David stalks into Elite less polished than when I last saw him. The shine is off his diamond. He’s not quite as smug. His hair is out of place, and the gray suit is a bit wrinkled. His charcoal shoes are dull. He’s a desperate and defeated man who refuses to accept his loss with dignity.
No, David is not a man.
He’s a rabid animal that we’ve backed into a corner. Unfortunately, those are the most dangerous types of beasts.
His blue eyes meet mine, and it takes everything I have not to shiver under his icy scrutiny.
“Hello, wife.” His voice hits me like an arctic blast.
I curl my fingers around the edge of the mattress to keep them from trembling. “Hello, David.”
“Look at you.” His upper lip lifts in a sneer. “At least you’re out of your usual rags.”
I give him a sweetest smile. “Well, I wore the rags for your benefit.”
His laugh vibrates off the concrete walls. “I see your stint in Mayhem didn’t curb your scathing charm.”
“It was smart to use Thomas. I didn’t see that coming.” I give him a sarcastic thumbs-up. “Kudos to you. Did you kill him?”
I keep the question light, masking the sting of Thomas’s betrayal. Truth is, I’m devastated.
David strides into the cell and leans against the wall opposite me. “Do you care?”
Do I?
If I’m honest, there’s a ruthless side to me that doesn’t after what he’s done. Thomas had every opportunity to bring his family to Mayhem. He chose to keep them in Spring Hill, and that foolishness brought us to this moment. If that makes me a terrible person, I’m prepared to live with that sin on my soul.
“How did you realize he was the mole?”
David’s shrug is one of perfectly practiced carelessness. “He broke by the third stroke of the whip.”
“I see.” Being whipped hurts, but only three lashes?Wow. “You didn’t answer the question, David. Is Thomas dead?”
“Not yet, but he will be.” He shoves off the wall and walks toward me. I stare straight ahead. I’d rather gaze into a bucket of shit than look at this man. But he’s not someone who’ll be ignored. He comes to stand directly in front of me. Snatches my face and tilts his head, examining me like I’m a specimen in a lab. “You look different.”
I shake out of his hold. “It’s called happy, David. You’re surprised you’ve never seen me look this way?”
He casts a glance around the tiny, square cell. “Where did that get you?”
“One minute spent with Wraith was worth whatever you’re going to do to me.” The slap stings, but I lick away the blood from the corner of my mouth. “You can’t hurt me.”
“Oh no, Jamie, you’re wrong.” He stalks to the door and calls for Owen. I can’t hear what they say, but the guard’s laughter resonates as he retreats through the Hub. David comes back to the cell, his expression hard. He kneels in front of me, eye level, and I resist the urge to kick him in the face. “First, I’m going to hurt you in the heart. Then I’m going to hurt your body.” He stretches to his full height and clamps a hand around my throat. “And before I kill you, I’m going to tear out your fucking soul.”
Oh God.
I slap his hand away and leap to my feet. “Do it. Do it now, David, because you don’t scare me. You willneverscare me, and that’s why you can never hurt me.”
But I’m lying, because I’m terrified.
The door swings open, and in stomps Owen tugging Thomas behind him. My stomach twists and lurches, and maybe I’m not as heartless as I want to believe because I hear the wordnorip from my throat as I spring toward David. But his laughter fills the cell as he shoves me back on the bed.
He tsks at me. “I thought I couldn’t hurt you.”
Thomas can’t look at me, and I think it has nothing to do with his swollen eyes and everything to do with the shame he must feel over his betrayal. But it doesn’t matter. Not now. He did what he did, and I can’t hate him. Not when I see what he’s suffered. He’s beat to hell, and he can barely stand. His hands are zip tied, and by the look of him, he’s wholly defeated.
“You can,” I rush out. “You can, hurt me. Okay? You win. Let him go.”
David yanks him forward, forcing Thomas to stumble toward him. “No, that’s not going to happen.”
