Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 77850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
“You are always right by my side, Reon, or have you forgotten?”
“How could I forget?” I growl. “You make it a point to remind me often enough.”
“Well, I think it’s time we return to the old ways. And we start by removing the trash, beginning with her.” He tugs at her hair again, and she hides her yelp this time.
“I think not.” I step back and look around. “Rules. We all obey them, correct?” I point my axe at everyone standing here. Not all the members are in attendance tonight, but the ones who can’t miss the Hunt—the darkest of them—are here.
Boston, who is in his mid-thirties and standing next to Arlo, nods. He is a detective and a damn good one at that. But he also has an obsession with killing those who get off free for their crimes. Arlo, whom we all know and want to hate, is closest to me. He nods his head as well, and the others follow suit.
“Reon,” one of them says. I think it was Rylas, who is usually quiet and keeps to himself but is a very powerful man. Or it could have been Benji. He keeps to himself, too, but he’s a sick fuck, just like the rest of us. “Kill her,” he says.
“The rules state wives and children are off-limits. That’s the rule.”
“Yes, we know that, so move along and fucking kill the bitch,” Boston says. I turn to see Arlo watching but not saying anything. I pull my mask off and look down at Lilith, who is still on her hands and knees with Soren’s hand twisted in her hair.
“Remove your hand from my wife’s fucking hair. Now.”
TWENTY-EIGHT
LILITH
Dear Diary,
Seems I did the one thing I said I would never do again…
I got married.
Though I feel something was missing.
I wasn’t there.
xox
Did he just call me his wife?
Surely not?
Soren’s grip tightens in my hair, and I know for a fact he has already pulled some pieces out. I can feel the burning on my scalp and trickles of blood running down my neck at the back.
“Wife?” Soren scoffs. “Do you think I’m a fool?” He pulls me up now, so I’m standing.
My eyes find Reon’s, and I see he is the only one without his mask.
“You have to the count of three before I put this axe in whoever fucking touches my wife again. One.” He lifts the weapon, and Soren releases my hair. Instantly, my hands go to my sore head. I try not to shed any tears as my hair comes out in clumps, and I can feel the warmth of blood on my hand. “I’ll let you live, for the sole fact you didn’t know she was my wife, but don’t think for a second, even one fucking second, that if any of you touch my wife again, I won’t fucking end you all.”
Someone steps up behind me, and I flinch as they touch me. I try to step away, but he reaches for my arm, and I feel a stab of pain. Glancing down, I see a small knife sticking out of my arm, and when I look up at him, I can tell by the look on his puzzled face that he didn’t intend it to just hit my arm. It didn’t go in deep, but it still hurts like a bitch, just like the rest of my body.
“Ouch.” I spin to face the man as he goes to reach for me again, but as he does, something whizzes past my face and straight into his. I watch in shock when his head cracks in half as the axe embeds itself into his face. If I had a weak stomach, I’m sure I would be sick right about now.
Footsteps and yelling echo around me. Reon approaches the body on the ground at my feet, places his foot on the dead man’s chest, grasps the handle of his axe, and pulls it free.
“Time to go,” he says to me.
“This is our Hunt, Reon. Don’t do this,” Soren says.
Reon looks past me to Soren, his eyes narrowing as his mouth thins into a deadly line.
“How do you like your face?” Reon asks him. “Would you care for me to rearrange it like Benji’s?” He raises a brow. “Or maybe Hank’s?” he adds.
“Where is Hank?” Soren asks. He goes to reach for me again, but Reon tsks at him loudly before he turns to me and offers his hand.
“Caterpillar, come.”
I do as he says. He immediately removes his jacket and places it over my shoulders. I wrap it around me for as much warmth as I can possibly get, while he pulls me in with one arm, the other wielding his axe.
“Where is Hank?” Soren asks again.
“The Hunt is complete. Two kills have transpired,” Reon says, eyeing Soren and the rest of the group before his gaze returns to me. I grunt when he touches my arm, and he loosens his grip on me.