“She’s not that girl.”
“She’s mine.”
He jerked, and for a second I thought he was going to pass out. But no, he didn’t. His heart still beat.
I took a step back to assess my handiwork, and damn, it was perfection.
I stepped forward again and wiped my bloody gloves on his shirt and crouched, so he had no choice but to stare at me through those swollen eyes.
“You’re going to live, Kex. That’s your punishment. You’re going to wake up every day and remember why you’re in this condition. You’re going to eat your food through a straw and shit in a bag. You’re going to feel that guilt, regret, and powerlessness crawl over your skin every second like ants under your flesh. I stood up and/smirked before adding, …from the cold walls of prison, of course.”
I signaled for Norlan.
“Carve him.”
KESTER.
I watched with admiration as Norlan took over from me. We had to multitask so we could beat the time.
So, while I take care of Nagel, he’d quickly carve a rough I TOUCHED WHAT’S NOT MINE on Kex’s back.
I turned to the next offering.
Now, it was Nagel’s turn.
The muzzle stayed locked over his mouth. It was a tight silver lattice that blistered his jaw and left angry welts across his cheeks.
I crouched in front of him with my elbows resting lazily on my knees, like I was just watching some dying animal twitch on the side of the road.
“Comfortable?” I asked.
He growled, and I tapped the top of his head. Let him keep that fire. I wanted to see it die slowly.
“I’m sorry… for the bruises.”
He looked up, confused.
“The ones my men gave you. Sloppy of them. So unprofessional. I told them no physical harm. But they went against my instructions anyway. Fucking assholes. I smiled.
“You know, inflicting physical injuries like this on you would truly have been perfect,” I whispered. “But then I realized something… doing that would humanize you. And you’re not human, are you, Nagel?”
He glared at me, realizing the game I was playing.
‘Old habits never die,” I said, with a smirk so dry it hurt. “Well, I want you to remember this, Nagel. I’m not here to punish a man. I’m here to dismantle a disease.’
“You’ve grown tougher over the years,” I murmured, cocking my head slightly, like I was genuinely impressed. “But that’s alright. Some men need longer to rot.”
—
I stood and exhaled slowly. “I know what you’re thinking a hammer, a scapel, an axe, probably a cross and some nails for crucifixion. You’re expecting something cinematic. Bat to the ribs, blade to the skin, maybe a few plucked fingernails, too, while nailing you to the cross.”
I leaned in close and whispered. “No. I’m not here to hurt you, my friend.”
I stepped back and smiled, tilting my head toward the door, and a huge, metal cage made of steel bars, which were silver-laced, was rolled in by six hefty men. It was too small for a man to sit up in. Just wide enough for a body to curl in on itself.
The moment he saw it, his jaw tightened.
“You sold women like animals in cages.” I nodded toward the contraption. “So, I had that built for you. Pretty, isn’t it?”
He tried to spit through the gag. Missed.
I laughed. “No, no. That comes later. First, let’s talk about your future.”
I stood and slowly walked around the cage. The silver bars pulsed with heat – lined inside and out – just enough to sting every time he shifted.
“You’ve committed a lot of transgressions, Nagel.” I paused. “And yet, you still have your arms and legs.”
I crouched again, my voice turning soft but lethal, “I considered taking one of each. I still might.”
His breathing turned ragged and heavy.
“Tell me, Nagel. Does the collar bite?” I gestured to the raw skin beneath his chin. “Chales, doesn’t it? Gets worse when you sweat. Yor’ll be reading No AC down here.”
I nodded to the small speaker above him.
“It starts every three hours. Girls’ voices. Their real ones. Unedited. You remember that warehouse, don’t you? You made them say things against their wi You forced them to beg for freedom… and filmed it.”
I clicked a remote, and a choked, desperate, feminine voice filled the room.
“Please… I’ll be good. Please don’t send me away…”
I watched him absorb it with his jaw clenched tighter. Still the proud dog.
“Don’t worry. That’s just the introduction.” I said, gesturing for the tab to be handed to me.
I pulled it open, turning the screen toward Nagel, as I clicked on the “play” button on the screen.
It was his mate, bound and blindfolded, being dragged across a dock into a rusted shipping container.
Destination marked: Shanghai.
She screamed something behind the blindfold. Something about their daughter… But it was inaudible at some point.
His entire body jerked against the chains, and his eyes widened just slightly.
A snarl tried to claw its way out of his throat, but the gag turned it into a wet, guttural sound.
I shrugged and kept talking, “We found her. That little island paradise you tucked her into? You thought no one could reach it. Well, Saint did. And he sent her where you always sent the others. Asia. You remember Asia, right?”
I didn’t let the moment linger. I tapped the keyboard again. “Now this one… this one is special.”
The seal of Child Protective Services hovered in the corner of the second clip as a waiting room came into view.
There was a small girl, no more than four. Pale, teary-eyed, with a mop of curly black hair. She sat on a hard bench, hugging a stuffed bear to her chest, her legs swinging just slightly above the floor as two officers coaxed her forward. She looked scared.
A gentle voice said her name, and she turned toward the camera, searching for the voice
“Daddy?” she whimpered, almost hopeful. Her voice cracked on the second syllable.
“Daddy!” the girl called again. Her arms reached for someone offscreen..
Then the screen went blank.
Nagel stopped breathing.
His whole body froze, as though time itself paused in his veins. His jaw slackened against the gag. And I watched the exact moment it shattered him.
I turned the tablet off and handed it back to one of my men. Then I reached into my pocket and pulled out a small device.
More Kickass Werewolf Reads
Dive into our collection of free werewolf romance novels—where fierce Alphas, daring heroines, and heart-stopping twists await. Every story burns with forbidden desire, loyalty, and destiny. Don’t wait—here’s a world where love bites hard and nothing is stronger than the call of the mate.
Leave a Reply