Page 81 of Loving the Tormentor

I can barely hold myself back until he closes the door behind him.

"What thefuckare you playing at?" I bite out.

"Care to explain what's got you so emotional?" he asks lazily.

"That murder was me. Why the hell is Nyx Mayer being arrested?"

"Because the police are doing their work and going for the number one suspect, I assume. All I know is that Kross told me he was going to question my son'sgirlfriend, and if I wanted to call that off." He smiles at me like the cat who got the cream. "But I said my son doesn't have a girlfriend, or he would’ve introduced her to me so I could get him initiated."

He cocks an eyebrow at me. "Do you have a girlfriend I should protect, Achilles?"

My nostrils flare as I try to breathe calmly. It's impossible. The fucker is getting exactly what he wants. But there's no way I'm initiating into the Circle, especially not with Nyx. It would be too many people I care about in danger.

I swallow my rage, roll my shoulders back, and finally calmly say, "No."

"Then, that’s that." He shrugs. "No issues that someone will be arrested for the murder they committed, right?"

"I'm the one who killed him. That murder has my name written all over it."

He pauses, his features freezing in shock for a second.

"And you forgot to put the Circle's sign on the body?" Murder doesn't shock him, but my stupidity does. "Then I guess they'll arrest you if they do their job correctly. If not, an innocent girl is going to prison."

"Just do whatever it takes, Eugene," I growl. "Like you always do."

"No," he purrs. "Your privileges are over.Fini."Over,he insists in French. "Tu as compris?"Understood?"You don't want to join the Silent Circle? You don't want to help us out? Then you will be an outsider. Outsiders don't get free favors."

I scoff, not surprised at all that he's come to this conclusion. I betrayed him. There's someone I have feelings for, who I could force to initiate, and I'm not doing it. The worst thing is, he thought he was going to be able to use her against me, and now I have too much power over her for that.

"Alright," I say. "We'll do it your way."

He's won this battle because I have no time to fight it. I need to get to Nyx and make sure to get her out. Cops don’t need to find the murderer to have a guilty person. They'll work out whatever they want, and Nyx is an easy victim because she's out of her depth. I'll bail her out and come up with a plan after.

"Tu es une telle déception, Achilles."You're such a disappointment, Achilles.

"Regarde moi dans les yeux, père."I wink at him. "J'en ai rien à foutre.Why would I care about the opinion of a man who used to beat up the mother of his child, and the only reason he doesn’t anymore is because she managed to run away? You got awhole secret society behind you and still couldn’t get her to stay. Talk about a disappointment."

He narrows his eyes at me. "Où est-elle?"Where is she?

"What?" I taunt him. "Can't your precious society find her?"

"Tell your mother that if she puts one foot in my town, I will make her suffer."

I get closer to him, looking straight into his eyes. "You ever get anywhere near my mom, and you and all your little friends are going to visit every corner of Hell."

I barge into his shoulder as I leave, and within a minute, I'm speeding toward the Silver Falls Police Station. I park like an asshole in a hurry, because I am one, and stride to the counter, cutting the line to speak to the cop there.

And for once, it's not because of my selfishness. It's because I know Nyx is terrified of jail, and she shouldn't be sitting in a cell, especially not for a crime she didn't commit.

"Achilles Duval. I'm bailing out Nyx Mayer. Tell me how much."

When the young police officer looks at me with wide, confused eyes, I slap the counter. "Nyx Mayer. Tap-tap on your computer before I lose my patience. It's very fucking thin tonight."

"Uh… Sir, she's not," he stutters. At least sharing the same last name as my dad still has some sort of influence. "There's no bail."

I throw my head back, taking a deep breath.

"Listen, I really don't want to hurt anyone?—"