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And there she was, purposefully goading me into takin’ my bad mood out on her. Getting incredibly close to uncappin’ the black, tar-like substance that'd been pressin’ against the lids of my insides since I'd stepped foot inside this arena.

Not the valuable Texas crude that I'd stumbled upon once in shooting practice. Naw, this was something much more volatile. Violent. Just beggin’ to be let out so it could wreak havoc on everything.

And she wanted all of it. The excitement on her face when she’d seen what I had done to Ella was undeniable. She’d been waiting for her chance to kill the girl and the moment she saw it, she pounced. A cougar and a fuckin’ fawn.

It only made me angrier. She took my chance from me. I had the chance to make a show of it. Had a chance to finally show Pa what I had up my sleeve.

She ruined it in an instant like it was nothin’ and wanted to use my anger for her own entertainment. But she had no idea what she was askin’ for.

I let it run wild as I gave chase, my booted feet poundin’ hard against the concrete as I followed Aubrey's panting breaths. We had to be close to the end of the maze by now—even with the changes, it couldn't be far off.

Not that I had a hope in capitalistic Hell to rank now.

Fuck.

But in it’s place she offered me somethin’ much better.

My skin was hot, sweat beginnin’ to bead along my forehead and neck with the effort of keepin’ pace. My lungs were burnin’ with the need for air. My muscles itching as adrenaline rushed through my veins.

Aubrey's back came into view, forcing me to go faster, a roar of anger escaping me. Her head turned just enough to the side to catch a glimpse of me behind her, blonde hair streaked in coppery crimson whipping behind her with each step.

And there’s that fuckin’ smile again.

"When I catch you, Peaches, you'll wish you never met me," I hollered down the corridor. "You may never walk straight again."

I was close enough that I could hear the way my promise made her breath catch. Could practically smell the blonde's arousal as my fingers slid through the ends of her hair, just far enough ahead that I couldn't quite get purchase. Like she could sense the close call, she picked up the pace, skiddin’ so hard that, as she took the next corner, her hand hit the ground to stabilize her.

I'd hunted enough rabbits in my time to see the signs of a healthy animal fightin’ for its life. And that's the vibe Aubrey gave, her strong legs taking her further and further down the hallway, eclipsin’ even my longer stride.

Unfortunately for her, I was more motivated.

And resourceful.

How many times did she think I'd allow her bad fuckin’ attitude to go unchecked? How many times was I gonna let her disobey me with a smile on her face?

These weren't little things.

I didn't ask her to do the dishes or hang the laundry.

It was disobedience through and through. And sheknewwhat would happen if she continued to disobey me. That made it all the more treacherous.

I'd told her not to kill Ella—my friend, even if she'd been a lyin’, traitorous bitch—and she'd chosen to do it anyway. But I didn’t know what made me angrier. That she was my friend and had been schemin’ against me, or that my ability to actually prove myself to the family was stolen from me.

Call it insanity brought on by grief, call it fallin’ into darkness. Whatever it was, I knew that there was only one thing awaitin’ her once I caught her.

Somethin’ so sinfully sweet. Somethin’ that had been lurking in the back of my mind since I first laid eyes on her.

Since I first tasted the delicious nectar between her thighs.

Punishment.

And this time, I wasn’t gonna go easy on her. I’d firmly shut out my conscience, and there was nothing left but the darkness whisperin’ dirty things to me. Depraved things.

It was high time that someone taught Aubrey a few hard lessons.

Patience. Humility. Some good old-fashioned southern manners.

And I reckoned I was gonna be the one to do it.