Twisted in Chaos (Destructive Devastation #2)

Chapter 8

Heavy smoke permeates the air. The lingering scent of tobacco washes over me, slightly mixed with weed and other substances floating in the dust particles.

Heat pours down on me as I overlook the vicious crowd, hurling obscenities at me from where they sit. Food flies onto the ring, landing in the old blood with a splat but never hitting me.

I blink at the red stains, retreating further into my darkness. Swallow me whole. Make me not feel the next hour of my life. Take it all away from me before I drown in the emotions of everything consuming me.

Shepp is dying on the cold ground of a prison, barely clinging to life. My sister. She’s in the damn wind. And Arrow and Jericho? I don’t even know.

If I survive this, I’ll fight tooth and nail to reclaim my life.

Flickering lights illuminate the faces staring back at me with sneers decorating their lips. Chants egging on my demise ring through the air.

Kill the bitch! Down with the whore! Bring her to her knees!

Jesus. It’s like The Hunger Games , in here.

Their deep voices puncture through my skin, straight to my aching bones, as my eyes take in everything that might be to my advantage. Hidden weapons. Escape routes. Anything to aid me in killing this man who will be after me as soon as this starts.

Women make their way through the stands holding beers and popcorn, hollering their prices in skimpy outfits. I tilt my head. Are they here by their own choice? Or are they like me—a prisoner held captive by Shadow?

Whatever it is, it seems we’re all trying to survive this assault of loud voices.

From where I stand, Shadow tossed me in here, hoping to kill two birds with one stone—literally. He doesn’t want me to win this. He doesn’t want my loyalty. Hell, maybe he got all he wanted from me when I spilled about Gabe. Or, like he said, perhaps this is his revenge for me stabbing him so many times.

Whatever it is, it’s not fucking cool, and I want to speak to his manager. Right the fuck now.

I thought my life couldn’t get any worse when I was under my monster’s thumb. If only I had glimpsed the future, I would have seen how great I had it. I lived at home. Granted, my mom was a druggy who didn’t care about me. But I had my own room with sunshine streaming through it and brightening my day. All I had to do was go on missions for a man who wanted revenge on me for killing his second-in-command.

What a waste of time on his part.

I wish I could go back in time, kidnap my sister, and run away before any of this could be set into motion. But alas, I don’t know how to time travel. So, I’m stuck fighting a lunatic who looks like he wants to tear the flesh from my bones. Not to mention Shepp, Arrow, and Jericho. I never would have met them if I hadn’t been on this trajectory.

Everything happens for a reason, right?

So, what’s the reasoning for this? This torture? The starvation? Fuck. I wish I knew his endgame.

I blow out a breath, centering myself. My darkness twirls inside me, blocking out all the commotion trying to penetrate through my iron facade. Numbness takes me over, fogging my brain and fueling my focus.

Finally, my darkness has entered the equation, ready to take down anyone who comes near me.

Before Shadow waltzed out of the ring to do God knows what, he presented several weapons to me on a silver platter. Knives of every size. Swords. Large, heavy weapons that I haven’t seen or used before. But to me, there was no contest as to what I would choose.

My fingers tighten around the two small knives nestled in my grip, no longer than six inches from base to tip. Gabriel may not have prepared me for much.

Murder? Sure, I can do that with my eyes closed. I don’t want to. I hate taking lives. But I can do it if it comes down to it. Sneaking around? Yup. One of my specialties. Need someone to sneak around in the shadows and gather information? I’m your gal.

But fighting? Hand-to-hand combat?

Yeah, I missed those classes. Thanks a lot, Monster. Good for nothing asshole.

The spotlight follows me as I walk across the arena to the man standing tall in the middle of the blood-soaked dirt. He grins at me, showing off his missing teeth. Despite the muscles bulging on every inch of his being, he looks ragged. Yet, I can tell from the lift of his shoulders that he’s a soldier for Shadow. Loyal, too.

“So, you’re the little girl fighting me tonight?” He grins, looking me up and down, scoffing at the knives in my hands.

“I suppose so,” I say in an even tone, relishing in the point of his brow.

He doesn’t expect me to be able to fight him. He thinks he’s going to take me down easily and that I’m a quivering little girl who can’t bring him to his knees. Well, the jokes on him. I may not be a fighter, but I have people to fight for. My family. My boys. My fucking sister. I don’t give a shit if I live or die right now for myself. It’s all for them.

Besides, I have my wit.

“I’m guessing five,” he says, circling me with predatory intent.

I could reach him now and stab his eyeball out. But I don’t think the game has begun. He’s sizing me up, feeling me out. And I’m doing the same.

“Why five?” I ask in a monotone voice again, watching him at every turn.

Never leave your back to your enemies. If you’re on my time, you’ll watch every move they make. Besides, you don’t know when a snake will strike, Little Snake.

He grins. “Five seconds until your guts are on the ground. Just last night, I gutted a man right there.” He points to where the bloodstains still smear across the dirt.

“Sure,” I say, shrugging my shoulders.

Pay attention to the small details of your enemies. Their bodies give away their intentions before their words ever do.

I watch him again, taking in how he walks and carries himself. A slight limp forces him to hobble on his left leg, letting me know he’s losing strength on one side. I wonder how long he’s been at this.

He laughs more, waving his arms around for the crowd, riling them up. His greasy blond hair flops into his eyes, but he quickly swipes it away before it gets stuck in his eyes.

Noted.

“This is going to be so much fun, little girl,” he chuckles. “I’m the reigning champion.”

“How many weeks in a row?” I indulge his words, letting him think he’s getting to me.

He tilts his head. “You think you have a chance against me?”

He thinks I don’t.

My eyes look him up and down, taking in the angle of his toes, pointing outward. “Maybe,” I say, shrugging again.

“Tell you what, baby doll.” Oh, gag. “I’ll give you an out. You can drop to your knees, open your mouth, and suck my dick like a good girl. Then, I’ll spare you.” He grabs himself, showing it off to the crowd, who roar with laughter.

This is a goddamn comedy show.

I raise a brow. Drop to my knees? Typical fucking man who thinks he’s in a position of power. But while he exerts all his energy on the crowd falling for his whims, I’m storing mine for when the time is right.

“Sure,” I say with a small smile.

He stops dead. “Sure?” he questions, turning to face me now. Sweat glistens on his overly tanned-skin.

“Isn’t that what you want?” I question again as the crowd settles in and suddenly quiets down.

He observes me again, taking in my torn dress and barely covered tits. His eyes focus on the tattoo concealing the scar between my breasts, getting lost in the hypnotic pattern.

“Gentlemen!” a loud voice roars, echoing through the room.

For a moment, I take my eyes off the enemy standing in front of me and focus on my other enemy, standing on a lifted stage above the entire arena, looking down on his subjects.

My heart aches in my chest when my sister comes into view. She smiles softly beside him, looking at the crowd with a spark in her eyes. Confidence takes over her entire demeanor, as if she belongs by his side and in front of all these people. Health radiates off her, something I haven’t seen in years.

She looks good.

“Welcome to your entertainment for the night!” he shouts with glee. Those beady eyes that haunted my nightmares are glued to me. “Our champion, Brian Bell, returns to face off against a new opponent!”

The crowd goes fucking ballistic, causing my ears to ring. Shadow says more, introducing me as the traitor.

Then, something strange happens. My sister pulls on his shirt, forcing him to stop. He looks down. An odd sense of pride shines in his eyes when she whispers something in his ear. He nods, taking in her words. I blink several times as he yammers on more, riling up the crowd. Even Brian jumps from foot to foot, exerting his energy.

“Let the games begin!” Shadow shouts, stepping back from his ledge with my sister, who doesn’t spare me a glance.

Interesting. She’s up to something.

The lights drop from the crowd. Only leaving Brian and me illuminated. He grins. I don’t move. I watch his staggering movements. His chest heaves, and exhaustion pulls at his loose limbs. Interesting. He exerted himself with the crowd earlier.

Maybe this will be easier than I thought. Outwit the dimwit with what he wants most. And I, too, will save my energy. Or lack thereof. After what feels like days of no meals or water, I’m running on thin fumes. My sense of time has flown out the window. Among other things, I am willing to stay safe.

“So, how about you drop to those pretty knees and show me what you got,” he says, grinning with ease.

But his fingers tighten on the end of his sword, repositioning them at his side.

Noted.

“What would you like to do with me on my knees?” I rasp, putting a raw edge to my tone.

He follows my movements with his eyes—the curve of my neck. The deep breaths, pushing my tits out. He stares. Enamored with my presence.

“I’m going to fuck your face, and then I will own you. All for your life, of course. I won’t kill you. Yet. Deal?” Confidence tinges his tone. He ignores the knives in my hands, as if he doesn’t believe I’ll use them. Jokes on him, though.

“Of course,” I say simply, tilting my chin with false bravado.

“The crowd will love it,” he says with a grin, loosening his grip on his sword.

Again, noted. He’s getting comfortable with my presence, telling me everything through slight movements.

I bat my eyelashes as I lower myself, presenting myself as a trophy for him. Harmless. Demure. On my knees without protest.

“Like this?” I question, looking at him from the ground. My teeth sink into my bottom lip.

I have to sell it and all.

“Holy fuck,” he grunts with haste, thinking with his dick over the fight we were supposed to have. “Oh, God, yeah. No one has ever taken the deal.”

It’s good to know he’s tried this on every breathing person who has been presented before him.

“And how many was that?”

He smirks. “Forty-six. And you’re the only one who sold herself to me.”

“I want to live.” It’s not a lie. Not completely. I won’t be sucking his schlong to prolong my life.

But it’s all about my act. Make him believe. Besides, I haven’t said it was a deal, anyhow.

His hard dick springs free from his pants. Nearly poking my eye out. Jesus. But I hold myself still, looking at him in his twinkling eyes. The crowd roars. But I tune them out.

“You’re a big, strong fighter, aren’t you?” I coo, not making a move to touch him yet. I could lower his defenses by brushing my fingers along his thighs. But that might make him remember the weapons in my hands.

Idiot.

His eyes shine. Boost a man’s over-inflated ego, and he’ll present like a damn peacock.

“Open your fucking mouth,” he demands, tapping my cheek with the tip of his sword, nicking my flesh.

A threat. He’s presenting me with the bigger picture—he’s in charge and has a weapon to back it up.

“And then you’ll save me?” I question softly, infusing emotions into my voice.

This is my stage, my weapon. I may not be able to fight him physically, but I can talk and act my way out of this situation without breaking a sweat.

He strokes himself with his free hand. Disgust rolls through me, even when I pop open my lips. The tip of his sword sits against my throat, threatening to cut me more if I so much as flinch.

Good thing I won’t flinch.

“Now, are you ready to become my little bitch for the rest of your life?” He inches his dick closer to me.

The looser and more vulnerable he gets, the more confident I feel with my plan.

“I am no one’s bitch,” I say, jamming my knife right through his dick and the other through his wrist, forcing him to drop his sword as he wails.

I don’t give him a second to retaliate. Or move. Or breathe. While he’s focused on his dick in the dirt and the blood rushing from his wrist, I slit his throat. His flesh parts like butter beneath the knife he wasn’t worried about me having.

Rookie ass mistake, Brian.

Red runs down my flesh. Over my dress. Onto the ground. It surrounds me like in my nightmares.

Only this time, my darkness cuts out the emotions. The guilt. Everything from forming inside me. There is no reasoning with myself as to why this man had to die.

I belong to no one. That’s the only reason I need.

No monsters can hold me down and use me for their purposes. I will do what it takes to get my sister, Shepp, and me out of this prison and back to my other two men.

But I will no longer be anyone’s person to use.

I’m in charge now.