Page 30 of Darkest Kiss

Or just kill them all, Beast supplies. I’ll help.

I look at the two men in front of me and think about how I'd like to do this. Slow, with the rope. I’d like to have the whole night ahead of me to damage these men, ruin them so badly that they’re begging for their death.

I’ve done it before.

But I think about Noemi alone in my bed with a sick bag clutched to her chest. She needs me, so I don't have the night. I need to be upstairs with the girl who depends on me more than I need to kill them.

That's new. I cock my head, taking a second to resent it, then I sigh. "I have to go," I tell Ransom. “You want me to save any of them?”

Brent makes a long gurgling noise. Leo shivers from the floor. Neither are worth anything at all. Ransom shakes his head slowly. “Go ahead.”

I finish the job up quickly. Much quicker than they've earned, a shot to the forehead, point-blank. Leo and Brent take it without making a sound.

Zack, in the other cell, goes last.

He cringes away from my approaching footsteps, his eyes on the gun. “Wait! What did I–”

I fire and the bullet hits the inside of his skull, pinging around like a fucking game of Pong rather than exiting cleanly. It must hit an artery, because I’m hit with a huge gush of arterial blowback, spraying a heavy red mist over my neck and shirt.

“Shit.” I look down at the damage. This shirt is done for. I bought ten of this same dress shirt because they keep getting bloody. Still, it’s his damned fault. “Inconsiderate.”

Should’ve let me hang him, Beast says.

“Shut up,” I snap.

“I didn’t say anything.”

I whirl, realizing only then that Ransom is still watching from the cell door. His gaze sweeps the floor that’s currently covered in what used to be a man and is now simply a mess. "Tidy.”

"Fuck off." I slam out of the cell and walk to the industrial sink, washing off as best I can. "Find out everything about Kathleen Caruso. Where she is, what she was promised, who promised it. Don't move on her, though."

"Why not?"

"Because she's Noemi's family." I dry my hands on a towel that's seen worse days. "As long as she doesn’t put Noemi in further danger, that's not my call to make."

It's my call, Beast says. There's an edge to it I don't like. I watch out for her. What’s her family ever done besides get her kidnapped and then turn around to tip us off for reward money?

He has a point there, but I shut the door on him before I can get distracted.

Ransom watches me with an amused look. "You've got it bad, Rian."

"Yeah. Noted." I leave before he can enjoy it any longer.

* * *

Upstairs, Justin sits in the hall exactly where I told him to be, scrolling his phone. He looks up and takes in the front of my shirt. His expression doesn’t change. "Laundry, sir? Or the burn pile? Hard to tell from here."

"Burn pile," I confirm.

"Very well." He pockets the phone. "Miss Caruso moved around some. Didn't wake up at any point, though."

I jerk my head. "Go home."

“Sir.” He goes. I clean the basement off me, scrubbing the blood under my nails until the water runs clear. By the time I'm dressed, I can hear the sound of her stirring through the wall.

Oh, thank god. I started to worry that the Gloss and the adrenaline shot fucked up something essential in her body. The relief that hits me is immense.

I'm in the kitchen, putting together something bland enough for a wrecked stomach when she comes out. She's wearing my t-shirt and a pair of my boxers rolled at the waist, her dark hair a catastrophe, her face scrubbed and pale. I suck in a deep breath.