Chapter Twenty-Nine
L ook at these two…
Lemuel and Felix are in bed, wrapped up in one another. Kissing and rubbing their dicks together like two randy sluts.
See , if they weren’t so busy fingering each other, maybe they would’ve noticed that there are actual intruders in their bedroom. Watching them and waiting to make our move.
But of course, they don’t notice. Because they’re in love … And engaged , apparently. Bleh.
“Focus,” Leo whispers, and I snap out of it. Focusing instead on Byron.
He’s… incredible . My shadowman, lingering in the darkness, stalking his prey. Like a predator who takes dick extremely well.
I bite my lip, containing my breaths and keeping still. I’ve always enjoyed stalking, but Byron is a pro. For someone so vibrant, he sure is able to blend into the background effortlessly. I admire that.
I also resent the rest of the world for not seeing him the way they should. The way he deserves to be seen.
Oh well. Fuck ’em. More Byron Kang for me.
Just as Lemuel is lifting the shirt over Felix’s head, Byron lunges, stealthy like a jaguar. He hooks a fast arm around Dr. Love’s neck, yanking him backward with force.
While they’re struggling on the floor, I make my move, going for Felix Darcey. Jumping on top of him, I pin him to the bed, immediately holding the blade of the razor up to his throat.
“Easy now, sweetheart,” I rumble with a grin. “Wouldn’t want you getting carved , now would we?”
I hear Byron fighting Lemuel behind me, but I don’t dare take my eyes off of Felix. The fear in his irises gives me life. Gray storm clouds of worry behind his preppy glasses that melt into rage in seconds flat.
“If you hurt him, I swear to God…” he snarls, tone calm, body still. Hell, his heart rate is barely accelerated.
It is truly frightening. I love it.
My grin widens. “ What? What do you swear to God …?”
Felix arches up, pushing his throat harder into the blade. “You’ll spend every waking moment of the rest of your life wishing I’d had the mercy to kill you quick.”
My tongue slides over my lower lip. “Such an adorable bloodthirsty monster.”
Grabbing him, I haul him up quickly, turning us both. I stand behind him, sealing his back to my chest, with the razor pressed firmly above his carotid artery.
“Lemuel,” I sing his name, loud enough to get his attention.
Dr. Love freezes from the floor, where he was fighting against Byron, eyes widening in sheer dread.
“Don’t fucking move,” I hiss at him. “Or you’ll get to watch your fiancé bleed out.”
I can see him weighing his options, the wheels of his mind turning while giving away very little emotion. He’s extra smart; we know this. Calculating enough to read every situation and play out the angles that’ll get him what he wants. But I see it… His fear, his anger, his helplessness.
It’s bloody intoxicating .
“Right,” Dr. Love breathes out as Byron stands him up slowly, twisting his arms forcefully behind his back. His chest is heaving, eyes locked, not on mine, but on Felix fucking Darcey’s. “Whatever you say, just… don’t hurt him.”
My jaw strains while I watch them, staring at one another. Communicating without words. But then I glance behind him, at Byron.
“Hold still, Doc ,” Byron whispers in his ear, winking at me.
My stomach flips, a distinct flutter in my chest.
God, he’s sexy.
We’re just as connected as those wankers. I think maybe… he’s my grumpy counterpart.
When Byron begins tying Dr. Love’s arms behind his back with the silk rope, Felix squirms in panic. “No, no… Please,” he gasps. “Don’t do that—”
“Baby, look at me,” Lemuel says in a hushed, comforting tone. “I’m alright. Everything will be fine.”
“Wouldn’t bank on it,” Leo scoffs while poking around in their things.
“I wouldn’t bank on it,” I sneer at them.
“Why are you doing this??” Felix barks.
“I refuse to believe this prissy little twit killed thirty-something people…” Leo mutters.
“I’m sure your doctor is well aware of why this is happening,” I grunt at Felix. “But if you’d like an explanation, I’ll give you one word… Retribution.”
Byron has Lemuel’s wrists bound behind his back. Our eyes lock, and I purse my lips.
“Use his belt,” Leo says. My eyes fall to Lemuel’s waist.
“Raph,” I hum. “His belt.”
Byron looks like he wants to smirk, but is keeping himself professional— I sort of love how he acts like this is a job. He removes the belt while I slowly bring Felix back to the bed.
“Trevel, listen to me,” Lemuel rumbles, robot-mode barely breaking. “You don’t have to do this. Whatever you think is—”
“Shut up,” I bark, glaring at him. “Not another word.”
Byron brings me the belt, and I hold Felix down while he straps his neck to the wrought iron bedpost.
“Make sure it’s nice and tight,” I tell him, grinning wickedly at Lemuel.
“Trust me, I want this to hurt,” Byron seethes, his wrathful gaze on Felix Darcey as he tugs the belt, digging it into Felix’s throat.
“Ooh, I like his angry side,” Leo beams.
I use the razor to keep them both at our mercy while Byron ties Felix’s hands and feet. Once he’s done, he stands posted beside Lemuel with his arms folded over his chest. Relaxed, fearless… Hot as fuck.
My warrior.
Pacing slowly in between them all, I address our hostages.
“You see, you brought this on yourself, Lemuel. All you had to do was admit what you’d done.
Show even the tiniest bit of empathy for someone other than yourself and your bloody monster…
But no . You’ve proven that you’re a snake, and you can’t be trusted.
Now, I’m not afraid of snakes. How about you, Byron? ”
I glance up at him, and he shakes his head slowly. “Not even a little.”
“What about sociopaths with a murder kink…” Felix croaks.
I chuckle. “There’s nothing you can do to get out of this, muffin. We’re all too ready to find out just how weak the two of you truly are when you’re on your own.”
The look Lemuel is giving me is titillating, I won’t lie. Burning flames of amber blazing at me to betray his stone-cold outer shell.
I’m getting to him.
This is perfect.
Spinning, I stride up to Byron, taking his jaw in my hands. His eyes widen a bit, shifting to the others in the room. It reminds me that he’s never really done this before—a public display of affection with a guy. Or maybe anyone… Either way, it’s adorable.
“You stay here,” I hum, swiping my thumb over his lower lip. “Keep an eye on our toy.”
He looks like he wants to ask me questions, but I kiss him before he can, effectively short-circuiting his brain. I’m weightless myself.
I will never get over how amazing it feels to kiss him…
“Don’t take too long,” Byron breathes.
“The lad is smitten,” Leo huffs. “Unbelievable.”
I shoot him a look, kissing Byron once more. “Don’t start without me.”
Releasing him, I go for Lemuel, yanking him along, razor at his throat now.
“Wait, no… Please,” Felix begs, but I’m not listening.
I’m too busy admiring the flush on Byron’s face, and the twinkle in his deep brown eyes.
“I’ll be back for you, baby, I promise,” Lemuel says to Felix as I haul him away.
“Lemuel! I—”
Byron backhands Felix, effectively shutting him up while I laugh, shoving a snarling Dr. Love through the door and into the hall.
Dr. Love is surprisingly cooperative, allowing me to drag him along, out of the mansion. Unsurprisingly , though, he doesn’t utter a word.
I would assume because he’s smart, he figured out almost instantly that we’re heading for the prison. But once it becomes visible up ahead, through the swaying trees and sideways rain, he pumps on the brakes and finally decides to open his fucking mouth.
“Trevel,” he utters my name, and even that manages to annoy me.
“What?”
“I just have to tell you that if you harm Felix in any way, I’ll kill you,” he says calmly. “I promise you that.”
“Right,” I huff. “Is that a promise, then… Doctor ?”
“Yes. It is.”
My blood instantly boils over. I was hoping to at least keep my cool until we got into the prison, but no such luck.
Stopping short, I hold the razor up to his throat, to the jagged skin of scars I’ve spent hours upon hours wondering about over the last three years.
“And what would you know about a promise , hm??” I snarl. “You’re the least trustworthy bastard I’ve ever met! And that’s saying something, by the way…”
“Look, I know you’re pissed.” He does that doctor thing; dripping with condescension that makes me feel crazy… When we all know he’s a fucking nutter himself! “You have every right to be. I understand why you’re so upset—”
“Oh, do you?!” I bark, getting up close. “Do you understand , Lemuel?? Then why don’t you fucking elaborate for me. Why am I so upset with you?”
“Because I left you,” he replies, blinking rain away from his eyes. “Because I used you to get back here.”
I scoff, shaking my head. Fury is making my blood burn like acid.
“You’re unbelievable.” He gives me one of his inquisitive looks, and my teeth grind.
“Three years, Doctor… Three goddamn bloody years ! And you threw it away like it was nothing! Tossed me aside like garbage to come here and fall in love with a guy?! ”
Dr. Love’s gaze shifts. His eyes actually widen, expression falling ever so slightly. I should probably stop, but I’m already wound up to full tightness.
I think I need to unravel a bit.
“And not just any guy,” I growl. “No, if he were some normal bloke, I think I could wrap my head around it. I mean, a regular relationship seems boring, but hey! Maybe that’s what you wanted…
But no. He’s a bloody killer! A murderer without remorse, just like you always knew I was!
Despite the meds and the therapy and that bullshit optimism you’d plaster onto your face every time we were together, you knew , deep down, that I was sick.
That I was capable of terrible, atrocious things, and incapable of ever changing!