Page 62 of Heart Stopping
"You could always start with a toe," Boner suggested. "Toes are easier."
I offered Cass the scissors.
His hand shaking, he took them and slid his fingers into the ring handles. Tentatively, he took Fairfield's pinky finger between his thumb and forefinger and brought the blades of the scissors down to the webbing. He closed his eyes and winced as he squeezed the scissors, slowly slicing through until the finger fell away. It landed on the table, rolled once and lay still.
Fairfield screamed and sobbed, writhing and trying to get away from Cass.
Cass opened his eyes and stared down at the dismembered digit. He handed me back the scissors, turned and ran toward the toilet to empty his stomach.
"You did really well," I called out to him.
"Huh, that was surgical precision," Boner said admiringly. "Can I have a turn?" He held his hand out for the scissors.
"Of course." I lay them across his palm and stood back to watch him remove the rest of Fairfield's fingers.
"You're hot when you're dismembering people," Archer said, whispering in my ear.
I flashed him a grin. "I had the right tools. I need a place like this." I looked around me. We stood in a converted apartment with a view out to an otherwise unassuming neighborhood. The floors were concrete, the walls brick. All immaculately clean except the blood on the table. Which was starting to pool and threatening to drip off onto the floor.
"You're welcome to use it anytime," he said. "If you have to bring anyone here, my door is open."
"I appreciate that." I leaned over to kiss his cheek.
"I have to admit," Boner said as he moved over to start on Fairfield's toes, "I visualized Vigilante University, but it never looked like this. It always looked a bit more like…" Snip. "A university campus." Snip. "With lecture theaters." Snip. "And rooms for tutorials and shit like that." Snip. "And a university bar." Snip.
"It pays to have an open mind," Archer said. He gave me a look and mouthed, "Vigilante University?"
I shrugged one shoulder. "It sounds better than Felon University."
Boner looked over and grinned. "I'd love to attend FU." He frowned for a moment. "I'm trying to think of a way to add C and K to that."
"Of course you are," I told him. "Except I don't see us as felons anyway."
"Avenging Angel University?" Archer suggested.
"Asshole Torturers R-Us,” Boner said with a grin. He snipped off the last toe and set the scissors aside. "Now I really don't like this guy."
"Because you're lack toes intolerant?" Archer deadpanned.
Boner stared at him for a moment before he burst out laughing. "That's fucking hilarious, my dude. Also, I've finally figured out what fingerless gloves are for. Or should I say, who."
I shook my head at them both.
"What's up, love?" Boner cocked his head at me. "You know the sharpest thing in this place is my wit." He waggled his eyebrows.
"Keep telling yourself that," I said. I turned my face as Cass stepped back into the room, looking pale. "Are you okay?" I slipped my hand into his and drew him to my side. He wasn't trembling anymore, his body warm and firm against mine. Comforting me when I was trying to comfort him.
He nodded slowly. "Much better now." Reluctantly, he looked over to Fairfield. "I know I have to remind myself what he did to my brother, but…"
"He did the same thing to my sister," I said calmly. I was in no way going to feel sorry for Granger Fairfield. Not for a second. Did weneedto do these things to him?
Absolutely.
It was a small punishment in comparison to the evil he'd done. Why shouldn't he suffer when the people we loved had suffered? None of it would take away the hurt, but it would make us feel better for a while.
"And lots of other people's brothers and sisters," Archer said. "He's getting exactly what he deserves."
"What he said," Boner agreed. "Now, which one of you is going to slice off his cock?"
