49. The Villain
THE VILLAIN
Red lights began flashing as the alarm blared through the speakers lining every hall. Violet’s eyes were predatory as she stalked toward her kidnapper.
“What’s the matter, Officer O’Neill? This is what you wanted, no? My powers unlocked? Well, here they are on full display. Is it everything you wished for?”
He tried to take a step back but hit a wall of ice. He wasn’t running anywhere on my watch. Fuck that. I couldn’t wait to watch my wife tear him to fucking pieces. Hopefully she’d let me join, but I’d happily cheer her on if she wanted to do it alone.
Dipshit’s wide eyes swivelled to me. “You— You have no idea who I am! I’ll make you regret this! She’s supposed to be mine!”
Frost crept over the floor, the arch of the door, and up his legs.
“She’s fucking mine,” I growled.
Violet glanced over her shoulder and smiled at me. “Damn straight. And proud of it too.” She focused back on Stupid. “I told you I’d never be yours. Alas, you clearly don’t listen to women, so I’ll have to show you.”
“You have no idea the hell your life will be if you kill me. The people I work for will never let you know peace.”
My wife grinned, as she stopped in front of him. “That’s where you’re wrong. I haven’t been alone all this time. I had a little spy running around gathering information while I slept.” She held her right hand out to the side. “Isn’t that right, Niko?”
My seventh shadow appeared in her hand, taking his usual form as a little blob. I would always be grateful to that little shadow for leaving with her, for helping keep her sane.
“I know all about your hijacking of The Culling’s plan, the names of every person in your little organization, even the fact that your monthly meeting happens to be taking place—right now.”
“That’s why you told me to wait till tonight,” I said aloud.
She nodded, not taking her eyes off Dumbass. “How fortunate for me, the meeting room is at the very bottom of the mountain.”
“You— You can’t get to them. The alarm would—”
“Warn them to get in the bunker. Yes, I know.”
I think I should have been upset with how much she kept to herself, but I wasn’t. She’d probably been planning this for days if not weeks. Every word, every action. This was her moment, her revenge, and I was happy to learn her plan along with everyone else.
Although I could live without my fucking dick trying to break free of my suit. Still in danger, calm the fuck down.
“I thought about letting you know I was free sooner, sounding the alarm myself so you’d head there, too. But, I wanted the satisfaction of watching you burn.”
Niko disappeared a second before her hand erupted in flames.
“The others will suffer, don’t you worry, but you—” her eyes blazed with sadistic glee “—you I wanted to watch. Personally.”
“No.” Dickhead’s eyes were full of panic as he tried to step away, but there was nowhere for him to run. He was surrounded by ice and fire, separated from his guards, completely and utterly helpless. “Don’t.”
Fuck me. There was that maniacal laughter again. I had to dig my nails into my palms to get myself under control. It wasn’t helping—nothing other than several weeks alone with my wife would. No, scratch that, it would have to be at least two months alone with her.
Can I ask you for a favour?
Anything.
I feel too small to be menacing right now, could I get an ice box or something to stand on? I didn’t want to ruin my villain speech by asking out loud.
I grinned, she was so fucking adorable. Anything you need, my love.
I made a block of ice appear between them. She stepped up, bringing her eye to eye with Fuckhead.
“Beg me,” she whispered.
“Please, don’t do this. I was just— Please. Please don’t.”
“Not good enough.”
Her fire hand closed around his neck, and he screamed as his flesh began to bubble and sear.
“Please! Please stop!”
Her eyes fluttered closed, a moan escaping her lips. “Fuck, I’ve been fantasizing about hearing your screams for weeks. It’s better than I ever could have imagined. Keep going, louder.”
Jesus fucking Christ. Watching this might actually kill me. I was surprised I wasn’t already dead, honestly. Pretty sure there was no blood left in my brain.
“Stop! Please, fuck! I’m sorry! Please fucking stop!” he cried.
She moaned again. “So much better. God, I can’t wait to get out of here so I can fuck my husband.
Feel his lips on my skin. His hands trailing over every scar, brand, and mark you tried to leave me with.
Let him wash away every single memory of you with his devilish mouth and wicked fingers.
” She hummed. “We’ll go all night until the only screams I hear are my own, for him. ”
Yeah, no amount of pain was going to distract me at this point. I was going to pass the fuck out if she kept talking like that.
“Please,” Stupid Shit whimpered.
Violet pulled her hand back. He collapsed at her feet.
“Thank you.”
She stepped off the block of ice and crouched in front of him. “Don’t thank me. It’s his turn now.” She looked at me. “If you want, I mean.”
I was so fucking in love with this woman.
I strolled to her side. “Are you sure?”
She nodded with a smile. “Make it quick, though. Because I was serious about taking you home.”
She didn’t have to tell me twice. I bent down in front of Shit Fucker.
“Usually I would drag this out, make it as painful as possible, because you certainly don’t deserve a quick death. But, I want to get the hell out of here so I can fuck my wife just like she wants. Count your lucky stars for that one.”
“She was supposed to be mine,” he muttered. “They’ll never let her be with you. Even if I’m dead, they’ll hunt her for someone else.”
“No, they won’t because they’ll all be dead.” Violet stood. “I’m going to tell the others to head to the meeting spot.”
I nodded and turned my attention back to the benefactor. What a fucking joke.
“This is going to be painful. Are you ready?”
“Fuck you,” he spit at me.
I tsked. “Ready or not, here we go.”
I started with his hands, freezing every cell in his skin, every drop of blood in his veins.
Think frostbite but on steroids, because it was faster and significantly more painful.
He was screaming as the cold spread up his arms, over his shoulder, down his back.
I kept going until his screams of agony cut off and his begging stopped.
Violet had rejoined my side, smiling as she looked down at the dead body of her kidnapper.
“That was hot as fuck. I’m all hot and bothered now.”
I laughed, tugging her into my chest. “Perfect, now you know how I’ve felt since I watched you kill Bitch Face.”
“Ew, turn your ear pieces off,” Hemlock’s voice chirped in my ear.
“Shut up,” Eva scolded. “Let them be in love, asshole.”
“They can be in love, just as long as I don’t have to hear it.”
“I thought you liked listening,” Whisper joined in. “Or do you—”
“Shut up,” Violet cut him off.
Whisper’s laugh was diabolical, but I got us back on track.
“Are you guys at the meeting point?”
“Yes. The only things missing are you two.”
“See you in a minute,” I said before turning off my ear piece, then Violet’s.
“What—”
I cut her off by crashing my lips into hers.
For the first time in twenty-nine days, I could finally breathe again. Violet was in my arms, kissing me like I was her whole world, and she was safe.
No matter how strong she’d been the last twenty minutes, I had no doubt that it would fade and she would struggle. She may not be fully okay in this moment, it may take her a while to move forward, but I would be there every step of the way.