Page 20 of Enemy of the State

I suppose that’s the reason I spread my legs for the camera, too. Well, that was a bit for me as well, though an exhibitionism kink would be new. I can add it to the list behind my new mask and fuck-with-Digs kinks.

I also admit that there’s an element or two of Digs’s cracked restraint that I didn’t anticipate being quite so fond of, like the way his large hand wrapped around the column of my throat. And the way his dirty words hit me squarely between the legs.

“Do you think I could request a turndown service? It’d be lovely to have those little chocolates placed on my pillow in the evenings.”

No one responds, and the shortest of the three men turns and leaves me alone with Honey Eyes and Digs. A minute later, black metal with a wicked bass blares through the cell’s speakers. Yesterday, they played only death metal, so I appreciate the slight variation today. Fuck, I hope I’m still a fan of metal when this is all over.That’d be a crushing blow.

A smile inches over my face as I ask the two remaining men, “Are you taking song requests? Because I’d love to hear anything by Insomnium or Wolves In The Throne Room. I wouldn’t mind some Slaughter to Prevail either.Ooh,I could even go for something by Orbit Culture. I bloody love those guys.”

Digs glares daggers at me, not the least bit entertained by my antics. Huffing, he turns on his booted heel and stomps away. My smile grows when I see that I’ve gotten to him, even if I was serious. It’s not as if I don’t have the cash to throw at the juke box in this hellhole.

Honey Eyes shakes his masked head, and I swear he’s trying not to laugh at my antics. “I think the poor sod likes me,” I inform him, to which he only snorts in response, but hey, he still acknowledged me.

After Honey Eyes leaves, I retreat to my usual corner and sink to the floor, my knees pulled to my chest. At least my cell and I are both clean. That’s something. I didn’t think I’d get a bath at all, so I’ll count this as a win.

I let my head fall back against the wall behind me and close my eyes, but as soon as I do, Digs’s behavior from the washroom floods back into my mind. The primal look in his eyes spoke to my own inner animal, and the serpent living within me preened in response. She’s beendyingto be released from captivity, and it appears that Diggory’s inner beast is rattling his cage door as well.

There’s a piercing shrill scream from down the hall, and I can tell it’s coming from one of the other cells in this block. Unfortunately for me, the inmate’s screams are the only source of music this evening, and I’m starting to get more than a little irritated.

By the time Honey Eyes brings me my breakfast the following morning, my inner predator is rattling the bars of her enclosure, anxious for release. She’s hungry, and I want to let her feed. The bellend down the hall spent all bloody night bellowing, and I’m primed to commit murder this fine day.Patience be damned.

“Want me to shut him up?” I drawl lazily when the soldier slides my food tray through the slot, just as there’s another scream from down the hallway.

He only inclines his head in question, so I elaborate in a sugary sing-song voice, “We both know you want to.”

The inmate wails again, and I roll my eyes, knowing I won’t be able to get my hands dirty. Annoyance isn’t enough to break me, not by a long shot, but it’s beensolong since I felt the sticky warmth of blood between my fingers, and I’m dying to treat myself. I miss seeing the light fade from the eyes of my marks. I miss the smug satisfaction that roils through me at knowing I’m the one who stole their life.

Honey Eyes just shakes his head in defeat, but changes the subject, saying, “Eat fast. You’ve got somewhere to be.”

Interesting.Just as I’m about to ask some questions, he stalks away, but down the hallway, I hear him growl, “Shut the fuck up, Carlos, or I’ll do it for you.”

I smile proudly to myself as I dig into my meal of mush with my hands. No matter how many times I do this, I never seem to stoploathingeating with my hands.

After I’m done, I shove the tray back out to the middle of thehallway, watching the resident rodents pick at my leftovers, as is my routine, and a few minutes later, Honey Eyes returns with two more men—the one called Davis, I think, and the short guard from yesterday.

They usher me down the hall, but instead of turning right at the mouth of the cell block, we go left. I follow them past the entrance to two more cell blocks and another few doors on the right side of the concrete passageway. We come to a stop before a metal door on the right, halfway down the long corridor.

Davis opens the door to reveal an infirmary. My hackles rise, and I hesitate for a moment at the door when Honey Eyes comes up behind me and gives me a gentle push. It’s not a violent shove, but it’s enough to remind me that I don’t really have a choice about whether I want to enter. My mood shifts from the annoyance I experienced earlier to something far darker and more menacing.

I haven’t been inside this room, yet I already hate it with its sterile white walls and antiseptic smell. Three metal cots on wheels line the wall to my left. There’s a long counter stretching the entire length of the wall across from the beds, with cabinets above and below. Jars of who-bloody-knows-what line part of the counter next to a sink.

Suddenly, Digs and another tall, slender man in military uniform step through the double doors on the opposite wall from me. A white lab coat covers much of the masked newcomer’s uniform. But his brown eyes shine with something harrowing and cold, making my spine prickle.

As the men approach me, I grit my teeth, willing myself not to retreat. Focusing on my breathing, I attempt to maintain my composure so that they don’t discover just how uncomfortable I am. Inside, my panic threatens to bust open at the poorly sewn seams, and I know I’m only moments away from losing the control I wield over it.

Digs jerks his head toward the double doors, and I assume he thinks I’ll follow him willingly, like the demure little puppy dog I’ve—somewhat—pretended to be thus far, but notthis time. No fucking way. Not with thepilustanding beside him with icy danger lurking in the shallow depths of his gaze.

When I don’t make a move, my bare feet staying cemented to this spot, Digs turns around and glares at me. When I return the look, he narrows his eyes further and marches right up to me, wrapping his fist around my forearm to tug me along. I wrench my arm from his grip brutally as I stand my ground.

His blue-grey eyes turn to thunderclouds, promising me a violent storm, but my resolution knows no bounds. I willnotbe poked and prodded like a lab rat. I willnotbecome a specimen. It’s not the drugs they will undoubtedly pump me full of that I’m wary of, it’s the idea of this cruel-looking wanker putting his fingers on my skin. It’s this room. It’s the reminders of less savory moments from my past. It’s the memory of how I became the dangerous nightmare lurking in the dark.

Digs nods at the short guard to my right and the gormless berk attempts to put me in a headlock. Seriously?A headlock?His lack of decent judgment is my gain, though. I tilt my head down and bite on the soft skin of the underside of his beefy forearm. He howls, but I bite until I taste his blood and sink my teeth in deeper; his skin and the muscle beneath giving way, and I smile to myself. The guard’s shrieks are a song I’ll be dancing to long after this is over.

Another set of hands is on me—probably Honey Eyes’s—but I ignore them as I release the soldier’s arm. Looking directly at Digs, I smile broadly, my mouth dripping with blood and pure savagery. Before I can catch his reaction, the shorter soldier, still gripping his arm, steps in front of me with a look of vengeance in his eyes.Don’t do it.

He doesn’t heed my silent warning and lunges at me. This seems like a good time to show them exactly what I’m capable of.

Sorry, Mercer, I couldn’t behave. I tried, sort of.

---