Moments of Malevolence (The Hunters Book 1)

“WHAT DO YOU MEAN, you lost her?” I growl into the phone.

“Well, she ran the first time, and I found her. Then…” Kyson trails off.

“Then what?” I snap.

“Well, she got her friend to distract me. She’s looking for you.”

“She won’t find me,” I tell him. “But you better fucking find her.”

“I’m not your personal babysitter,” he yells. “You should have asked Kenzo.”

“No, I asked you. So go, do your job, and find her.”

“I’m not getting paid enough for this,” he grumbles.

“I’m not paying you at all. Just do it.”

He hangs up, and I look over to Sarah, who is starting to wake up. My legs are crossed as I sit on the recliner directly across from where she’s tied to a chair in the middle of her living room. She blinks a few times as if she can’t believe what’s happening.

She better believe it.

She starts to scream, but I already have a rag stuffed in her mouth, so nothing comes out but muffled sounds. I sit calmly, watching her. When she finally stops screaming, realizing it’s not getting her anywhere, she starts to pull against the restraints.

Again, getting nowhere.

When she finally settles and her breathing becomes heavier, I stand and pull the rag from her mouth.

“If you scream, I’m either going to knock you out again or stuff this back in your mouth. Your choice.” When she doesn’t speak or move, I sit back down and rest my ankle on my opposite knee as I study her.

“Why are you here?” she asks in a small voice.

I smirk, my head tilting to the side. “Do you think acting innocent will help you?” I raise a brow.

Her lips thin, and her brows scrunch. She pulls on the restraints, but it gets her nowhere.

“I also figured I would give you the same surprise you gave Alaska. Nice, right? I thought, how romantic is this.” I wave my hands around in front of me. “You surprised her in her home, and I am doing the same.” I watch as she bites the inside of her lip.

“I won’t—” she starts and stops herself.

“You won’t what?” I ask. “Tell me a lie, and I’ll cut a finger off.” I smile at her.

My phone starts ringing again, but I ignore it keeping my attention pinned on Sarah.

“Why did you stab her?” I ask.

“Because she cost me my job!” she shouts.

“That was only half the truth. Tell me the whole truth.”

“I did tell you the whole truth.”

“Losing a job doesn’t mean you go and stab someone. Technically, she didn’t get you fired… I did. Would you like to stab me as well?”

“Yes, I very much would,” she bites back.

“See? The truth helps you keep your body parts.” I wink at her. “Now, tell me why you really did it.”

She clenches her jaw, then whines, “I told you why.”

I stand, the knife that was hidden in my lap now in my hand. Her eyes widen when she notices it, and she struggles against the rope, but it gets her nowhere. Of course it won’t, silly girl.

“What are you doing? I told you the truth. What are you doing?” she repeats. I smile as I reach for one of her hands, which are tied behind her back. She tries her hardest to pull them free and wiggles them as much as she possibly can.

But that’s not going to work, not with me.

Holding out her pinkie, I grip it before setting the blade of my knife against it.

Despite what people think, you actually need to put in some effort when you’re slicing a bone from the body. Her screams rip through the room as her blood drips into a small puddle at my feet. I manage to cut through all the way and hold the pinkie between my fingers. I pull the rag from my pocket and tie it around her hand, and she screams at the contact. I move back to the recliner and sit down, still holding her pinkie finger firmly.

“You had to go and make it hard…” I pause, looking up at her. “For you, that is.” I throw her finger at her, and it hits her chest, then falls to the floor in front of her. “Now, care to tell me again why you are being a bitch and hurting Alaska?”

Tears have streaked her mascara down her face, and she lifts her shoulder and attempts to wipe it away but doesn’t get far.

“I’m not a patient man,” I tell her.

“What do you see in her?” she asks. “She’s so ordinary.”

“Now, you don’t believe that, do you?” As she goes to open her mouth, I hold up a finger before I point to her pinkie on the floor. “Remember…the truth now, please.”

She bites her lip, tears still rolling down her face. “I’m a woman. How could you do this to me?”

“You are the one who decided to be a cunt. Remember that? Don’t try playing the victim card with me. I couldn’t give two shits that you’re a woman. You could be a man for all I care.” She shakes her head, trying to dispel the tears streaming down her face.

“I’m jealous! Jealous of her! Are you happy now?” she yells.

“Was that really so hard?” I question. “Telling the truth isn’t so difficult, is it?” I smile as I stand, and my brother calls again for the fourth time. “Alaska is a sweet woman. She wouldn’t hurt you the same way you hurt her, despite her tough exterior,” I tell her, putting the phone to my ear.

Sarah laughs and shakes her head, tears still welling in her eyes. “She is anything but,” she snarls.

“Your house is on fire! Why haven’t you been answering your fucking phone?” Kyson screams.

“My what?” I say, not sure I heard him right.

“Your crazy lover just set your house on fire. Next time answer your phone. She is as crazy as you. Fucking hell, I’m leaving. I hear sirens coming and I am not waiting around for consequences.”

“Take her with you,” I order.

“Fuck off,” my brother says and hangs up the phone.

Turning back to Sarah, I approach her slowly, the knife still in my hand. She jolts at seeing the blade come near her, and I smile and lean down, then cut the ties that bind her hands.

“It’s your lucky day. I have to go. And remember, if you go near her again, you’ll lose more than one finger.” I pull back and slide the knife into its sheath. When she doesn’t answer, I step closer and bend down, my menacing eyes focusing directly on hers. “Do. You. Understand?” I ask, my words coming out as a growl.

She nods emphatically, and I ruffle her hair before I stride out.