Twisted Together (Monsters in the Dark #3)(149)

Franco stood locked to the landing.

Not looking back, I darted down the stairs. I held the gun high, my finger teasing the trigger.

My first kill happened too fast to remember.

A shadow. A blur. A shout. A curse.

Bang.

I no longer teased the trigger but compressed it, letting loose a killing projectile. 

The man dressed in a black suit crumbled to the floor, holding a gushing wound in his neck. "Fucking, bit-bitch." His eyes narrowed to slits even as his arteries dumped litres of blood down his lapels.

I waited for a rush of sickness. I waited to feel different for doing something so barbaric, but I felt nothing.

Standing over him, I hissed, "Where is he? Tell me where he is."

The man gurgled, holding the wound tightly. "Wh-who are you?"

Ice lived in my blood as I crouched over him. "I'm your worst nightmare." Placing the gun against his crotch, I whispered, "I think you used this on trafficked women. I think you deserve more pain before you die."

He let his neck go, drenching his body in blood. "No! Wait!" He pushed feebly at the gun. "Don't!"

A silenced puff and his head snapped back, falling into death.

What?

A strong hand plucked me from the floor. I swivelled in their hold, glowering at my captor. Franco held a silenced pistol awkwardly in his bandaged hand.

"How dare you. He was mine to kill!"

"And you did. He was seconds away from death."

"Why didn't you let me finish it?"

"Because you've taken his life. You might be able to live with that-but torturing, that fucks you up, Tess. And I won't let you do that to yourself."

"I'm not weak. Stop treating me like I am."

Franco glared into my eyes. "You're not weak. I agree. You're strong-strong enough for Q and everything he gave you-but I made a promise to him. He made me swear I wouldn't let you slip away, hurt yourself, or do anything to jeopardise your commitment to him and his company."

"You don't own me. You can't do that."

Don't stop me from doing what I need!.

He shook his head. "I don't own you but Q does. He may be gone, Tess, but you're still his. You still have to obey-same as me." Sighing he said softly, "I'll let you kill Lynx, but I'll do the rest. My soul can handle it-yours can't."

It can. Because this time my victims aren't innocent.

Yanking me behind him, granting a protective wall of his body, he advanced down the black-tiled corridor. "Believe me. When the shock hits-when you finally let yourself feel, you'll thank me." Motioning with his gun, he muttered, "No more talking. Let's go."

I shoved him. "Let me go first. Don't steal this from me, Franco. I need to do this."

I need to avenge him.

"Shut up. I won't let you go first, so stop." His body was unmovable, blocking me from danger.

Gritting my teeth, I had no choice but to obey. His pace was agonisingly slow. A shuffle, a limp, but he did things I wouldn't have done-scanned each doorway, tried every doorknob, making sure it was locked and no one would ambush us. "You'll have your wish. I won't take that from you. Just let me protect you while you do it."

I wanted action. I wanted carnage. But it was silent.

Ominously silent.

What did you hope-you'd hear him? That he would be alive, and you'd hear his voice?

My eyes swelled with tears-finally recognising my stupid hopes.

Yes.

I'd been hunting in denial. Beneath my rage and grief blazed a fine layer of hope. It cindered the rest of my emotions. The hollowness inside had been filled with some other feeling. I didn't have a name-disbelief perhaps. My soul taunted me with a lie that he was dead.

I feel him.

Some ludicrous part believed he was still alive. The connection we shared hadn't been severed completely-it was there-weak, hazy, pulsing with darkness. But there.



       
         
       
        

And it ruined me further because hope was the cruellest emotion imaginable.

He's dead. I couldn't argue with that. No matter how much I wanted to.

Footsteps behind us.

I wheeled around, double fisting my gun.

The blond man in his beanie held up his hands. "We're on your side, Mrs. Mercer."

The title I wanted more than anything sent a bullet into my heart. I would never be Mrs. Mercer legally, but I would be in spirit. I was Q's. Regardless of life or death.

Not saying a word, I spun around, following Franco.

The dark richness of the corridor ended up ahead. Lighting gave just enough visibility so as not to fumble, but it was hard to make out the last door. Heavy wood with bars on top. A dungeon door.

Franco looked over his shoulder, his forehead beaded with pain-induced sweat. "Voices up ahead." He did some fancy finger moves to the team behind me.