Page 41 of Queen of Madness

A quick glance behind me shows a slim metal door attached to the side of the stairs. Hanging on the wall next to it is a rolled hose. I take my time in observing what little else lies in the room. There’s another set of stairs against the wall, this one a normal set of basement stairs, letting me know this place has two ways to get here.

I hadn’t seen them on the blueprints, and I begin to wonder what else wasn’t on them.

Other than a low metal table holding various tools, there’s only the occupied chair in the middle. He’s chained with his hands behind his back, his feet bound to either front chair leg. When he finally opens his eyes and sees who has him held, a horrendous scowl crosses his face.

He can act tough, but his straightened spine and a thick swallow down his throat are his tells. He’s nervous.

“As my guard likes to say before having a conversation, good morning, Manny. I hope you’re well-rested.”

His upper lip curls in a snarl. “Fuck your morning, bitch.”

A barb of anger pokes into my side and moves my foot a step forward. Onyx sees from her periphery and grins, shaking her head with both a notion to stop me, and to mock him. “Silly man. Though I’d expect nothing else, considering you thought it wise to cross me.Me.”

“You were supposed to help keep him alive. He was your personal guard.” The man spits and though Onyx tries to move, it’s not fast enough, and she catches a bit to the side of her cheek.

The barb is on fire now, and I don’t stop, moving the few steps required until my fist is in his soft belly. “Watch your fucking mouth. I have no problem killing you now and dealing with her later.”

“Get your dog, On—”

My knuckles ache when they connect with his cheekbone. “Who the fuck said you could say her name?”

Manny spits a mixture of blood and phlegm onto the floor before turning his muddled, shit-colored eyes back to me. “Anything else?”

A small but forceful hand finds my shoulder and even under the tension radiating between us, it unwinds the tight nerves in my shoulders. I relent, stepping back and letting Onyx take my place.

“I’ll do you the honor of wasting my time to explain a few things to you, Manny. Know that the only reason I’m choosing to pay you this courtesy is because I feel you should know before you die how pathetic your bloodline is.”

She takes a step back, gauging his confused, rapid eye movement and upturned thick brows. “What the fuck are you talking about?”

Onyx turns and grabs a scalpel from the table. “Your brother was a decent personal guard. He could lick my pussy fairly well, but he was an imbecile when it came to keeping his small dick in his slacks. On one of his days off, he stopped a Murphy van. He then usedmyinsignia to make the women think they could trust him. They thought he was taking them to Hearts.”

A nasty twist of jealousy makes my fingers itch to touch her. To run my hands along every inch of her soft skin until I’ve brushed away the existence of anyone before me. But I reel in my thoughts as quickly as they came, clenching my fists closed at my sides.

She’s a temptation. Nothing more, and I’ll do well to fucking remember that.

As if Onyx can hear my internal struggle, she blinks lazily at me with a knowing smirk before continuing her monologue.

“He stole from the Murphys, promised these women he’d take them somewhere safe, and then sold them.” Even in six-inch heels, Onyx crouches down to his level, her dark eyes searching his, but for what, I’m not sure. Perhaps guilt to affirm this is something he already knew, or maybe the realization that his brother was the cause of his own death.

“The Murphys got to him before I did, Manny. And for that, you should be grateful.”

“You should be grateful I wasn’t able to gut you like the pig you are.”

“Do you hear yourself? You’re so blind by the fact he is your brother that you’re unable to see I am not the one in the wrong here. You are painting me as the villain to justify your actions rather than being forthright. I did not force your kin’s hand.Hemade his choice and received penance for that choice. Just as you will now.”

I can’t help but absorb her words into my system. It injects into my veins, spreading like wildfire until my temples sheen with sweat. I’m condemning Onyx for something she didn’t do.

But what other choice do I have?

“Is there anyone else here who is working with you or them?”

The man sighs wearily, his resignation evident in the downward curve of his mouth. But as an idea blossoms, a nasty snarl transforms his face. “Why should I tell you? I want you to live in fear each time you step foot outside. No, better yet, I want you to go to sleep every night with one eye open.”

“I don’t think I will.” Onyx twirls the scalpel in her hand before standing, motioning for me to join her with the quick tilt of her head.

As if we are one and I know exactly what she wants me to do to him, I walk closer, grabbing Manny’s jaw and prying his mouth open. He struggles against me, but I only latch on tighter, digging my fingers into his skin, ignoring the bite of his scruffy beard.

Onyx moves in, slicing just below his bottom gum line.

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