Chapter 36 #2
“I was going to end my life that night, because you’d threatened me. You said if I went on the trip, you’d make me pay for it one way or another. I was smart enough to know you planned to rape and beat me when I got back.” I paused, leveling my gaze at him.
“Walking along the beach, I came across another tortured soul and one thing led to another. I saved his life, he saved mine. And the best part? We created another life on that magical night. The day you found me in the shower, and raped me? That little amount of blood you saw was spotting. It happens in the early stages of pregnancy sometimes.”
“You bitch,” he seethed.
I re-opened my book and drew out the second set of DNA results. “Just so you know, I’m not lying. Make sure you note the name. Yes, that’s a 99.99999999 percent probability. Andrew Marcel is the father.”
“You stupid fucking whore. You think this is messing with my head? I don’t give a fuck about you or your lame-ass kid.”
“Oh, now he’s lame?” I huffed.
“If he is that bastard’s, then yes. I said what I said.” Cameron’s eyes darted to the two-way mirror.
Anger twisted his features. His jaw was clenched tight, and his nostrils flared as he breathed heavily. What a beautiful sight to behold. The realization crushed his ego. He continued to lash out, not realizing that every comment he made about Declan was going to cost him.
“He’ll end up being fat and a major sissy ass like his father,” he said.
Kinsley once more pulled hard at his hair. Her eyes drifted to the mirror. “I’m being careful, Reaper, but he gets a cut for that comment. No one insults my nephew and gets away with it.” Kinsley moved the knife in her hand down his cheek before digging in.
Cameron screamed as she twirled happily away.
“Awe, now who sounds like a sissy? My lipstick, please,” Isabella said, her voice controlled.
Kinsley fished around in her bag. She pulled it out and handed it to Isabella. With a determination I hadn’t expected, she approached Cameron and asked politely for Kinsley to hold his head back. She took the lipstick in her hand and wrote across his forehead POS.
She smeared the lipstick on his lips, painting his face like a whore. With the amount of movement he did, it ended up looking horrific. The deep red was reminiscent of blood, a reminder that his would flow freely by the end of the evening.
Once she was satisfied with her work, she walked over to the door and pounded on it. It flung open and Marcus barreled in, ready to inflict pain if necessary. His body relaxed once he saw everything was as it was supposed to be.
“Would you mind lighting the fire for me?” Isabella asked.
Marcus nodded, his lips curled in a sneer as he walked past Cameron.
“There is an indoor fire pit over there,” I directed him.
“It would be my pleasure then.”
He walked over to the area I indicated, and soon flames danced. Somehow it intensified the drama of the confrontation, and a chill raced down my spine. A wave of dread washed over me as the memory of being branded long ago replayed raw and vivid.
In that moment I was caught between two worlds—the night he branded me and this night. My breath grew shallow, and I refocused my attention on the dark-haired girl before me.
Isabella chewed on her bottom lip. Fear, anger, and residual anguish painted her face. The intensity of my stare caused her to look up. I cocked my head to the side, asking without words.
“I’m perfectly fine,” she breathed. Her fists clenched beside her, and she took three slow breaths and turned to Kinsley.
“You need this?” she asked.
She let go of Cameron’s hair and moved around to the front of him. She sensually lifted her leg out, the slit parted, and the wire piece strapped to her leg shone in the light. Like the pervert he was, he couldn’t help but stare at Kinsley’s exposed thigh.
Isabella’s fingers started low, brushing the outside of Kinsley’s calf like she was testing the waters. She let her nails trail upward, dancing across her skin in lazy patterns that made Kinsley shift.
“Oh my,” Kinsley breathed, her knee jerking. “That tickles.”
Isabella only smiled, the picture of indulgent patience, and continued anyway.
Her hand danced higher, fingertips tracing the inside of Kinsley’s thigh now.
Cameron was completely enthralled. Then she toyed with the edge of the garter, hooking one finger beneath it, tugged lightly, then let it snap back into place.
Cameron leaned forward on that, his mouth curling into something expectant. What a fucking idiot. Isabella finally pinched the garter between her fingers and plucked the wire free in a single, graceful motion. The metal caught the light.
Isabella leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to Kinsley’s cheek. “You’re the best,” she murmured, just loud enough to carry.
Kinsley beamed. “Nik has several sets of pliers over there. One of them will be sufficient to heat it up.”
Cameron gulped and shook his head, the color draining from his face. He was catching on to where we were going with the wire. Kinsley blew a kiss to the mirror.
“Now it makes sense,” Marcus mused with a chuckle.
With controlled steps, Isabella moved toward the workbench where Nikolai had carefully laid out several instruments. It was fascinating watching her resolve solidify right before my eyes. She squared her shoulders, and her hand closed around the tool.
“I saved the needle-nose one for you, Tori,” she said calmly before walking toward the fire.
She clamped the pliers onto a piece of the metal and extended her hand. Her face took on a surreal glow.
“Cameron, you messed with the wrong crew. You never were very smart though, so I’m not surprised,” I said with conviction. “Kinsley, would you mind getting the pliers for me?”
“I’d love to. Any chance you’ll let me make a matching cut on the other side?” she asked casually, as if she were asking to borrow a dress.
The edge of her blade danced across his cheek, and her head titled to the side. A darkness entered her eyes as she seemed to fight the urge to plunge it into his neck. I blinked hard, startled almost by the ferocity burning within her.
“Damn, where the hell did our little Mouse go?” I murmured, and Isabella shook her head. “In a minute, you can have your cut. Pliers first,” I answered firmly, before walking over to Marcus. Kinsley shifted her blade back to the sheath beneath her dress and walked to the bench.
I gently pulled on Marcus’ shirt. “Thank you for your help. The girls and I can take it from here.”
A rich, deep chuckle rippled through the air. “As you wish.”
He strode back over to the door and stepped outside. Kinsley danced her way over and resumed her position behind Cameron. I took a deep breath and followed, pausing as I moved in front of him.
“You should have hung yourself in your cell. It would have been a much kinder way to go,” my voice rang out. He shifted uncomfortably away as best he could, his eyes moving between me and the pliers Kinsley was manically clicking.
“I dreamed about doing this so many times.” I used my knee to nudge his thighs open.
My hand disappeared between his legs as I found what I was looking for.
“This is just as worthless as your tongue, just so you know. I hated every single moment with you.” My laughter rang out, which caused Kinsley to immediately giggle.
“I thought only cold weather or water made a man shrivel in size. Who knew?”
Isabella roared from her place by the fire.
“How are we looking, Artist?” Kinsley asked.
“I think we’re ready. I’ll hold it here until Tori gives me the signal.”