Page 27 of King of Ruin

I pull my arms high over my head, the muscles and tendons drawing tight as I stretch the constricted ligaments. “Don’t you have an…”

My voice trails as I watch the man who isnotKane, appear in the threshold. His long, dingy brown hair is slicked back into a haphazard bun, his face clean of any stubble, and his suit a wrinkled mess.

His dark eyes scan over the empty plate and water before narrowing on me. The fine hairs on my neck stand, but I ignore the slight chill and straighten my back, lifting my chin. My gaze becomes low, and I school my features into relaxed boredom.

Even in my position, I refuse to appear anything less than dangerous.

“So you’re the infamous Onyx Embros.”

It’s not a question and I don’t respond. Instead, I read him in the moment of silence. One of his hands is on a gun tucked by his hip, while the other still rests on the door knob. He hasn’t fully entered the room and his ears have twitched twice, telling me he’s listening for something. As if on cue, two faint knocks echo down the hall.

This brings a disgusting smirk to the man’s face, his eyes lighting up and creasing in the corners. It’s then he enters and pushes the door to a near close.

“Funny. I thought you’d look different. I mean, don’t get me wrong, you’re hot as fuck, but there’s something missing.”

He takes two wide steps toward me and bends down, tapping on his chin as if really trying to formulate a thought. After another second, he looks back down at the empty bottles and huffs. “That bastard walks around like he owns this place. Ain’t been here but a few months and already he thinks he calls the shots.”

“Someone must make him feel as though he does,” I reply, watching his knuckles bloom white as he tightens his grip on his gun.

“The new recruits. They don’t have the nuts to do some of the… testing.”

I realize quickly what he’s referring to. It seems as if testing women is a common occurrence with the entire army. My stomach clenches. I can’t wait to kill them all.

“That’s what it is, huh? He must have tested you and decided you were too good to share.” The guard moves closer, his eyes locked on my mouth. “Yeah, and that’s what’s missing. My cock down your throat.”

He rises, drawing his gun and directing it at my temple. “On your knees, slut.”

My upper lip curls. “No. Also, do women a favor and broaden your vocabulary. That word died as an insult long ago.”

“On. Your. Fucking. Knees.” He moves his aim to my chest.

I’m not sure what I’m more irritated by. The fact that if these chains weren’t holding me down I’d have already cut out his throat. Or the fact that Kane has just appeared behind him and is about to do it for me.

I raise a brow, forcing my eyes on the filth in front of me so as to not make him realize what’s about to happen. “I don’t get on my knees for any man.”

He cocks the gun, his face red and angry as he shifts his weight on the heels of his feet. He’s impatient and rightfully so considering he was clearly sneaking in the first place. But how he didn’t hear Kane enter nor feel his overwhelming presence is beyond me.Imbecile.

“Than think of me as your Go–”

His speech turns into garbles as a knife pierces through the back of his neck and out the front. Immediately, his eyes widen and his lashes blink rapidly, the shock and pain of seeing his own blood splattered over my face squeezing his features.

Kane’s eyes are near black, his pupils so wide the green is a mere outline. A vein I’ve never noticed pulses in the middle of his forehead–a forehead that is already decorated in blood.

“I thought I made myself perfectly fucking clear that no one was to step foot down this fucking hallway.” Kane yanks the knife from the guard’s neck and we both watch as his hand finds the gaping hole.

His back hits the wall and as though he just remembered he was holding a weapon, he points it at Kane.

Annoyed, Kane sighs and draws his own gun from behind him, and puts a bullet directly in the middle of his eyes. I’m thankful for the silencer on the end, but annoyance still nips at my skin.

“I could have handled that.”

He smirks, his dimple prominent even through his stubble. “Oh yeah? Tell me,mo chailín cliste.How would you have managed such a feat?”

I roll my eyes, ignoring the heat curling low in my stomach. “I may still do the same to you.”

“Look at me when you lie to me, Boss.”

He closes the space, snatching the chains from the floor. He draws them tight, forcing my hands to slap against the concrete to prevent myself from falling forward. I swallow around the knot and peer up into his raging irises. Even like this, when I want nothing more than to pluck them from his skull, they still manage to steal my breath.

---