At school, Leonard watched his brother being surrounded by other classmates. Rafael was now bold, calm, and acting confident, while Leonard, on the other hand, was cautious of him.
The scene of Rafael cutting his cheek had somehow traumatized him.
“Your brother is hot,” his girlfriend said beside him, and his eyes snapped toward her.
“You don’t mean that, do you?” he gritted his teeth.
“Um… yes, I do. You’re acting weird. It seems like your spirit has transferred to your brother… And I… fell for that spirit,” she packed her books and went to meet Rafael with a smile.
Leonard scoffed and muttered, “I’ll fucking kill him. I swear it.”
___
“You motherfucking son of a bitch!” Tristan screamed insanely as Hudson let go of the electrifying machine.
Tristan’s hands were chained above his head, his legs bound to the floor. A collar was around his neck, and blood cascaded down his battered body.
Pain washed over Tristan like a crashing wave. His bones felt like water, his eyes were red as he struggled to catch his breath. His head throbbed with unbearable pain.
“Just fucking kill me, bastard!” he barked at Hudson, whose face was as hard as stone. When Hudson didn’t reply, Tristan continued, “Kill me, just like I did your lovely lover… Indigo.”
Hudson’s hand reached for the red button and pressed it. Tristan’s body convulsed violently as he was electrocuted, his screams shaking the walls of the room. Just when he thought he was about to pass out, Hudson released the button.
“First, you don’t have the right to die. Second, say my woman’s name again and you’ll regret it. And third, Indigo is still alive.”
Still trembling, Tristan managed to raise his head to look at Hudson. He chuckled mockingly.
“Alive? Tsk… don’t make me laugh. I saw her die in your arms. Are you saying all this to make yourself feel better? You fucking prick,” he laughed.
Hudson’s wristwatch beeped, and he glanced at it. “I’d better go. Jaxon, over to you.”
Tristan, who thought Hudson was the only one in the room, turned his head toward the darkness on the right and noticed Jaxon.
“Alright,” Jaxon’s voice sounded as Hudson left.
“Wow, the darkness really suits you,” Tristan chuckled like the maniac he was.
Jaxon remained silent, sitting with his head resting back and his eyes closed.
“I know what you did, little bird… Tsk,” Tristan laughed again, and Jaxon’s eyes slowly opened. “I can’t believe I fell in love with the wrong woman again… so fucking cute.”
Jaxon slowly stood, anger and curiosity swirling in his gaze. He had said those exact words to Jolene the night he found out she was Little Bird.
Tristan’s grin widened. “Did the bullet hit you? Why did you call the police on someone you love… you fucking liar?”
Jaxon’s brows furrowed. How did they know the words he had said only to Jolene? Jolene couldn’t have told them in prison…
“You still don’t get it, do you?” Tristan asked in a whisper.
“What did you do to her?”
“Why do you want to know? Do you love her?”
“Answer the goddamn question.”
Tristan’s grin widened. “Think, Mr. King’s cousin. You’re all just cowards, throwing her away. Now she’s going to die.”
Jaxon stepped back as he realized something. He turned and ran out of the room, driving straight to Jolene’s apartment.
___
“Rebel,” Cassius whispered softly, snapping Tatiana out of her thoughts. “You okay?”
Tatiana’s lips parted, but no words came out.
“Wife,” Cassius whispered again.
“I… I just want him to suffer, Cash,” Tatiana swallowed. “I want to kill him, over and over again, for all he did. To Isabella, to Indigo, and to me.”
Cassius kissed her forehead and stood to leave. “I’ll be back,” he said and left.
Tatiana pulled out his laptop, her eyes settling on the many files she had gathered. This would all be over soon. She just needed to wait a little longer.
“Make sure you release the first shot tomorrow. Don’t make any mistakes,” she said to someone over the phone and ended the call.
___
Tristan’s eyes went to his chains. They were impossibly tight. Getting out was nearly impossible.
Cassius hadn’t dealt with him yet, and Tristan wondered what that asshole was preparing for him.
As if luck wasn’t on his side, the door opened, and his nightmare stepped in. Cassius’s gaze was cold, his aura menacing as he advanced toward him.
What the fuck are they about to do?
“Thinking of escaping?” Cassius asked with a smirk, and Tristan gritted his teeth. “Let me help you.”
Cassius pulled out the keys and unlocked the chains. Tristan crumpled to the floor in his weakened state, groaning in pain.
He heard Cassius’s light footsteps as he circled him.
“Mr. Tristan Wallington. You’re such a good man, and I’d like to return the favor,” Cassius’s voice dripped with venom.
Tristan chuckled. “Cut the bullshit and just kill me.”
“Where’s the fun in that, brother-in-law? You’re my guest, and I should treat you like one,” Cassius whispered.
“Fuck you.”
“No, thank you. I’m not gay. You must really love that dick of yours. Since you’re my dear brother-in-law, I’ll let you keep it for now,” Cassius advanced to the table.
“Good. ‘Cause I’m planning to make good use of it on Tatiana. I’ve been thinking about her cunt all night.”
Cassius halted and slowly took out a small box. “How sad. Your brother ruined such a plan,” he turned and walked back to Tristan with the box.
“I can still achieve that,” Tristan chuckled, still lying on the floor. He could see the anger in Cassius. Triggering him would make Cassius kill him, but Cassius had another plan.
“Recognize this?” Cassius pulled out an injection from the box.
Fear flashed in Tristan’s eyes for a fleeting moment. It was the poison they had used to torture Jolene, Tatiana, and other enemies. Tristan had watched them scream in agony and smiled.
But now, he would be the one screaming.
“Of course you do. But before you sing, I’d like to hear you scream,” Cassius smiled as he placed one foot on one of Tristan’s arms.
He pulled out a gun and aimed it at Tristan’s arm.
“What are you… Aargh!”
The first bullet hit his elbow, sending searing pain through him like crashing waves.
Cassius didn’t stop. He fired another bullet, and then another, all on the same arm. The sound of gunshots and Tristan’s screams pierced the air like daggers. Tristan tried to remove Cassius’s foot, but Cassius shot him in the palm of the other hand. He aimed at the first arm again, continuing to shoot until the arm was disconnected.
Blood spilled, and the only sound that could be heard was Tristan’s screaming. His eyes were fixed on his now-missing arm.
The sight was gruesome.
“Nice voice,” Cassius commented, releasing him as he trembled. He turned to the man who followed him.
“Treat my in-law for me,” he ordered and left the room.
“Motherfucker!!!!” Tristan’s voice trailed off.