Page 149 of Pretty Ruthless Monsters: Complete Series

Ambrose’s eyes narrow, and for a moment, I think I’ve struck a nerve. But then his lips curl into that infuriating smirk again.

“Oh, Atlas,” he says, shaking his head like he’s talking to a child.

“You really do have more muscles than brains, don’t you?

The Dark Lotus Syndicate isn’t just some mafia organization.

” His eyes dance in a creepy, power-hungry sort of way for a moment before he schools his features again.

“It’s the key to a kind of power that most petty criminals like you only dream about. ”

I bristle at being called a petty criminal, but I bite back the smart-ass reply that’s on the tip of my tongue. Instead, I just try to keep him talking for a little while longer.

“Power?” I ask. And yeah, I guess he’s piqued my curiosity, although I’ll be damned if I’m going to admit it out loud. “What kind of power?”

“More than I’ve ever had before. More than your simple mind can comprehend. More than I had even before I was locked up.”

He seems to really be warming to the topic now, and I don’t even have to ask him to continue this time.

“Oh, yes. I was on my way to the top in Detroit. Had my fingers in every pie, knew all the right people. I was this close,” he holds up his thumb and forefinger, barely an inch apart, “to running the whole damn city.”

He starts pacing, his agitation clear in every step. “Then I got sent away. One stupid mistake, and everything I’d built came crashing down.” His fists clench at his sides. “By the time I got out, it was all gone. My connections, my influence, everything.”

I can hear the bitterness in his voice, see the way his jaw clenches as he speaks. It’s almost enough to make me feel sorry for the bastard.

Almost.

“But now?” His eyes meet mine, and there’s that manic gleam in them again. “Now I have a chance at something even bigger. The Dark Lotus Syndicate isn’t just about running a city, Atlas. It’s about controlling entire countries from the shadows.”

He leans in close, his voice dropping to a whisper. “They have their tendrils in everything. Politics, finance, law enforcement. You name it, they have access at the highest levels. And once I’m in, all that delicious access will literally be at my fingertips.”

It’s hard not to look at him like he’s fucking crazy. I’ve seen men hungry for power before, but this? This is something else entirely. He’s already fully corrupted by just the thought of that kind of power.

He’s the last person who needs to have access to it.

“And all you have to do is torture and kill to get it, right?” I grunt. “Even when the people involved haven’t done shit to you.”

“See? Such a simple, naive mind.” Ambrose just laughs. “Surely you’ve learned this lesson by now, haven’t you? In this world, you either have power or you’re crushed beneath it. I’ve been on both sides, and I know which one I prefer.”

I’ve had about enough of his patronizing bullshit.

Not to mention the fact that his speech about power and control makes my fucking skin crawl.

Still, I force myself to focus. I need to keep him talking so I can buy myself more time.

Even another minute or two could make or break this little plan of mine.

“And Quinn?” I ask. “What do you plan on doing with her after she’s given you what you want?”

“Quinn? I wouldn’t worry too much about her if I were you. She’s just a means to an end. Once she’s given me what I want, well…” He trails off with that fucking condescending smirk, leaving the implications hanging in the air.

My blood boils at the thought of him using her, hurting her. I might be half-dead, but I’ll still happily tear this motherfucker apart limb by limb if I get half a chance. “If you lay a finger on her, I swear?—”

He cuts me off with a snort. “Oh, how touching. You know, it’s almost funny. She said almost the exact same thing about you.” His voice takes on a mocking tone. “‘If you hurt Atlas, I’ll make you regret it.’ It would be sort of adorable if it wasn’t so fucking pathetic.”

I clench my jaw, fighting back the urge to spit in his face. He continues, seemingly oblivious to my growing anger—or maybe deliberately stoking it.

“You two and your feelings for each other. It’s a weakness, you know. One that I’ve been all too happy to exploit.”

As he speaks, I test the chain one last time. It’s now or never.

“It isn’t weakness, you asshole,” I growl. “It’s strength.”

With that, I summon every ounce of energy I have left. I push off the ground with my feet, using the momentum to lift myself up. The chain slips off the hook with a satisfying clank.

Ambrose’s eyes widen in surprise, but he doesn’t have time to react. I throw myself forward, my body slamming into his with all the force I can muster. We both go down hard, the impact knocking the wind out of me.

But I’m not done yet. Even with my hands still chained, I manage to roll on top of him, pinning him to the ground with my weight.

For a moment, it feels like I’ve finally gotten the upper hand. But the victory is short-lived.

“Guards!” he yells, struggling against me. He’s older and not nearly as built as I am, but he’s spent enough time in the pen to hold his own. “Get in here now!”

Before I can do any serious damage, the door bursts open. Two of his mercenaries rush in, and they’re on me in an instant. I try to fight them off, but I’m still chained and weak from the torture. It’s a losing battle from the start.

One of them grabs me by the hair, yanking me off Ambrose. The other delivers a vicious kick to my ribs that leaves me gasping for air. They drag me back to the center of the room, efficiently reattaching the chains to the ceiling hook.

I struggle against their grip, but it’s useless. My brief moment of freedom is over, and I’m right back where I started.

Ambrose staggers to his feet and wipes blood from the spot where my head must have connected with his face. His eyes, usually cold and calculating, are burning with rage. The smug, condescending expression he’s worn through our whole conversation is gone, replaced by a look of pure hatred.

“You’re going to regret that,” he snarls, stepping closer. “I was content to keep you alive, but now?” He shakes his head, his bloodied lips twisting into a cruel smile. “Now I’m really looking forward to killing you, once your slut of a girlfriend gives me what I want.”