Page 84 of Illusionist
“It gets easier,” Silas assures him. “Especially when they deserve it.”
I pat Roman's cheek with my bloody hand, leaving streaks across his skin. “Don't worry, baby. We have nine more fingers to go.”
Cole steps forward, his knife gleaming. “Mind if I take a turn? I have some ideas about those fingers.”
I gesture grandly. “Be my guest.”
Cole's blade traces Roman's palm before biting deep. Roman's scream turns hoarse as Cole methodically slicesbetween each finger, not severing but filleting. Blood flows freely now, pooling in Roman's lap.
“This is for putting your hands on our girl,” Cole murmurs, his voice almost gentle.
Silas cracks his knuckles. “My turn.” He grabs Roman's face, forcing eye contact. “You like hurting women, Miller? Let's see how you handle someone your own size.”
The punch lands with a wet crack. Roman's nose explodes in a spray of blood and cartilage. Silas follows with another, then another, each impact precise and devastating.
“This is for making her afraid,” Silas pants between punches. “For making her run. For making her think she didn't deserve better.”
Logan steps forward as Silas backs away, selecting a thin metal rod from his collection. “My turn.” He heats the rod with a lighter until it glows. “You know what's interesting about abuse, Roman? The scars it leaves. Physical and mental.”
The rod hisses against Roman's forearm. The smell of burning flesh fills the trailer as Roman's screams reach a new pitch.
“Nova had to learn to trust again,” Logan continues conversationally, moving the rod to Roman's other arm. “She believed she didn't deserve kindness. You stole that from her.”
Tears stream down Roman's face, mixing with blood and snot. “Please, I'm sorry. I'll disappear. You'll never see me again.”
“You're right about that,” I say softly. I select a thin knife from the collection, testing its edge.
I press the blade to Roman's throat, just hard enough to draw a thin line of blood. “This is where you choked me the night I left. Remember? Your fingers right here, squeezing until I couldn't breathe.”
Roman's voice comes out as a whisper. “Nova, please...”
“Please, what? Please forgive you? Please let you live after what you did to me?” I lean closer, my lips nearly touching his ear. “I was a child, Roman. A fucking child, and you destroyed me.”
The knife slides deeper. Roman gurgles, his eyes going wide with panic as blood bubbles from the wound. His body convulses against the restraints, feet drumming against the floor.
I watch his life drain away, feeling lighter with each passing second. When his eyes finally go glassy and still, I step back, blood coating my hands and forearms.
“It's done.”
Logan and Cole move immediately, removing Roman's restraints and hefting his body between them.
“We'll handle the crash,” Logan says. “Make it look like he lost control on those winding mountain roads.”
“His car's in our parking lot,” Silas says. “Keys are in the ignition. Drive it up to the bridge and send it over the edge.”
They disappear with Roman's corpse, leaving Teddy, Silas, and me alone in the blood-soaked trailer.
I turn to face them, adrenaline singing through my veins. Silas's eyes burn as they travel over me, taking in the blood splattered across my tank top and arms. Teddy stares at me like I'm holy and terrifying.
“How do you feel?” Silas asks softly.
“Free.” The word comes out breathless. “For the first time in my life, completely free.”
I cross to him in two quick strides, fisting my hands in his shirt and dragging his mouth down to mine. The kiss tastes like copper and violence, like justice and retribution. His hands tangle in my hair, holding me against him as I pour twelve years of rage and pain and triumph into his mouth.
When we break apart, both of us are panting. I turn to Teddy, who hasn't moved from his spot against the wall.
“Come here.”
