I held Marcos’s hand as we stepped down the basement stairs. My nerves were starting to flare up. The idea of seeing him again just made my anxiety skyrocket. It wasn’t killing him that I was having an issue with, but the idea of facing him again after everything.
At the bottom of the stairs, we turned toward the open cellar room, where several guys were standing around. I recognized Johnny Taylor immediately and Kevin and Derrick. There were a couple guys speaking with a thick Irish brogue that drew my attention. Besides the Irishmen were some of Leo’s brothers who weren’t at dinner. It was an interesting mix of different characters that made me realize just how many lives Hillcrest had affected with his fucking bullshit.
“Lass,” one of the Irishman nodded.
I nodded back, unable to speak. I squeezed Marcos’s hand tighter.
“They’ve been torturing him all day.” Marcos spoke softly. “Honestly, we probably would have dragged this out longer, but I know you want it done.”
I swallowed and nodded. “Yeah…sorry.” I glance around at the room.
“Don’t ever apologize for wanting Dax Hillcrest dead,” Nico spoke up, his voice loud and clear through the cellar. He maneuvered past Marcos to stop directly in front of me. He cupped the side of my face, and I steeled my spine as every set of eyes in the room turned to us. “You’ve endured what no one should ever have to. You lived through a torture worse than anything. Worse than what these men have been inflicting all day. Don’t you dare apologize for wanting that scum dead.”
Again, I swallowed thickly as emotion clogged my throat and nodded. “Yes, sir.” I breathed the honorific, my eyes solely on Nico’s. His pupils dilated and a smirk tugged at his lips. God, I loved when my men got dominant, even if it was just to remind me that I was worth it.
“Ready?” Nico asked, his voice a soft growl.
I licked my lips. “Yes, sir,” I said again.
A soft chuckle went around the room. I ignored them all, keeping my eyes on Nico.
“Way to steal the show, dick,” Marcos muttered.
Nico smirked and kissed me. I closed my eyes and followed his lead, kissing him deeply until someone cleared their throat. Nico slowly pulled away, and I looked up at him feeling dazed as I always did when I kissed one of my men. “We’ll be right there with you. No one is going to care if you can’t do it, Little Dreamer. One of us will step in if you need us.”
“I always need you,” I murmured, softly. “All of you.”
“You have us, Mi Vida.” Marcos pressed a kiss to my temple.
“Always, Darlin’.” Jason kissed the crown of my head, as he stepped into me from behind.
I let out a deep breath and squared my shoulders. “Alright.” I nodded.
Nico turned away from me and nodded at Leo.
Leo looked at one of his brothers who were standing in front of the heavy metal door, and the man opened it slowly.
I walked through the doorway, my head held high as I took in the gruesome scene before me. Blood covered the floor and walls and the stainless-steel tables littered with different horrific tools, and there was an acrid burning scent in the air.
I took another breath as my eyes finally landed on Dax Hillcrest…or what was left of him. “Shit,” I muttered.
Marcos chuckled softly. “Yes, the guys have been busy.”
“You guys didn’t take a turn?”
“We got a couple minutes in before dinner,” Jason said.
Hillcrest was strapped unconscious to a medical exam chair in the center of the room. His head lolled to the side and his face was barely recognizable—someone had beat the shit out of him. The rest of his body was worse, though.
He was naked and someone had chopped off his cock and balls.
“His dick?” I gasped, feeling light-headed.
“That was me,” Nico grinned darkly.
I gulp as my eyes widen in shock. “Nicolai!” I can’t help the astonished laugh that escapes me.
“He won’t touch what’s mine, anymore.” Nico simply shrugged.
