“What the?—”
He doesn’t finish the sentence. I’m already moving. The knife is in my hand before he registers I’m there.
I tackle him to the ground, the blade pressing into his throat before he can even blink. Patrick’s eyes go wide.
Panic.
“You shouldn’t have touched her.” My voice is calm. Too calm. But the rage simmering beneath the surface…
Deadly.
I’m not going to kill him. Not yet.Death is too easy.I drag him to the chair and bind him with the rope he had lying next to Lydia. Tight. Unrelenting.
Let him feel it.
“Trip…” Lydia’s voice is soft. But I’m not done.
I pull out the tattoo gun and Patrick’s eyes widen.
“Wh-what the fuck are you doing?” His voice cracks
“Marking you.”
I straddle his lap, pinning him down. The machine buzzes to life in my hand.
“You like control, don’t you, Patrick? You think because you know people and have money, you get to own her? I know people too, you fucking prick.”
His eyes go wide.
I hover the gun over his skin, taking in the fear radiating off of him.
“You thought calling Zane would help you?” He looks back and forth, shaking his head. “I called him. He won’t be showing up to help you. Your dumbass backup plan failed.” I smile.
The needle presses against his skin. Right across his chest. He screams.
“You’re gonna wear this for the rest of your miserable life.”
My voice is steady. Cold. Patrick’s screams echo in the room, but I don’t stop. When it’s done, his chest is raw. Bleeding.
The letters burn into his flesh like a fucking brand.
LIAR
I stand, my hands covered in blood, the needle still dripping as I turn toward Lydia. Her eyes lock onto mine. Wide and desperate. But not scared.
“Trip…”
My name is a broken whisper on her lips again. I move toward her, untying the ropes that bind her wrists and ankles. The moment she’s free, she falls into my arms.
I hold her close, my body shaking as I bury my face in her hair.
“Killstreak…”
Her fingers curl into my shirt, clinging to me like she’s afraid I’ll disappear. But I won’t be going anywhere.
“I’m here.”
My voice is rough. Raw with the emotions I’ve been shoving down since I realized she was missing. “You’re safe now.” But she doesn’t pull away. Her body presses closer.