Page 20 of Matrix

“You met him at the Suds and Soap. One of our old ladies was there doing laundry. She recognized you from …” His voice trails off.

“From what?” I ask.

“Our Underground Vengeance kill board.” He smiles through the blood. “One of our guys saw you last night at the campground. We figured you’d come back to look for clues, so we left a guy there. He radioed your location, and they sent me to get you. Capture or kill. Although I would have liked a little time with you before turning you in. You’re one hot piece of ass.”

“You’re disgusting.” Daisy turns her back on him.

I whip my piece out of my cut, but Scar grabs my wrist and pushes it down. “Not yet.”

“I want to do it,” I say through gritted teeth.

“He’s yours. No argument there.”

Footsteps sound on the stairs. Reaper and Talon show up at the same time.

“Taking away all my fun again?” Reaper grumbles.

“This one’s Matrix’s,” Scar says in a tone that leaves no room for argument.

Reaper growls before crossing his arms over his chest. Normally, I let him do the dirty work down here, but this piece of shit belongs to me now.

“We know your crew has been watching our club. Why?” Scar asks.

“Someone’s got a hard-on for you guys.”

“Who?”

“Jonathan Blackstone. I hear you guys are intimately acquainted with him.”

Daisy turns around and frowns at me. I ignore her.

“Why’s he interested in the club?” I ask, not taking the bait.

“All I know is he was talking to our pres one day, and they were laughing at you shitheads.”

“About what?”

“Something about stupid little boys who never put up much of a fight.”

And just like that, I’m back in Blackstone’s dungeon.

Pain. Pain so intense I can’t breathe. They’re kicking me in the ribs, and I can’t get any air. I lift my throbbing head and search the other boys’ faces. They’re all watching. Some look terrified, while others don’t even seem to be present. It’s like they’re somewhere else. I want to float away, too, to be anywhere but here.

“You think you deserve a piece of bread after what you did upstairs?” One of the guards laughs so hard he doubles over.

“The stupid shit couldn’t make anyone happy today. Tough break, little dude.” A second guard drives his steel-toed boot into my thigh.

I gasp as agony burns up my leg. From the moment I got here, I knew I would die. Never suspected it would be today, but now I’m sure I’m done. This is it. The end.

When the third guard begins to pummel me with his ruthless fists, I pray for death, for an end to years of suffering.

“Fight back,” one of the boys yells. I recognize his voice. I don’t know his name, but he’s got scars all over his body. He’s been here longer than me. Sometimes he gives me a bit of his bread and water. He’s just as hungry as the rest of us, but he’s stronger. I wish I could be more like him.

A guard grabs me by the throat and pins me to the wall. My thin legs kick as terror surges through my veins. I can’t take a breath. The agony makes it impossible. And then the strangest thing happens.

Suddenly, there’s nothing.

No pain. No suffering. Nothing but the sweet sensation of floating. I’m still in the room, but I’m not in my body. I’m standing beside it, looking at it like it belongs to someone else. It’s not mine. It’s not me.