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“Luca,” Ares pipes in. “His real name is Aaron.”

“Okay,” Clay says. “Ares, take Kayla and Vero back to the house. Brawley and I will deal with this situation.”

“No!” Vero says. “We need to know how many paper cuts⁠—”

“Vero, I need you right now, please,” I beg. “Please come back with me. Let them do this.”

Vero looks at Brawley, who has barely spoken, and Brawley nods at him.

“It might be wise if you go back to the cornfield, Cave. And Cipher, maybe go do something somewhere else,” Clay tells them.

Cave pushes off the wall, but Cipher doesn’t turn around, ignoring us. So Cave storms over and grabs Cipher and throws him over his shoulder.

“Put me down! I have work to do.” Cipher beats on Cave’s back, but the scarecrow just laughs as they leave. I think the sound may be on my new list of shit that actually scares me.

“Those two are for sure banging. Neither confirmed it, but the sexual tension is there.” Vero grins.

“Vero,” Brawley snaps.

“What?”

“Leave. Now.”

Vero’s eyes go wide. “Shit, okay, just let me do one more thing.”

Vero walks over to Aaron and picks up a scrap of paper. He fists Aaron’s hair and pulls his head back. “Open your eyes.”

Aaron’s eyes pop open, and when he sees me, I note the look he gives me, the one where he expects me to help him. Vero just laughs. “Take one last look, because you will never see her again.”

He lets Aaron’s head go—letting him hold it up himself—and slices the paper across his face.

Tears pool in my eyes, but before I have time to spiral again, Ares takes my hand. “He won’t ever hurt you again.”

I have so many questions, but none I can form into words. Ares leads me outside as I hear Aaron scream, and Vero laughs as he comes running out to join us.

Chapter Six

Brawley

Clay remains silent once everyone leaves. He simply looks at Aaron and rolls up his sleeves, then finds a tool to break the zip ties. I do the same, rolling up my sleeves and then waiting patiently.

Aaron doesn’t react. He has been tied up for days, so I guess he knew this moment would eventually come.

Clay drags him up by his shirt, then his fist lands on Aaron’s jaw; his head snaps to the side, and he spits blood onto the floor. Clay hits him again, and Aaron’s knees buckle, making Clay hold him upright.

I observe for a moment, letting Clay get out his anger. When I get hold of this fucker, I don’t plan to let him make it out of here breathing. After another two punches to the gut, I step in and Clay lets me—he knows this one is mine. I slam him into Cipher’s workbench, hard enough that the tools rattle and his head cracks against the wood.

“That is for turning off the cameras.”

I pull him forward and slam him back again.

“That is for drugging her.”

I bring my head forward and it connects with Aaron’s.

“And that’s for stalking her.”

Aaron tries to move his hands up, but I pin them and knee him hard in the stomach. When he folds over, I bring my elbow down on his back, and he drops to the floor. When he tries to get up, I put my boot between his shoulder blades and press him flat to the floor.