59. Pedro
Pedro
“Myko says he’s lying,” Bay notes casually as we continue interrogating Christian.
Her dragon is currently sprawled out across the ash-covered ground, seemingly engaged in a deep, private conversation with her as she observes him closely.
Myko’s massive form dwarfs Bay entirely—her whole body isn’t even the size of one of his sharp, menacing fangs.
Behind Christian’s beaten body, Mariano tightens his grip on him while Luca runs his knife slowly along Christian’s cheek, leaving yet another cut, making it at least the tenth now. But who’s counting?
A fresh drop of blood trickles down Christian’s cheek as his breath grows labored from the pain.
“Son of a bitch. I told you—everyone knows by now! The rumors spread so far that even the small city cartels are keeping their distance. I wouldn’t be here if my men weren’t still with you!
” he rasps, as if he’s had to summon every ounce of strength to get that out.
“Then maybe you’ll be lucky enough to keep breathing,” Luca replies, straightening from his crouched position before Christian, a dangerous smile twisting his face, sending chills even down my spine.
“Bone Crusher,” he calls out, extending a hand to Mateo, who had delivered the corpses of these rotten fuckers to us earlier.
That’s two more of our men who know the secret now.
Within seconds, a pair of massive, gleaming metal pliers—branded “Bone Crushers” for their sheer brutality—clenches in Luca’s hand, and I know exactly where this is heading.
I shoot a quick glance back, making sure Bay isn’t watching, then step forward to block her line of sight just in case she looks over.
I didn’t expect her to witness those severed heads earlier, and I’m not about to pile more blood and brutality onto her already fragile mind.
A loud, sickening crunch echoes through the air, followed by a guttural scream from Christian as Luca sinks the pliers into one of his legs just below the knee, twisting and crushing with brutal precision.
The sound of bone snapping under the pressure is almost too much to bear, but Luca doesn’t stop.
With ruthless efficiency, he repeats the act on the other leg, leaving Christian crippled, moaning in agony.
Mariano doesn’t flinch as he steps forward, methodically tearing strips of fabric from Christian’s tattered clothing to tie makeshift tourniquets around both legs, staunching the bleeding.
Once he’s done, Christian has already passed out from the pain, but Mariano doesn’t let up.
He grabs what little flesh remains attached to the shattered limbs and, with one swift, merciless motion, tosses one leg toward Myko.
It doesn’t reach him, but it’s close enough to catch both of their attention—the dragon stirring hungrily, hungry for more.
“Mariano,” I growl. “Not in front of Bay,” I add through gritted teeth, hoping she hasn’t heard.
“She’s already seen enough crap—what exactly are you protecting her from?” he replies coldly, then shouts over his shoulder, completely ignoring my request. “Hey, Bay—does the pet dragon want dinner?”
Bay turns quickly, clearly distracted from her soul-searching chat with Myko, and wrinkles her nose at the sight of the limb but quickly diverts her gaze to the dragon.
“You’re a real piece of work,” I mutter toward Mariano and sigh.
“He says even he has standards when it comes to meat. He won’t eat anything this spoiled,” she calls back with a strained laugh, swallowing hard when taking another look at the leg.
The new clarity in my vision amazes me still; even from this distance, though it’s no miles away, I can see every slight movement of hers and every expression on her face as if she were right next to me.
“Mateo, burn it,” Mariano orders, tossing the second leg to the same spot.
Luca approaches me now, and this time, there’s a genuine smile on his face.
“Now that you’re in control of your powers, you’re a serious asset in the field,” Luca says, clapping me on the back like we’re just sitting around a bar, having a beer, picking out women for the club.
“And now that Flavio knows, there’s a good chance he’ll call you in on their jobs, too.
Be ready.” He adds this with a pride I’ve never seen directed at me before.
I raise an eyebrow. “Why are you so eager for me to help him?”
“Even though we have good relations, we hold the upper hand now. If they need us, we set the rules and the terms,” he says with a smirk, already talking strategy.
I still can’t understand how he can flip to casual planning right after crushing a guy’s legs.
Not that I care what happens to him, but his relaxed attitude to torture? That’ll never stop surprising me.
“I’m in,” I promise, nodding at Christian’s limp body. “But what about him? Why keep him alive?”
Luca grins. “Too many people know about us now. We can’t keep it all under wraps anymore.
So, we show force—we send Christian back, along with the other bodies, to remind them what happens if they so much as think of crossing my wife again,” he says.
“Christian’s so scarred by that dragon, I bet he’ll piss himself if anyone even mentions today. ”
I chuckle. “Pretty sure there’s nothing left of him to hold pants up, anyway…”
Mariano joins us, laughing. “We’re making do with what we’ve got,” he says, tossing out one of his sarcastic quips, when suddenly, a deep roar rattles the ground. My heart pounds strong as I turn quickly, spotting Bay slumped unconscious against Myko’s massive arm as he tries to hold her steady.
Without thinking, I sprint over, ducking around the dragon’s long tail to reach Bay. Myko, as if he’s been waiting for my help, moves his long body aside to give me clear access.
I grip her shoulders, shaking her gently, calling her name, but she doesn’t respond. Her eyes suddenly flutter open, barely, and she whispers faintly, “Need…”
“Need what?” I ask, panic tinges my voice.
I hold my breath for each shallow inhale she takes, clinging to the as surance that she’s still breathing.
“Bay?” I shout, my pulse rising with fear.
Myko’s hot breath washes over us, and the heat slicks my skin with sweat, though I know he won’t hurt me.
But for some reason, I am starting to feel weaker too.
“The Coral of Life… we need… to get to the Coral of Life…” she manages between weak breaths.
“What’s happening?” I shout at Myko, hoping for some kind of answer—and nearly stumble when his voice rings sharply in my head.
Someone’s tampering with the Coral of Life, weakening it, and it’s affecting us both. We need to reach it fast. Myko voice thrums through my mind for the first time like an urgent pulse. A rush of dizziness hits, but I don’t let go of Bay. I am connected to this Coral too, that’s why I’m weakening.
Take us there. Call Alin; she’ll know how to follow my guidance to the Coral. Myko’s voice roars again, and in seconds, a blinding light surges from Bay’s chest as the dragon is drawn back into her.
The silence chill wind he leaves behind takes me a moment to adjust to, and I gather myself before shouting back to my brothers, voice tense with urgency.
“Get Abert to take Alin to the shore—tell her to meet us there, NOW!”