Page 69 of Vows of Ruin

Reaper

Matthew’s breathing is ragged beneath Wrenley as she kneels on his chest, her dagger a glinting warning against the dim light. She’s already left a shallow cut across his cheek. Nothing serious. Just enough to sting. Just enough to make him sweat.

“I’m telling you,” he stammers, “I don’t know anything! I didn’t even know Sebastian was stateside—he was supposed to be in Lisbon, I was meeting him there!”

Wrenley tilts her head, and it’s the scariest fucking thing I’ve ever seen. Calm, pure ice. “You really expect me to believe that? He showed up at the exact same moment we were rescuing those girls, and you didn’t know about it? Try again.”

Matthew squirms beneath her, eyes flicking around the room, to me, Max, then to Torque. He won’t find mercy here.

I lean against the wall with my arms crossed. “You’ve been playing both sides since the beginning, haven’t you? So, unless you want to find out how many layers she can peel off your face before you pass out, I suggest you start talking.”

“I haven’t left the house!” he yells. “I haven’t contacted him—I swear!”

Wrenley flips the dagger in her palm, deciding where to aim next. “Torque,” she says evenly. “Tear apart the room he was sleeping in.”

Torque nods and disappears down the hall without a word.

Wrenley steps off Matthew, “Sit him up, Wreck.” She says circling behind the chair. “You’re not walking out of this room until I know everything. So now is the time to reconsider your lies.”

Matthew pants, clutching the arms of the chair. “Please. You have to believe me—I’m not part of this!”

“You’ve been a part of it the second you kept quiet,” I snap. “The second, you forged documents. The second, you helped him move money and people. You don’t get to be clean after that.”

That’s when he slips.

“No wonder he’s so enamored with you,” he spits at Wrenley. “You’re just as fucking insane as he is!”

The whole room goes still. Wrenley freezes mid-step. I move, but I don’t get there first. Max is already across the room. He backhands Matthew across the face, sharp and fast. The sound cracks through the room like a whip.

Blood splatters to the floor. Matthew groans, dazed, slumping deeper into the chair.

Max’s voice is a low growl. “Watch your fucking mouth. Our wife is worth more than your entire bloodline.”

Matthew wheezes, blinking up at him, stunned.

Wrenley lifts a brow, dagger still spinning idly in her hand. “Should we pull his teeth, one by one? That could be fun.”

Before anyone can answer, the door opens. Torque walks back in, holding up a black burner phone like it’s some cursed artifact. “Found this shoved into the mattress springs. Typical.”

Matthew’s face goes ghost-white. Wrenley just smiles, slow and satisfied. “Well, well that’s interesting. Now we’re getting somewhere.”

I take it from him and thumb the screen to life. No lock. Rookie move. “Well, Matthew,” I mutter, scrolling through the contents, “You’ve been a busy little traitor. Location data, internal shifts, camera blind spots… Christ, you even logged our raid plans.”

Wrenley clicks her tongue. “My loves,” she says sweetly, “Do we still keep a toolbox in the SUV?”

I can’t help the low laugh that escapes. “Of course we do, baby.”

Max is already on the move. “I’ll grab it, Sparrow.”

Wrecker lets out a low whistle. “Damn. This is gonna get spicy.”

Matthew tries to wriggle in the chair, but a Serpent tied those knots. He’s not going anywhere.

Max returns with the metal case and sets it down in front of Wrenley like it’s a gift-wrapped present. He runs a hand up her leg. “This takes me back.”

“Only this time, I’m not afraid.” She says, cupping his jaw.

Matthew scoffs. “You’re all fucking deranged.”