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CONAN

“ A nything keeping him alive, rip them out,” I order Finn the second I step through the doors.

Ben’s face is still swollen, but he’s awake and looking at me like the devil just walked in.

I drag a chair to the side of his hospital bed and straddle it.

“Ben. Does it feel good to still be breathing?”

He tries to smirk. But his busted mouth won’t let him.

“Struggling there, pal?” I smack the side of his head.

Finn removes all the cables from his arms. The monitor screams for a second before cutting to silence.

“Scalpel.” I hold out my hand.

“It’s like I’m a kid playing doctors and nurses. Except, this time, it’s real.” I lean in closer, whispering. “And I don’t have a fucking clue what I’m doing.”

I chuckle as Finn drops the scalpel into my palm.

“Hmmm. Where to start? Shall we test how good it cuts first?”

I rip off the bloodied gown clinging to his skin, revealing a mottled mess of bruises. Just the lightest touch draws blood.

“Nice.”

I drag the blade down, slicing straight through to his stomach.

“W-what do you want?” Ben stutters.

“Now isn’t the time to play dumb.”

“Doctor, would this cut through bone? Or do I need something more substantial?”

Finn’s mouth twitches, but he keeps his cool. He heads to the cabinet and returns with something far less surgical. A saw.

“Damn. You got everything here.”

“Would you like some pain relief, sir?” I ask Ben.

“I want you to stop.”

I shake my head slowly.

“Okay. I’ll take that as a no. Now take a deep breath for me and relax, Ben. This will probably sting.”

I grab his hand, crushing the bones until he whimpers, and flatten it to the side table.

Then I saw two fingers clean off.

His screams rip through the room, but I barely hear them. I’m focused on the flesh. The way it peels. The way it splits.

“Oh. There’s the bone,” I murmur, hitting resistance. I press harder. They snap off.

“Fuck!”

He thrashes.

I grip his forearm and plant the saw against it.

“I’d say it’s good enough to go through this. I reckon I’m strong enough.”

I pause, looking at him. He’s drenched in sweat. Eyes wide, barely holding back tears.

“You can stop this, Ben. Just tell me why you entered Hallie into the games and who you work for. Simple as that.”

He clamps his mouth shut.

So I start cutting again.

“I will make this as painful as I possibly can, Ben. I’m sawing your limp dick off next.

Then I’ll feed you your balls. Maybe I’ll mix a little drug cocktail from that cabinet and shoot it straight into your eyeballs.

If that doesn’t kill you, I’ll just keep cutting.

Tongue. Toes. Hell, maybe I’ll rip out your intestines too. ”

A sick smile curves my lips.

“And I’ve got one of the best doctors in America right here, keeping you alive just long enough to feel every ounce of it.”

I pull the saw away and tap it against his cheek.

“Or…you tell me those two little things, and I won’t do any of that.”

I sit back, crossing one ankle over my knee.

“I’ll give you a minute while I think about it.”

Finn tosses me a smoke. I light it and blow the smoke right in Ben’s face.

“Lovely weather today,” I say, watching the sun crawl up over the tree line.

“Isn’t it just?” Finn murmurs, hands clasped behind his back, staring out the window.

I picture Hallie out there. Cold. Alone. Waiting for The Chase. My stomach knots with rage.

When the cigarette’s burned down, I snub it out on Ben’s forehead. He howls like a wounded animal.

“Right. Decision time, Ben. To speak or not to speak? Hmm?”

“Want to start with an easier question, a warm-up?”

He nods.

“Okay. Where are your phone and keys? They weren’t anywhere obvious in the club or your car.”

He swallows hard.

“In the safe. Manager’s office.”

Finn nods and pulls out his phone.

Our guys will be on it. Drago’ll have that phone cracked in an hour.

“Wasn’t so hard, was it?”

I slap his face and sit back.

“Want to try another one?”

“Okay.”

He looks like a rat. Acts like one too.

None of our men would fold this fast.

“Why did you enter Hallie into The Chase?”

His eyes flick to his mangled hand. His face goes pale.

“Revenge. I was going to use someone from the club. But then Hallie decided to be a fucking whore with you. Thought it’d be funny. She doesn’t deserve to be happy.”

I shut my eyes, breathe deep.

The monster claws at my skin.

“Why do you always try to belittle her?” I tilt my head. “It’s the small dick, isn’t it? Men like you always lash out when they get rejected.”

He grits his teeth. I can’t help but laugh.

“Can’t even deny it.”

“She is a slut. She deserves everything she gets for leaving me for the likes of you,” he spits back.

I clutch my chest dramatically.

“Oh, how tragic. A man who cares for her. Makes her come violently. Would kill her prick of an ex without blinking.” I lean in, venom dripping.

“Yeah. I’m still alive. You could’ve killed me twice now.”

I roll my eyes.

“Only because I want you alive, silly.”

He frowns.

“It’s painfully clear you’re not the brains of this operation. But I did find out you’re working for your cousin. That British accent...I’d bet my last bullet your handler is Arthur.”

Color drains from his face.

Bin-fucking-go.

“Save your life, Ben. He’d kill you in a heartbeat to save himself. That’s who the Bowens are. Unloyal. Greedy. Cowardly cunts.”

Ben’s jaw ticks. Finn glances at me, impressed.

“We are not,” Ben groans.

Oh, the slip.

“We?” I ask, knowing full well he’s just admitted what I needed to know.

His eyes go wide, and I tut.

“Ben Bowen. Arthur really must be scraping the bottom of the barrel for men to send you after me. You’re an embarrassment.”

“Fuck you.” He spits at me and I duck it easily.

“No, thanks. Even if I did swing that way, I’d want someone who performs better. You looked like a rabbit on crack fucking that girl on the couch. She looked bored. Probably how Hallie felt too.”

God, I hate picturing her with him. With anyone.

I scratch my jaw, picking up the scalpel. Arthur’s gonna get Ben’s body as a present—with a little message attached.

I start carving.

“Oh, the ‘s’ is kinda tricky.”

Finn chuckles beside me.

“Takes some practice, Con.”

When I finish, I step back.

The Bowens Suck Ass.

Block capitals.

“Missing something.”

I grab Ben’s arm.

“Anything vital I should avoid?”

“Front of the arm. Less chance he bleeds out too fast.”

I nod and get to work adding the signature.

Love, Conan.

“I went for elegance. Wanted it to feel personal.”

Finn tilts his head.

“I think it’ll look beautiful in a gallery. Especially if the rest is...decorative.”

God, I love his twisted brain.

“Any suggestions?”

His eyes light up.

“Look! Wait!” Ben panics.

“Hallie wasn’t part of the plan. I fell for her. I loved her.”

I laugh. Love? Please. I watched him fuck someone else on her couch.

“I just got scared. I fucked it up. At first I wanted her in the games to scare her back to me. I was never going to let her actually go. But then, you just couldn’t leave her alone. It’s such a twist of fate. You were so hard to find, Conan. But once Hallie got to you, you made it easy.”

He spills.

“Arthur knew about Enzo’s underground world. We opened up a club to secure an invite. Then Hallie brought you to me. I knew the second you walked through that door together, I’d lost her. And she had to pay.”

My fists clench. Finn grips my bicep.

“So let me get this straight. You came to spy. Got jealous. Entered Hallie in The Chase to scare her. Fed Arthur intel. All because your dick couldn’t handle rejection?”

I lean in close.

“What’s the plan, Ben?”

“Arthur wants you dead. I want Hallie back.”

That grin again. Ugly. Bloody.

“She’ll never forgive you. You’re sick. All of you. The Quinns need putting down.”

A growl erupts from deep in my chest.

“So aggressive. You need locking in a cage.”

Finn leans in.

“Reggie has the phone. We’ve got everything. Do as you wish, Con.”

He steps back, slipping out the door.

It clicks shut.

Ben grins.

“None of you will kill me. Hallie’s mine. Always will be.”

That’s the last thing he ever says.

I tear him apart. Smash his skull until there’s nothing left but blood and pulp and bone.

Just like James Bowen. Just like Arthur and his father will be.

They wanted a war. They fucking got one. And I’ll send this Bowen back to Arthur in a far worse state than his brother was.