Chapter 49
PUNISHABLE BY DEATH
Killian
Lexi’s scream echoed in the catacombs as gunpowder and the coppery tang of blood perfumed the air.
I didn’t even consider the consequences before pulling the trigger. Honestly, I didn’t give a damn. Bass had his hands all over Lexi and was moments away from destroying her.
And then the motherfucker had the audacity to put a knife to her throat.
Bass dropped to the stone ground, and I darted forward to catch Lexi, breathing a quick sigh of relief once she was in my arms again.
“Are you okay?” Hot fury ignited in my veins at droplets of blood beading her throat and the bruises already forming on her cheek and around her wrists.
Where else did that bastard hurt her?
She grabbed my jaw and dragged her fingers below the gash in my cheek from Stan’s blow. “What happened? Did your stepfather do this?”
“You shot me!” Bass wriggled on the floor like a disgusting worm, blood leaking out of the wound on his thigh and staining the ground.
Lexi fisted my shirt in her little hands and shook me. “Kill, we can’t let him die. I will not lose you because of this asshole.”
My throat tightened at the fierceness of her words. Lexi had just endured another dose of trauma thanks to my stepfamily, but she was worried about me.
I really fucked up when I traded her for this life of luxury. It was all a lie anyway. Deceit, corruption, and blood hidden within a fancy wrapping of gold and diamonds.
“Everything will be okay,” I murmured, kissing her forehead before reluctantly focusing on my stepbrother. “He isn’t going to die. Yet. That would be too easy a punishment.”
If I had my way, I’d strap him to a chair and torture him for a few weeks.
A savage snarl curved Bass’s lips even as the color drained from his face. “If I die, my father will ruin you both, and you’ll wish for a spot in the gutter with the rest of the trash.”
The gun dangled in my hand as I stood over Bass and kicked the knife out of his reach. “It’s only a flesh wound, you weak bitch.” I pressed my boot against the wound on his thigh, his shriek nearly busting my eardrums. “Do you really think I’d simply hand over this video of your father?”
“You should.” Sweat trickled down his temples, dampening his golden locks. “There’s still time to help your situation.”
My laugh sounded like a distant rumble of thunder as I squatted next to him. “Even if I sent you the video file, don’t you think I made a copy?” I tapped the tip of the gun to his forehead. “You aren’t the brightest Davenport, are you?”
As I sped here, I concocted a plan to unveil the real Stanford Davenport to the world. Maybe he wouldn’t spend time in prison, but if this video was released to the public, his reputation would be ruined.
All of those fancy, high-powered connections would dwindle away to nothing, leaving him vulnerable, and more of his victims might have the courage to come forward. He wouldn’t have a leg to stand on then.
I could play the long game to ensure he got everything he deserved. I just hoped Lexi understood.
“My father will—”
I pistol-whipped Bass, blood exploding from his mouth.
“That’s for thinking you could touch her and get away with it.
” If Lexi wasn’t here, I’d rip this sniveling piece of shit apart and watch him take his last, painful breath before finally succumbing to Death’s cruel hands.
“And your father already knows I have a copy of that video. How long will it take him to figure out you stole it first?”
A ghostly pallor ripped the color from Bass’s complexion. “You’re a fucking psycho, Killian. And did you forget that you’re bound by blood to this organization? You won’t be able to walk away after trying to murder me. I’m the fucking Domnus.”
I motioned the gun around the secret catacombs under the frat house. “The Domnus who brought an outsider into these hallowed halls without permission?” I tutted. “Sharing our secrets with others is punishable by death, even for you.”
Lexi gasped, and my head snapped in her direction as she clutched my shoulder. “He’s got Cordelia too.”
I angled toward Bass, baring my teeth. “Where the fuck is Cordi?”
With that manic grin, blood coating his teeth, his monstrous outsides finally matched the rot on the inside. “She’s good and hidden, Kill. And you’ll never prove that I brought anyone here. I shut off the security cameras before entering.”
The son of a bitch actually used his brain instead of just his dick.
Security cameras didn’t cover the entire span of the catacombs—that would be too dangerous—but they did film the entrances, the archives, and a few other places.
They would have captured Bass bringing the girls down here had they been on.
“Oh, I wouldn’t worry about that, Kill.”
Gage slinked out of the shadows, turning on a few gas lanterns along the walls, the light dancing across his purple hair. Lexi glanced at me, probably wondering if I’d expected him.
Nope.
“You missed a few cameras, Sebastian.” Gage lifted his phone as the screen played a video of my stepbrother dropping Cordelia onto a couch in one of the lounges near the archives. “The Inner Circle won’t be too pleased with your behavior.”
For once in his life, Bass was speechless. The fight drained out of him as he realized how screwed he was. He should consider himself lucky to be at the mercy of the Ascended and not me.
That didn’t mean I wouldn’t seek revenge for harming Lexi later. A fucking flesh wound wasn’t nearly enough damage.
“Oh, and Bass.” I stood and then stepped on his fingers, grinding them into the rough stone.
“You’re going to make sure you rescind the murder hit on that mysterious girl.
You can tell the Inner Circle or whichever Ascended you got permission from that you made a mistake.
No one got wind of any Serpents and Daggers secrets. ”
He gritted his teeth, pain flashing in his gaze. “And if I don’t?”
Gage chuckled. “Stop pretending you have any power right now, Bass. I have evidence of your betrayal on video. One click, and your ass will be the one on a kill list.”
The bastard was still on my kill list.
“What are you doing down here, Gage?” I reached for Lexi’s hand, needing to simply touch her. “I don’t want you involved in this.”
My friend arched his pierced eyebrow. “When you asked me to set up a meeting with Declan from Arcane, I knew some serious shit was going down. Did you really think I wouldn’t have your back, Kill?”
“Did you not think we wouldn’t have your back?” Axel sauntered into the room with Slate beside him.
Gage gave a noncommittal shrug. “I might have called them too.”
Pangs sliced my chest wide open as my friends gathered around us, willing to risk everything to help me. They had no idea what was going on or how dangerous this was, but they came regardless.
“You guys can’t be here.” I shoved the gun into my waistband and jammed my hand through my hair as panic attempted to override everything. “There’s so much you don’t know.”
Axel scoffed. “Your mother would kill me if I let anything happen to her baby boy. She already hounds me about making sure you’re eating and getting enough sleep.”
Lexi cleared her throat. “I hate to ruin this bromance moment, but someone needs to get Cordi.”
“I’m on it.” Axel jogged to the left, disappearing through one of the doors.
“She’ll be fine.” Slate lifted his hand to pat Lexi’s shoulder but stepped back when he noticed my scowl. “Cordi’s a tough cookie.”
He winked one of his hazel eyes and grinned, turning on that Wentworth charm.
The prick just couldn’t help himself.
Gage dug into his pocket, pulled out a card, and passed it to me. A spider insignia covered the front, and the details of my meeting with a member of Arcane were written on the back. “Just be careful. These guys are dangerous.”
I gave a sharp nod and shoved the card into my pocket before turning to Lexi. “You won’t like what I’m about to do.” Arcane was the same underground organization Gregory Banks used to get that incriminating information on Stan.
Lexi’s gaze fell to the splatters of Stan’s dried blood on my neck. “Does this have to do with the video?”
When I nodded, a flare of anxiety darkened her blue eyes. “I don’t know any other way to make Stan pay. Except for killing him, which I’m not opposed to.”
“As much as I’d like that creep to be wiped from this world, I’d rather you not be sent to prison for murder.”
I probably wouldn’t make it to prison. The Serpents & Daggers could terminate me well before then.
Lexi sucked in a deep breath and hardened her expression like she was preparing for battle. Her fiery side emerged, her nostrils flaring and teeth shining as she scowled. “I want him to suffer. You have to take that video to the police.”
“That’s not exactly what I’m doing, Red.” I tucked a piece of auburn hair behind her ear. “Stan has too many friends to go that route.”
“So, what are you going to do?” she asked.
“Cordi’s okay, but we should probably get her checked out.” Axel strolled into the atrium, cradling an unconscious Cordelia to his chest.
Gage’s gaze shifted in her direction, and something unreadable flashed across his expression. It was gone just as quickly.
Lexi tried to dart toward them, but my hand still firmly gripped hers. I just couldn’t let her go. Not yet.
She looked back at me as her patience evaporated. “Kill!”
I grumbled and finally released her. Once Lexi made it to her friend, she smoothed her hand over Cordi’s face, brushing off a smudge of dirt.
“What are we doing with him?” Slate flicked raven locks from his face and nudged—more like kicked—Bass. My stepbrother glowered but remained silent. “We could strip him and duct tape him to the fountain outside Davenport Auditorium.”
Gage shrugged. “I’m okay with letting this little fuck die.”
“Nah, we'd better get him to a doctor.” A terrifying smile melted over Axel’s face, reminding me he wasn’t always the fun, lovable jock. “Let me handle Bass. You can take Cordi, Gage.”
Gage barely had time to react before Axel dropped Cordelia into his arms. “Uh, no. She’s your friend. You deal with her and leave me to Bass.”
Slate shook his head. “No way, Van Horn. You might kill him.”
“So you think dumping Cordelia on me is better?” His muscles stiffened to stone as if this was the most uncomfortable position he’d ever been in.
Lexi side-eyed him. “If anything happens to her, I’ll kick your ass.”
I grabbed Lexi’s hand, breathing easier now that I was touching her again. “Cordi’s safe with you, right, Gage?”
I gave him a look, and he grumbled something under his breath, then headed toward the exit.
“Come on, Red.” I followed him. “I’ll drop you off at your dorm while I—”
“You are out of your mind if you think you’re going anywhere without me, Kill.” That unrelenting blue gaze burned into me as she pulled me to a stop. “I’m part of this.”
My jaw clenched at the stubborn side of her I loved as much as I loathed. She would never just listen to me for her own good.
“I love you, Red,” I whispered. “But these are dangerous people. I’m not letting you near them.”
She flicked her hair over her shoulder. “You don’t let me do a damn thing, Killian. I make my own decisions, and that doesn’t change simply because we’re together now.”
Together.
We were together.
“Besides, I’m not going to my dorm room alone just for someone to bust in and abduct me.” A shiver cascaded down her spine as she glared at Bass curled in a ball on the floor. “I won’t feel safe until he and his father are on their knees, begging for mercy.”
Another onslaught of rage poured through my bloodstream as images of what I had walked in on flashed through my mind. I’d never be able to burn those memories away.
“They will beg, but I’ll make sure no one grants them any mercy.”
I gingerly skimmed my thumb over the bruise darkening Lexi’s cheek, longing to break every bone in Bass’s body. “Are you sure you’re okay, Red? You should get examined at the hospital.”
She curled her fingers into my shirt and drew me closer, kissing my jaw. “Shouldn’t this guy be here by now?”
I rechecked my watch as we waited in a dusty, abandoned shipping warehouse, the rising sun peeking through cracks in the derelict building. Declan was fifteen minutes late. It wasn’t like a member of Arcane to be late.
When Gage arranged this meeting, he made it perfectly clear that the information I had was worth dropping everything for.
Since Stan was the Grand Domnus of the Serpents & Daggers and had allies everywhere, I couldn’t simply hand over the video to the cops or the press. The brotherhood could, and would, kill me for turning on one of their own, especially one as important as Stan.
But if Arcane discovered this information and released it to ruin Stan, they couldn’t pin this on me.
Hopefully.
“Are you okay?” Lexi bit her bottom lip, and fuck if that didn’t make my cock hard. “This can’t be easy for you either.”
She was too good for me, and my darkness might one day tarnish her, but I couldn’t give her up for anything. I’d rather die than live another minute without her. The need to be with her had always been under my skin. Hell, I marked my flesh with a tattoo to remind myself of how much she owned me.
Being without her had shattered me. And now, being with her was slowly mending my pieces back together. I only hoped I didn’t break her in the process.
“This is nothing compared to the years I spent without you. I’d do anything to keep that from happening again.” I pulled her against me, burying my face in her hair. “I love you so fucking much I can’t breathe.”
Her arms tightened around my waist, a little sniffle echoing. “I love you, Kill.”
“Isn’t that sweet?”
The icy claws of dread ripped into my chest as Stan materialized through the shadows. Lexi stiffened and angled her head, a gasp falling from her lips at my stepfather’s unsightly appearance. Bruises mottled his face, a cut dug into his brow, and one of his eyes was almost swollen shut.
I yanked Lexi behind me as Stan approached. “What the fuck are you doing here?”
“Declan will have to miss this meeting.” His laughter was worse than nails on a chalkboard, making every hair on my nape stand on end. “Did you really think you could go to Arcane and I wouldn’t find out? I am everywhere, son. And it’s time you and your whore realized who you’re dealing with.”