Chapter 35
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
MALIK
I stood frozen against the rusted-out conveyor belt, eyes locked on Elias as he gasped for breath, his body writhing under Indigo’s touch. The sound of his screams reverberated in the cold, decrepit factory, but all I could hear was the pounding of my heart, a steady beat that refused to slow down.
I’ve always been good at keeping my composure. Calm, collected. But there’s a storm inside me now—something dangerous, something raw. Watching Indigo tear into that man, watching the power shift from him to her... I couldn’t look away. It was like a magnet, pulling me in deeper with every movement, every sickening sound. Her hands, steady and cold, sliding across his skin like a predator savoring her meal, and I couldn’t help but admire her for it.
I knew what she was doing. She wasn’t just hurting him—she was showing him. Making sure he understood the consequences of what he’d done. But the way she moved, the way she reveled in his pain... I couldn’t deny it—it stirred something in me.
I’ve never seen this side of her before—not like this. Not so… confident. The woman I fell in love with was fierce, yes. But this? This is a whole new level. A shudder ran through me as I watched her slice into his skin, a part of me horrified and another part... entranced.
I’m proud of her. Proud of what she’s capable of. But goddamn if that doesn’t make me sick too. I thought I could handle it—handle the darkness inside her. But this? This is beyond anything I expected.
She’s beautiful. Not in the way other women are. Not soft or delicate or graceful. She’s dangerous. And that’s what makes her more than just beautiful—it makes her a force. A fucking storm.
I should be worried. I should be disgusted. But instead, I’m fucking hard. Every scream that tore through the air only made it worse, filling me with a twisted sense of pride. This is my girl. This is the woman I chose.
I can’t even look at myself right now. What the hell does that make me? A man who stands by and watches while his woman tortures another human being? A man who gets off on the idea of it?
But I’m not repelled. I’m hooked.
Her eyes flicker toward me for just a moment, and I see the glint of something in them—something dark and knowing. She knows I’m watching. She knows what I’m feeling. And god help me, that only makes it worse.
She kneeled between his legs, the sickening sound of his muffled breath the only thing breaking the silence. And before I could stop myself, my eyes followed the movement of her hands—her hands that had been slicing through his flesh with such calculated precision. Now, those hands... moved lower. To his fucking dick.
My heart stopped.
Fury shot through me like a live wire. My pulse skipped, and I felt heat rise in my chest. She... she touched him. Her hands. Those same hands that had wrapped around me, touched me, made me feel like I was the only one in the world. She put them on him, on his cock, and I felt a cold fury tighten around my throat.
“Indigo!” I snap.
How dare he? How dare Elias get to feel her touch there? Her hands are mine. They belong to me. No one else.
She glares at me over her shoulder. “Don’t look, baby.”
I wanted to rip him apart, to tear her away from him, but something darker inside me told me to hold back. To watch.
And then she did it. The knife flashed, swift and cruel, cutting into him with a brutal force. A perfect slice. I gagged at the sight, my stomach twisting as crimson bloomed across his skin. The way his body convulsed, his face contorted in agony, told me all I needed to know. He got exactly what he deserved.
But the fucking worst part? The part I couldn’t fight, no matter how much I tried…
I was still fucking hard. Her hands, her movements, everything about what she just did to him—it only made it worse. Her power, her control over him and me, sent a shiver down my spine. I could barely even recognize myself anymore.
I stand frozen, still caught in the aftermath of what I just witnessed. Elias is dead. His face—what’s left of it—is beyond recognition. The fire did its job too well. I’d be surprised if dental records even identify him at this point. If they ever find his body. That’s a big "if."
The power in that thought sends a shiver down my spine. I’ve been a part of some fucked-up things, but this? This feels like stepping into the void. There’s no turning back now.
Indigo wipes the torch clean, the smell of burned flesh thick in the air. Her hands, steady as ever, remove the tool with practiced calm, as though this is just another day on the job. As though she’s done this a thousand times before.
"Grab the phone and text Brandon," she says, her voice cool but purposeful. "It’s done. Tell him, ‘I have information and names. Contact me tomorrow.’"
I don’t need to ask why she wants me to handle this. I know why. She’s leaving the next step in Brandon’s hands. She doesn’t give a shit about the details, just the fact that it’s done.
“Got it.” I step forward, pulling the phone from her bag, my fingers brushing the smooth surface. The weight of the device feels like the weight of a decision, of a chapter closing. I know the number she’s talking about. The one Brandon gave us for situations like this. A simple, direct line to someone who can handle anything... and everything.
I don’t waste time on pleasantries. I type a quick and simple message.
Indigo: It’s done. I have some information and names. Contact me tomorrow and I’ll share.
Indigo looks over at me and nods, her expression softer now, but still unreadable. “Thank you.” The words are rare from her, and for some reason, they land heavier than they should. “Now I need to call the cleaner.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Does he come this far?”
“I don’t know, but he’s the only one I know. And Brandon didn’t give me any instructions on that, so I’m assuming so. If not, I’ll leave a note with Brandon’s fucking name on it, and he can deal with the fallout.”
“Touché.” I chuckle, handing her the phone when she’s done wiping her hands clean.
Her gaze is intense when she meets mine. The weight of the silence between us presses down, the tension thick, like we’re both waiting for something. For what, I don’t know, but it’s in the way she looks at me. In the way she stands—firm, unshaken. A woman who owns everything around her, who demands respect without asking for it. I find myself admiring her more with each passing moment.
"Little Snake..." Jake's voice purrs, slow and taunting, through the phone.
"I'm still pissed at you." Indigo’s voice cuts through the air, sharp and clear. “I need a Mai Thai at 593 Broad Street in Redridge , Washington. Can you do it? Do you come that far?”
“I have crews in every state. I’m not a fucking amateur,” Jake spits, his voice carrying a sharp edge, clearly annoyed.
“Don’t fucking snap at me, or you’ll meet my blade next.” She doesn’t flinch, doesn’t back down. “We are fighting, asshole.”
Jake has the nerve to laugh—low, throaty, like he’s in on some joke only he gets. "Understood, Little Snake. This one's on me. An olive branch. Now go enjoy that big burly man you have wrapped around your finger."
"Fuck off," Indigo whispers, the words sharp as she stabs at the screen to end the call.
Her gaze turns to me, and I feel that simmering fire between us again. She’s got a look in her eyes—a challenge, a promise.
“Come on, baby. I wanna go to the hotel.” She steps closer, her voice low, almost purring as she slips her hand into mine. “Someone owes me a face ride.”
I can’t suppress the grin that tugs at my lips. I’m both proud and turned on by her. Everything about her. The way she takes control, the way she owns every situation. I don’t care where we’re going or what happens next. All I care about is the woman in front of me. The fire inside her. The way she’s made me feel like I can burn the world down with her by my side.
I lean down, brushing my lips against her ear, my breath warm against her skin. "You’ve got me all to yourself tonight, Indigo."
She smiles, sharp and knowing, and I know that tonight will be a night neither of us forgets.
I don’t need to say anything more, not when the heat between us is already palpable, thick with desire and something darker. As she steps into me, I wrap my arms around her, pulling her flush against my body, the tension building with every inch.
She looks up at me, her eyes full of something wild, something untamed, and without thinking, I pull her into a kiss—hard, demanding, like I can’t get close enough, can’t taste enough of her. Her lips are soft but fierce, kissing me back with the same intensity, her moan muffled against my mouth as she presses her body even closer to mine.
When we finally pull back, both of us gasping for air, her eyes bounce between mine, searching. Her voice is soft, tinged with uncertainty, but she doesn’t look scared. She just looks... raw.
“We’re okay?” she asks.
I brush a strand of hair behind her ear, my thumb gently caressing her cheek. “We’re perfect, pretty girl. I love you. You’re mine. My crazy, unhinged, murderous woman.”
Her lips quirk into a smile, soft and real, before she lifts herself on her toes and kisses me again—slower this time, sweeter, but with that same fire. I feel it in the way her body presses into mine, in the way her hands slide down my chest, a silent promise.
“I love you too,” she whispers against my lips, the words almost a vow. She pulls back slightly, her eyes mischievous now, and that smile of hers widens into something sultry. “I’m gonna fuck you so good tonight.”
I chuckle, my hands sliding to her waist, holding her tight. “I’m sure you will,” I reply, my voice low, teasing. But even as the words leave my mouth, I can feel the heat between us, the urgency building. I want her. And tonight, I’m going to have her.
All of her.