “I don’t believe you.” I can see it in his eyes. He might not know exactly what the wires are for, but he knows the end goal.

And I don’t like being lied to.

“I don’t know⁠—”

I slam the palm of my fist into his face. I honestly can’t help it. He’s getting on my nerves.