Those two simple words slice me down to my soul. “I know, runt.”
“Lyle. Owen,” Crane barks. “Take him to the room.”
Shit.
Panic overrules pride, coiling inside me as two semiautomatics leveled at me put an end to my fight before it begins.
They lead us out of Elite and through the Hub, with Crane pulling Jamie behind us. We march the familiar path toward the torture room, and I battle back the icy fingers of dread tearing at my soul. I mean, Christ, I’m only fucking human, and as we trudge down the dark hallway, I’m sweating and fighting back violent tremors. My gut is twisted in a knot because I know what will happen once we get inside that goddamn room.
“Prepare for a show, Jamie,” Crane says conversationally. “I’ve never seen anyone take pain the way Wraith does. It’s magnificent.”
“You’re a monster.” Her voice is a hoarse whisper.
“Obviously,” he agrees. “But I’m also the one with all the power.”
“For now,” she remarks.
“Always,” he counters.
We reach our destination, and Owen flicks on the light. It stinks of bleach, and fuck me the spigot still drips.
“Same as you left it, right, Atticus?” Lyle shoves me toward the restraints.
I drag in a shallow breath, lightheaded as I pass the table with its grisly array of tools. “Fuck yeah, it is. Come on, little man, you know I love it in here.”
Crane flings Jamie inside. She stumbles but recovers, and as she does, she sweeps a horrified gaze over the chamber. Her hand flies to her mouth, and for one heartrending moment, she’s unguarded. Horrified. But she recovers and ducks behind her defenses, and when she faces Crane, she’s a portrait of chilling disdain.
She’s shaking, and from experience, I know it’s from the ket because it can’t be because she’s cold. It’s excruciatingly hot in here. Her body must still be wracked with pain, and holy fuck, I want to hurt Crane for what he’s done to her.
“Stand over there, wife, and if you get in the way, or make a scene, Iwillkill him. Do you understand?”
Jamie licks her lips and nods, the movement jerky. She darts her gaze from Crane to me. I give her a wink and a false reassuring smile. She shifts her attention back to him, her chin raised. “My father was the worst part of my life until I met you. You’re disgusting.”
I’m already on the attack when Crane’s hand connects with Jamie’s face. But the AKs come up and nail me to the spot. The slap snaps her head to the side, but she stands her ground and wipes the blood from her mouth.
“Once you’re dead, you’ll be forgotten before your body is even cold.” Her voice is chilling, the remark almost an afterthought as she walks to the corner of the room.
But I know my Jamie. I see her subtle tells as she settles the mask of indifference over her features. There’s a fire burning in her eyes if anyone knew to look beyond the green to the blaze of gold behind it. But I also see the color is gone from her complexion, and her plush pillow lips are compressed to a hard line. She’s terrified, and there’s not a goddamn thing I can do to comfort her because my whole world is about to go to shit.
“For months, I imagined killing you slow,” I tell Crane. “I wanted to take my time. Savor it. You know? But nah. You’re not worth it. I’m going to kill you quick, like tossing out the trash.”
A vein pops in his forehead and he turns and furious shade of red. “Take off your shoes.”
I follow Crane’s command but do it good and slow, buying as much time as possible.
“On your knees, asshole,” Owen demands.
Just like old times.
I kneel, and Owen fastens the restraints to my wrists and ankles. Soon as I’m locked in place, Jamie dashes across the room and wraps her arms around me. And God, her touch feels so fucking good.
“Don’t do this,” she rasps.
“Get up.” Crane grabs at her shir and hauls her away.
She yanks out of his hold and runs back to me. Cups my face, her hands cold and shaking. “I love you.”
Her lips brush mine a second before Crane tosses her across the room.
