Chapter 5
Chapter Five
M y eyes lock onto them, a cold fury settling in my chest. Tyler, with his shaggy hair and lazy grin, looking more haggard than I remember. Marcus, his eyes darting nervously, a far cry from the confident predator of my nightmares. And Ethan... my fists clench at my sides as I take him in. He looks unchanged, still radiating that easy charm that once fooled me. They look so normal, so carefree. As if they hadn't shattered my world a year ago on this very beach. The injustice of it burns through me, igniting a rage that threatens to consume everything in its path.
Jaz's hand on my lower back grounds me, his touch a reminder of why we're here. "Easy, little Bee," he murmurs, his breath hot against my ear. "Remember the plan."
I nod, forcing myself to take a deep breath. We make our way towards the bonfire, blending in with the crowd of partygoers. The music pulses around us, a primal beat that seems to sync with my racing heart.
As we draw closer, I catch snippets of conversation. Ethan's voice carries over the din, boastful and loud. "...and then I told her, 'Baby, you know you want it,'" he laughs, his friends joining in with raucous approval.
The words hit me like a physical blow, memories threatening to overwhelm me. But Jaz's steady presence keeps me anchored in the present. I feel his muscles tense beside me, barely restrained violence in every line of his body.
"Soon," he promises, his voice low and dangerous. "Very soon."
We circle the bonfire, keeping to the shadows. I catch Tyler's eye as we pass, and for a moment, I think he recognizes me. But then his gaze slides away, dismissive. I'm just another pretty face in the crowd to him now.
The realization steadies me. We have the element of surprise on our side. They have no idea what's coming for them.
As the night wears on, we watch and wait. Jaz slips away at one point, returning with a predatory gleam in his eye. "It's done," he murmurs. "Now we wait."
The party reaches its peak, a frenzy of dancing bodies and drunken laughter. And then, one by one, our targets begin to falter. Tyler stumbles away from the crowd, his face pale and sweating. Marcus follows soon after, clutching his stomach.
Ethan holds out the longest, but eventually even he succumbs. I watch with grim satisfaction as he staggers towards the house, his golden boy facade crumbling.
"Now," Jaz says, his voice tight with anticipation.
We move swiftly, following Ethan into the house. The music fades behind us, replaced by the sound of retching coming from upstairs. We climb the steps silently, predators on the hunt.
The bathroom door is ajar, light spilling out into the darkened hallway. Ethan is hunched over the toilet, oblivious to our presence. Jaz moves first, swift and silent. Before Ethan can react, he's pulled back, a cloth pressed over his face.
The night air chills my skin as we drag the unconscious men into the trees near the house. My heart pounds, a mix of fear and anticipation coursing through my veins. The familiar surroundings bring painful memories flooding back but I push them aside, focusing on the task at hand.
Jaz secures our captives, his movements efficient and practiced. "I'll be right back," he murmurs, pressing a gentle kiss to my temple before melting into the shadows.
Left alone with my rapists, I study their slack faces in the dim moonlight. They look so ordinary, so harmless. But I know the monsters that lurk beneath.
The distant thump of music grows louder, revelers oblivious to the dark drama unfolding in the trees. Jaz returns, a duffel bag slung over his shoulder. His eyes gleam with dangerous intent as he unzips it, revealing an array of tools that make my breath catch.
"Remember," he says softly, "this is your revenge. I'm just here to guide you."
As we stand over our captives, the gravity of the moment settles over me. Jaz gently guides my hand to one of the tools—a sharp knife that glints in the moonlight. "Do it like I showed you. Start slow," he murmurs. "Make them feel every moment."
With trembling fingers, I make the first cut across Tyler's chest. He jerks awake with a muffled scream, eyes wild with fear and confusion. The sight of his pain ignites something primal within me.
Jaz's hands steady mine as I work, his low voice in my ear providing instruction and encouragement. "That's it, little Bee. Make them suffer."
One by one, they wake to a nightmare of their own making. Their pleas for mercy fall on deaf ears as I extract my pound of flesh. With each cut, each scream, I feel a piece of myself returning. The power they stole from me that night flows back into my veins.
As their cries grow weaker, my resolve strengthens. Jaz watches with dark approval, occasionally stepping in to demonstrate a particularly cruel technique. The sounds of their suffering mingle with the distant bass of the party, creating a macabre symphony.
When it's over, when their broken bodies lie still on the blood-soaked ground, I feel reborn.
And turned on.
The adrenaline coursing through my veins ignites into something else--a primal, desperate need. I turn to Jaz, my body thrumming with dark energy. His eyes lock onto mine, pupils blown wide with a hunger that matches my own.
Without a word, I launch myself at him. My lips crash against his, teeth clashing as I pour every ounce of rage and pain and twisted desire into the kiss. Jaz responds instantly, his strong arms wrapping around me as he devours my mouth.
We stumble backwards, away from the carnage we've wrought, until my back hits the rough bark of a tree. Jaz's hands roam my body, no longer gentle but demanding, possessive. I arch into his touch, craving the burn of his calloused fingers against my skin.
"Please," I gasp against his lips, not even sure what I'm begging for.
Jaz understands. With a growl, he picks me up, pressing me firmly against the tree. His body covers mine, hot and hard, and I wrap my legs around his hips. I feel the thick length of him pressing against my entrance as his lips trail fire down my neck.
"Is this what you want, little Bee?" he rasps, his voice rough with need. "To reclaim this place? To wash away their touch with mine?"
"Yes," I moan, grinding against him. "Please, Jaz. I need-"
My words cut off in a gasp as he hikes up my dress further, cool air hitting my overheated skin. Jaz's fingers trace the edge of my panties, teasing me. "So wet for me," he murmurs approvingly. "Such a good girl."
In one swift motion, he tears the delicate fabric away. I cry out at the sting, pleasure spiking through me. Jaz's hand comes up to cover my mouth, muffling my cries.
"Shh," he whispers, his breath hot against my ear. "Can't let anyone hear us, can we? Don't want anyone interrupting us."
I nod frantically, beyond words. Jaz keeps his hand over my mouth as he positions himself at my entrance. With one hard thrust, he's inside me, stretching me to the point of pain.
There's nothing gentle about what follows. Jaz takes me hard and fast, his hips snapping against mine with bruising force. Each thrust drives me against the rough bark of the tree, the pain only heightening my pleasure. Jaz wraps a hand around my throat, not squeezing, but applying just enough pressure to remind me of his strength. The possessive gesture sends a thrill through me. His dark eyes bore into mine as he pounds into me relentlessly.
"You're mine now," he growls, his voice rough with exertion and something deeper, more primal. "Say it."
"Yours," I gasp out, the word muffled against his palm. "I'm yours, Jaz."
His grip on my throat tightens fractionally, cutting off my air for just a moment before releasing. The brief deprivation makes my head spin, heightening every sensation.
"Again," he demands, his hips never slowing their punishing rhythm.
"Yours!" I cry out, not caring if anyone hears. Let them come. Let them see what we've done, what we've become.
Jaz's movements grow more frantic, his control slipping. I can feel my own release building, a tidal wave threatening to overwhelm me. The rough bark of the tree scrapes against my back, pain and pleasure blurring until I can no longer tell them apart.
"Come for me, little Bee," Jaz commands, his voice a low growl that vibrates through my entire body. "Let me feel you."
His words are the final push I need. I shatter around him, waves of pleasure crashing over me as I cry out his name. Jaz follows soon after, his body shuddering against mine as he spills inside me with a guttural groan.
For a long moment, we stay like that, panting and trembling in the aftermath. The distant sounds of the party filter back in, a stark reminder of the world beyond our dark cocoon. Slowly, Jaz lowers me to my feet, his hands gentle now as they smooth down my dress.
As the last tremors of pleasure fade, reality crashes back in. The coppery scent of blood mingles with the salt air, a grim reminder of what we've done. Jaz's eyes lock onto mine, a silent question in their depths. I nod, no words needed between us.
We move swiftly, gathering our tools and erasing any trace of our presence. The bodies of our victims lie still and broken in the shadows, their unseeing eyes staring up at the star-strewn sky. A part of me wants to linger, to savor this moment of triumph. But Jaz's hand on my arm urges me forward.
"We need to go," he murmurs, his voice low and urgent. "Someone will come looking for them soon."
The walk back to the car feels surreal, like wading through a dream. The sand beneath my feet is cool and damp, so different from the scorching grains that burned my skin a year ago. The distant thump of music grows fainter with each step, the revelry of the party a stark contrast to the dark deed we've just committed.
As we reach the road, I pause, turning to look back at the beach house. Its windows still blaze with light, silhouettes of partygoers visible through the glass. How long before someone notices the absence of the three golden boys? How long before their broken bodies are discovered among the trees?
Jaz's hand on the small of my back guides me into the car. The leather seat is cool against my overheated skin as I sink into it. For a moment, we sit in silence, the weight of what we've done settling over us like a heavy blanket.
Then Jaz starts the engine, its purr a comforting rumble in the stillness of the night. We pull away from the curb, leaving behind the scene of both my greatest trauma and my ultimate revenge. As we merge onto the coastal highway, the ocean stretches out beside us, an inky expanse that seems to swallow the moonlight.
"Where to now?" Jaz asks, his eyes flicking between me and the road ahead.
I gaze out at the endless horizon, feeling a sense of lightness I haven't experienced in a year. The burdens I've carried for so long--the fear, the shame, the burning need for vengeance--have been left behind on that blood-soaked beach. In their place is a vast, exhilarating emptiness, a canvas waiting to be filled.
"Anywhere," I reply, surprised by the steadiness in my voice. "As long as it's with you."
Jaz's hand finds mine, his fingers intertwining with mine. The touch is gentle now, a stark contrast to the bruising grip of our earlier passion. I look over at him, taking in his profile illuminated by the dashboard lights. The sharp angles of his face, the fullness of his lips, the intricate tattoos creeping up his neck--he's beautiful in a dangerous way, like a predator at rest. His dark eyes flick to mine, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
"Anywhere it is, then," he says, his thumb tracing circles on the back of my hand. "The world's a big place, little Bee. Lots of monsters out there waiting to be hunted."
His words send a thrill through me, a mix of excitement and trepidation. We're fugitives now, I realize. There's no going back to my old life, to the person I was before. But as I watch the familiar coastline fade into the distance behind us, I find I don't want to.
The girl I was died on that beach a year ago. The woman I've become was forged in fire and blood, tempered by rage and vengeance. And now, with the deed done and justice served, I feel... free. Unburdened. Ready to embrace whatever comes next.
"Tell me about these monsters," I say, turning to face Jaz fully. "Where do we find them?"
Jaz's grin widens, predatory and proud. "Oh, little Bee," he purrs, "they're everywhere. Men who think they can take what isn't theirs, who prey on the vulnerable and believe they'll never face consequences. But we know better, don't we?"
I nod, feeling a familiar fire ignite in my belly. "We do," I agree, my voice low and dangerous. "And we'll make them pay."
Jaz's eyes gleam with approval and something darker, more primal. "That's my girl," he murmurs, his hand squeezing mine gently.
We drive through the night, the familiar coastline fading into unfamiliar territory. The rhythmic purr of the engine and the gentle rock of the car lull me into a state of calm reflection. I think about everything that's led me to this moment—the pain, the rage, the dark transformation I've undergone.
A year ago, I was a different person. Innocent. Naive. Vulnerable. Now, I'm something else entirely. The old Bee would be horrified by what we've done tonight. But the woman I've become? She feels only a grim satisfaction.
"What are you thinking about?" Jaz asks, breaking the comfortable silence.
I turn to look at him, taking in his profile illuminated by the dashboard lights. "About how much I've changed," I admit. "About how I should feel guilty, but I don't."
Jaz nods, understanding in his eyes. "Guilt is for those who haven't suffered," he says softly. "You paid your dues in pain and blood. Now it's time for the monsters to pay theirs."
His words settle over me like a warm blanket, soothing away any lingering doubts. I lean back in my seat, watching the world fly by in a blur outside the window. The future stretches out before us, unknown but full of so much dark promise.