Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 63866 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 319(@200wpm)___ 255(@250wpm)___ 213(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63866 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 319(@200wpm)___ 255(@250wpm)___ 213(@300wpm)
"It's here," I say, leaning down. I pull back the camouflage cover that’s over the door.
"It's a bunker." Ellie lets out an excited gasp. "My dad would love this." I grunt a response because her dad knows about the hole. I told him all about it hours ago. I spin the wheel to get it to open, pulling back the door. "That's creepy." Ellie leans in to stare down into the darkness.
I hit the power, lighting up the ladder to climb down. "I'll go first," I tell her. I'm not going to bother to close the door behind us. "I'll make sure there aren't any spiders on the way down."
"If I didn't love you already that would have sealed the deal."
I go down first, slowly, in case Ellie slips. I want to be able to catch her, but my girl makes it fine. When she turns to see the rest of the room, a small gasp leaves her.
"Ahh!" Nick tries to scream through the cloth I have shoved into his mouth and tied. He tugs at the binds that have his hands secured behind him.
"And I thought I was the jealous one." Ellie shakes her head, eyes still wide.
"Not saying I wouldn't do it for that reason alone, but it's not that. This time."
“What’s the reason?” Her brows furrow together as she tries to piece together why the hell I have Nick down here.
“You’re gonna have to wait for that, little fox. I’m going to encourage him to tell you that himself.” I walk toward the little punk. The smell of urine hits me as I get close. They always fucking pee themselves.
I pull my knife out, and Nick starts to scream through the gag as I move closer. I glance back toward Ellie, but she doesn’t try to stop me or protect him. He keeps screaming until I cut the tie securing the gag in his mouth. He coughs it out.
“Ellie, help me. He’s fucking insane.”
“I kind of know he’s insane.” She shrugs one shoulder. That shuts Nick up but only for a couple of seconds.
“Ellie! Please—”
“I warned you,” I tell him before hitting him with the back of my hand as you would any little bitch boy. Because that’s what he is. A little boy who tried to play in the big leagues. “Are we on the same page?” He shakes his head up and down. “Next time I’ll cut your tongue out and be done with you.” Nick nods his head. “Good boy.” I give his cheek a light double tap.
Being in the hole isn’t all about physical torture; it’s mental too. Humiliation hits hard for a lot of males, and I know it hits extra hard for pretty boys like him. I’d bet my life he joined the Marines only to be able to say he was one. It’s all show.
“What did you warn him about?” Ellie steps closer.
“Using your name.”
“Well then.” She presses her lips together. “You really are insane.”
“That a problem?” I ask.
“Nope, I might kinda like it.”
“I know, little fox.”
“I’d give you a kiss, but it stinks down here.” Her nose scrunches. “And I want to know why Nick is here.” She glances back at me. “You said this was about Cyberius.”
“I’m sorry, I was only trying to help.” Nick tries to plead his case again.
“No one asked you for help.” I walk over to the table full of tools, stabbing my knife into it. “You only wanted to help yourself.” I lean up against the table. “Help yourself to my girl.” I’m sure a pile of cash too.
“I’m sorry, but I love you,” Nick rushes to tell Ellie.
I can physically feel the rage coursing through my veins. This kid is much dumber than I thought. At this point, he’s begging me to end him.
“Oh shit.” Ellie rushes to stand in front of me when I take a step back toward Nick. “Are you trying to die?!” I wrap my arm around the front of Ellie across the top of her chest, pulling her back snugly to my chest. I lean down, taking a deep breath of her scent in to calm me. That should help stop me from killing him. “He cuts people's eyes out.”
“Do you hear yourself?” he asks her. “What has he turned you into?”
“He hasn’t turned me into anything. Ro lets me bloom by scaring away my fears. This is who I am, Nick.” He shakes his head no, not believing her.
Nick has no clue who she is. He never will. That will help keep him alive because Ellie is right: I am insanely jealous when it comes to her. I haven’t wanted many things, if anything, for my own. Things and jobs come and go; I could care less. Just like the warehouse, it didn’t bother me to blow it up. It meant nothing to me.