Page 80 of Once A Villain

My mood darkens further when I see Alicia. She saunters over, her tight black pants and see-through top barely covering anything. Cheap and desperate.

“Axe, what a surprise,” she purrs, her fake tits on full display. “I’ve missed you.” Her finger traces over the skull tattoo on my arm.

“Where’s Rory?”

“I saw the marks you left on her. I warned her you have a way of destroying everything you touch.” Her hand drifts up to graze the tattoos on my neck, her proximity irking me. “Poor girl, she’s in way over her head.”

I clench my jaw, fighting to keep my rage in check. “Where. Is. She?”

“I haven’t seen her. She left after rehearsal. Maybe she’s had enough of being your personal punching bag,” she retorts. I’ve known her long enough to spot a lie.

I grab her by the throat, my grip tightening as her breath chokes out. “Watch your fucking mouth,” I hiss, pressing my face close to hers. “Stop lying to me, you stupid cunt.”

“Fuck...you,” she gasps, eyes wide with terror, her skin paling under my hold.

I tighten my grip around her throat. She writhes, her face turning a sickly purple. “Tell me the truth.”

“She’s...gone,” Alicia chokes out, her hands clawing desperately at my grip.

“Where is she?”

“I don’t—” I ease my grip just enough to let her speak. “I don’t know where they went. Please,” she pleads, tears streaking her face.

“Who?” I snap.

“Spencer...took her,” she manages through her gasps.

“Why did he take her?”

“Conrad...told him...to get her away from you,” she chokes out, her face now flushed and red.

This fucking family is testing the last shreds of my patience and self-control. “Where is he taking her?” I growl, my rage barely controlled.

“I...don’t...know,” she gasps, clawing at my grip. “But Conrad does.”

I release her, letting her collapse onto the floor like the worthless trash she is. She sputters, coughing, her face blotchy and smeared with mascara.

“Fuck you, Axel!” she screams, her voice cracking as she rubs her bruised neck. “I know you did something to Travis!”

Her words hit like a bullet out of nowhere, but I don’t flinch.

Travis.

I take a step closer, my shadow looming over her. “You better stop talking while you still can.”

I knew she’d bring up that bastard’s name eventually. Travis. Her old boyfriend. He wasalmostlike a friend—once. Now he’s MIA, and we both know why—even if she won’t admit it. I’ve already spent too much time on this. I’m halfway out the door when I stop, just long enough to make sure she knows what’s coming.

“Alicia,” I growl, turning my head just enough to catch her eye. “You’ve been on my list for a long time. Piss me off again, and I’ll kill you. Slowly. You won’t see me coming, but trust me—you’ll feel every fucking second of it.”

I storm to my car, slamming the door behind me. I can’t believe Spencer fucking took her.

Pulling out my phone, I dial Conrad’s number. He answers on the first ring.

“A—” I quickly cut him off.

“Where the hell is she?”

“She’s safe,” he replies. “The same can’t be said for you.”

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