Page 94 of Toy No More

When I walk in for the first time today, I notice people seem a little restless. There’s supposed to be a meeting in a few, like every other Monday. I didn’t think much of it, besides the possibility of Jasper trying to usurp another piece of the crime kingdom…but now my palms sweat and my throat’s closing up.

“Do you know what this is about?” I ask one of the guys as we both go up the stairs to the office. He shrugs, but it feels like some are privy to more than others.Again.

I’m not the only one being kept in the dark about things, and I’m not the only one hesitant about Jasper’s recent unpredictability. Still, that won’t save any of us from whatever the hell is to come.

The office fills quickly with people. Their many scents blend, but Jasper’s pheromones stand out the most, and they’re not pleasant. Not because it still sends shivers down my spine to smell them, but because of something else. An emotion pulses through that scent, and it’s most certainly not a positive one.

Jasper stands at the front of this desk in that pose he always does when giving us information. Leaning slightly back, muscular arms crossed over his chest, a few of the buttons of his shirt undone to show off his scars and a small patch of hair.

He waits for everyone to settle, making that ominous, stony expression before raising his eyes. “I called you in here today…cuz there’s a rat among us.”

The world spins the instant he says it. My pulse quickens and my lungs constrict. I do my best to not show reaction, to push through the urge to throw up.

It can’t be me.Right?

No, it… We’ve been careful. And Apollo… No, he wouldn’t.

He wouldn’t, would he?

For a moment, it feels like I’m going to pass out, until I draw in a quiet, deep breath, realizing that Jasper isn’t looking at me, and neither are any of the few men who don’t whisper and glance among each other over the revelation. This is about someone else.

“Don’t we, Grayson?” he says, voice as cold as death, and lazily shifts his gaze to him.

I am not the only one to turn in the man’s direction with lips parted in surprise.Grayson?The short, tattooed guy I’ve never talked to properly. To be honest, he barely seemed to be around. After this, he won’t be around at all. That much is clear.

With his eyes wide, he shakes his head vigorously, glancing toward the door, but two of Jasper’s inner circle members already make their way to him. Gibbs blocks the exit with his hulking frame. His face is nearly more terrifying than Jasper’s. There’s nothing in there. No soul deep down, and therefore nothing he wouldn’t do to a traitor like the one in front of him.

Jasper sneers. “You were informing the Snakes, weren’t you? Thought you were fucking clever.” His pheromones waft through the air, and while the other alphas can sense them, I’m the only one who feels like I’ll be brought down on my knees again. I tighten my hands into fists and clench my teeth, trying to seem unaffected. Especially watching the color leave Grayson’s face as it occurs to him he’s probably going to die in this room.

The Yellow Snakes.The gang Jasper put his father’s murder on. Of course they would try to strike back somehow.

“Pl-please, no I wasn’t. I—”

Gibbs steps away from the door and toward him, punching him in the stomach with full force.

Chuckling, Jasper watches Grayson fall down, kneeling in front of him while he writhes in pain and tries to catch his breath. “Right. So your pretty little sister’s husband has no connection to them, hm? Or your cousin? I admit, you hid yourself quite well. You were a smart little rat, but there’s only so much that tiny pea brain allows you to do, you know?” Jasper makes a step in, towering over the poor guy. He doesn’t even have the courage to look up at him. I wouldn’t either. “And the lifespan…hmm, not very long for rodents.”

“I’m s-sorry,” Grayson whispers.

“Pathetic cunt.” Jasper kicks him in the ribs, finally letting out some of that anger that must be smoldering inside. “At least stand up for your fucking actions like a man.”

He kicks him again before snatching his shirt and pulling him up. I blink sharply when Grayson tries to take a swing at him—probably out of pure desperation. Jasper seems amused. He laughs maniacally while he grabs him by the throat and twisting his arm behind his back, most likely breaking it. The scream Grayson lets out does sound like that sort of scream. Like bones cracking and muscles burning.

“Too fucking late for that,” Jasper snarls, striking him again, “you pathetic, diseased, disgusting pest.” And again. And again. To the ribs, to the head, kneeing him in the balls until he falls on the ground. He continues kicking, baring his teeth like an animal. “No, no, no… Hey!”

Going down on his knee, Jasper grabs Grayson’s swelling face. His left eye is closing shut, and blood runs from his nose and the wound on his forehead. With a low whimper, he lifts his gaze to him.

“Don’t you pass out just yet,” Jasper says through his gritting teeth. “Before you go, I want you to know that your little sister—your entire fucking family—are getting the worst possible fate imaginable. I will make sure of that, understand? They’ll suffer and they’ll know you were the source of it all.”

There it goes; the bile in my throat is bubbling up again.

Pressing my lips together, I anxiously glance around to study the faces in the room. Some look almost excited, as if relishing in an entertaining performance. I wonder if those whose expressions are neutral and emotionless are like that to hide whatever they’re really feeling like me. I have to believe not everyone here is a monster enjoying this.

Grayson makes some kind of sound, one of anguish or maybe anger, before Jasper punches him again. Several teeth clack against the floor as they scatter out like pearls from a broken necklace.

“Oh, I was gonna make you watch,” he continues, the vicious excitement in his voice growing louder. “I was gonna ravage your sister in front of you and rip her apart, but I couldn’t stand the thought of you living another hour.”

With those words, he pulls out a knife, and I’d expect Jasper to plunge it into his chest, or maybe cut his throat but no… He lifts him with a grunt, Grayson’s raggedy body barely balancing on his wobbly knees, and slices his stomach open from side to side. Blood pours out. Intestines spill and bulge out of him as Grayson’s agonizing screams turn into whimpers and then jerky, rattling gasps.

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