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She inhaled sharply. And then she choked on a cry as pain scratched across her own throat like a razor-sharp claw.
“Don’t worry,” said Enzo. “The cut’s not deep enough to make you bleed out. It’s just a little graze.”
Just a little graze? Oh, she officially hated this motherfucker.
“I tried talking Gian out of suiciding, but he wasn’t able to hear one single telepathic word I said. Maybe if he had, he wouldn’t have killed himself. I’ll never know.” Enzo swallowed thickly. “We had plans. Big plans. We were going to start afresh, switch lairs, head to New Zealand, and find our extended relatives. I just needed to get enough cash together first. Levi robbed us of that future; of my brother’s future.”
She almost flinched as the scalpel sliced her shoulder, tearing through her tee.
“More, Levi made me break my promise to Gian. I swore I’d always protect my brother. I didn’t. Because Levi simply couldn’t overlook a couple of goddamn stupid pictures. Or if he’d just looked out for Gian like I asked, things would have ended differently, but no. Levi didn’t fucking bother, just as he didn’t listen to or believe Gian—no, he believed the soul of a drunk who beat his own kids.”
“So this is about payback.”
“Oh, yeah. And it’s been a long time coming. I needed to wait until Levi had someone worth losing. He had Knox and the sentinels, but that wasn’t the same. It had to be someone he needed. So I waited. And I worked hard to gain a position in the Force, to earn people’s trust—especially Levi’s. And oh, how amusing it’s been to be trusted and respected by someone who has no idea you hate them so much.” Enzo smirked. “He even trusts me with your safety.”
Levi would be pissed at himself for it when he learned the truth. She’d have to ensure he didn’t rake himself over the coals for it. Which she would. She wasn’t going to die here at the hands of these two assholes—oh, Clyde might not be physically touching her but he was figuratively holding her down so that Enzo could do what he pleased. And now she sported God knew how many cuts, all of which stung and pulsed like a bitch.
“When Levi found you, damn, the timing was perfect,” said Enzo. “Sefton had just been released from prison, and he and Jasper were making nuisances of themselves. They’re both responsible for the vandalism, by the way. It made them great scapegoats. It was easy for everyone to conclude that the attacks were an escalation.”
Another burning slice—this time over her thigh, cutting through the denim of her jeans. Inwardly cursing, Piper again struggled against the mental weight cornering her. But, again, she failed to free herself.
“I had so many opportunities to kill you. But I wanted him to live in fear for a while. Just like me and my brother did as kids. Then I heard what our new, friendly neighborhood killer could do.” Enzo tipped his head in Clyde’s direction. “I knew he’d be able to control you so that you’d be as helpless as I wanted you to be while I hurt you. It was just a matter of unmasking him. I did that when I went to check on one of the single moms and happened to catch a glimpse of him watching her from the shadows. He ran, but not fast enough. He and I then made a deal. I’ll kill you, and he’ll take the blame.
“Shall I tell you what’s about to happen? The moment we hear the key turn in the lock, I’ll slit your throat with my psychic scalpel—yes, you’ll suffer the exact same deadly wound that Gian did. Clyde here will grab you, Levi will find you bleeding out in his arms … and then he’ll avenge you. And me? I’ll play the fighting-for-consciousness hostage; act like Clyde tried to kill me but failed. No one will ever know any different.”
Dread churned in her belly … because it would be so easy for that plan to pay off.
“I’m sure you think you’ll survive this; that Levi will come rescue you. Oh, he’ll be here soon enough—Keenan telepathically called out to me a few times. I ignored him, since I’m feigning unconsciousness. But he’ll inform Levi, who’ll panic and rush right home.” Enzo looked at Clyde. “Has he reached out to her?”
“Not in a while,” replied Clyde.
“Hmm, he must not want to take the chance that whoever has her will hear him. Especially if he suspects you have her. He might not yet know who you are, but he’ll know what you can do.”
Clyde nodded. “It means he’ll be ready for me.”
“But he won’t move fast enough. Won’t stop my scalpel from doing its job.” Anticipation lit Enzo’s gaze as he refocused it on her. “I will so very much enjoy what’s coming. Killing Levi would be more satisfying, but I want him to feel the agony of grief like I did when Gian died. I want him to feel the shame, the guilt, the pain. Even better, the breaking of the anchor bond will make him eventually turn rogue. Then he’ll be hunted and executed by the people he calls friends—he might even kill some of them in his own defense. I can think of no worse fate for him.”
