Page 263 of Shadowman
I rip the bag off of his head. “Look at me, Doctor,” I growl. His eyes slowly creep open. “I want you to see all of this…”
Our gazes lock, his amber irises housing the same rage and helplessness I’ve been seeing for weeks on end. And yet,still, he shows no remorse…
Like he said to me, in the woods.“No qualms, or hesitations.”
And I get it now.Idoknow that feeling.
“Now we’re even,” I whisper.
And I spin fast, stabbing the metal rod right through Hassan’s neck.
Blood squirts from the wound, his eyes wide and bulging as he falls to the floor with a thud.
Johansson’s face morphs in shock and terror. He stumbles backward, attempting to flee. But tackle him to the ground. Reaching for the chain of Lemuel’s shackles, I wrap it around Johansson’s neck. I pull with all my might, choking him brutally, using my body weight to hold him down.
A guttural roar leaves my lips as I yank both ends of the chain. There’s a distinctcrunch. And Johansson goes limp beneath me.
Panting, my breathing echoes through the cold, damp space as I feel a weight being lifted from my shoulders. Interestingly, it’s the same kind of release I felt when I killed the four men who raped me. When I killed Andres. It’s freedom frommy ownchains.
I’mflying, higher than the best hit I’ve ever had.
The best revenge is not needing it anymore.
Wiping my forehead with my hand, I look over the bodies beside me… The pool of blood seeping closer to where I’m slumped on the floor. I peer up at Dr. Love. His eyes are round.
“I suppose it really was inevitable, yea?” I breathe out, stuffing my hand into Johansson’s pocket and pulling out a set of keys to the cuffs and shackles.
Standing up on shaky legs, I remove the gag from Lemuel’s mouth and free him from his chains. He stares down at the dead assholes, spitting out some blood right on Hassan’s body.
“Thank you, Trevel,” he says sincerely after a beat.
“I didn’t do it for you.” I pull him out of the way before Hassan’s blood reaches his foot.
“I know,” he hums. “But still. I owe you.”
I give him a skeptical side-eye. “I’m the reason you’re here in the first place.”
“No. You were right,” he grumbles. “I’m here because Ichoseto be. And I deserve it, just as much as the rest of them.”
“You didn’t deserve that.” I gulp, guilt easing out in my tone. “No one does…”
“Maybe not, but it’s not your fault.” He stares at me until I eventually meet his gaze. “I am sorry, Trevel… For leaving you the way I did. I want you to know that I wouldn’t be who I am if it weren’t for you. Having you as a patient… it changed everything. You were a gift I didn’t deserve.”
My throat is closing, chest constricting so tightly I can barely breathe. I’m astounded… That after everything I’ve done to him over the past few weeks, he’s actually standing here,thanking me.
Giving me credit for being his first monster.
And it dawns on me.Thisis the revenge I wanted. Better than weeks of spilling his blood and inflicting him pain.
All I’ve ever wanted was to beseen.
I clear my throat, fighting off the pressure building up in my skull. “We’ll have to do something with the bodies…”
“I can help.”
My face springs up at the sound of Byron’s voice. He’s standing there, lips pursed to dampen his smile.
My real partner in crime… He’s here.
