56. Zayne
CHAPTER 56
Zayne
A idan’s arms are bound above his head, his feet hanging about two feet from the ground inside my dungeon—a concrete building beneath the ground. The entrance is on the side of a hill, hidden by a huge boulder. There’s a trick to getting into this room, but the only people who know how to do that are Jaxson, Ryker, Luca, and, of course, me.
I’m standing in front of him, shirtless, with a whip in my hand. Blood runs down his naked torso and legs.
Jaxson, Ryker, and Luca sit in metal folding chairs to the side, drinking beer and sharing snacks as they watch the live entertainment.
A massive table full of all kinds of weapons I use for torture is displayed behind me.
“P-Please…” Tears pour down Aidan’s cheek, mixing with the blood on his face. His nose is crooked from being broken. Bloodshot eyes lift to mine, pleading for mercy. “I-I’m s-sorry, Z-Zayne.”
I don’t react, pacing slowly and deliberately in front of him. “Sorry, huh?” I stop in front of him, crossing my arms over my pecs. “Lemme guess. You think saying the word ‘sorry’ will somehow undo the roughly seventeen years of damage you inflicted on me and my family.” I throw my head back, my maniacal laugh echoing from the concrete walls, filling every space of the room.
“N-N-Nooo…” He frantically shakes his head. “I-I’m n-n-not saying t-that.”
“You don’t seem to be saying much of anything.” My wrist snaps out, the whip cracking against his flesh, splitting him open. He howls, more tears and bloody snot running down his face. “You need to tell me more , Aidan.”
He’s sobbing so hard his entire body swings from the chains that suspend him from the ceiling. “T-They’ll k-kill me.”
I walk to the table and grab my favorite machete. Returning to Aidan, I hold it up against his face. “And you think I won’t?”
The men behind me start laughing, the sound as unhinged as I feel.
“Make no mistake, Aidan. I’m going to kill you. The real question is…” My boots step into the pool of blood on the floor beneath his dangling body. “How much torture will I inflict before ending your life?”
His face is as pale as a ghost. His body quivers harder as his gaze moves to the massive table of torture devices behind me.
“You and your friends are going down.” My gaze moves to the concrete floor before moving back to his. “In pieces. Straight to hell.”
Jaxson, Ryker, and Luca hoot and holler, pumping their fists. I glance over my shoulder, a faint smile on my face.
“I think this may help.” Ryker gets up from his chair, a folder in his hand. He opens it, turning it so Aidan can see what’s inside. His face turns green.
“We know you and your ‘boys’ set me and my father up at that warehouse because Richard wanted my dad’s bar. I had no idea why until we did some searching…” I meet Ryker’s eyes. “Stryker is a fucking genius. Offer him triple his salary.”
When Stryker began probing into the past, he wondered what happened to the bar after I sold it. He had a hunch something wasn’t right, and boy, it fucking paid off.
“I’ll text him.”
“He’s welcome to watch the action if he’s interested.” I nod in Aidan’s direction.
Ryker’s smug grin tells me that won’t be happening. “I would, but he’s ensuring Devyn is safe while I’m here.”
I raise my brows. “I thought she was ‘incapacitated,’ as you put it.”
Ryker chuckles. “Oh, she is. I gave her a ten-minute head start in the woods before chasing her, letting her believe she had the upper hand and was ‘getting away.’ I don’t know why she deluded herself, but when I caught her, she got the fucking of her life. She couldn’t keep her eyes open while I cleaned her up.”
He smirks, moving the folder away from Aidan’s face. “I tucked her in bed, then asked Stryker to hang out downstairs. He’s busy watching his new little obsession, a college girl, while Devyn sleeps.”
I fist bump him. “Nice.”
I may need to steal that idea. The thought of Delaney running barefoot in a skimpy nightgown in the woods, thinking she’s outsmarted me, makes my dick fucking throb. I love the chase… but catching her will be the sweetest reward.
Turning my attention back to Aidan, the brief thrill of lust is gone. In its place is red-hot rage that burns beneath my skin like a thousand pokers, branding me from the inside out.
Grabbing the machete, I slice it over his foot, cutting off his toes. He howls from the pain, and the guys cheer, clinking their beer bottles together.
“You’re gonna tell me exactly why Richard fuckface Warner wanted my father’s bar so goddamn bad.” I toss the machete down on the floor and then rip Aidan’s boxers down his legs. “If you hesitate or lie to me, I’m gonna slice your tiny dick into pieces until it’s completely severed from your body.”