Page 11

PSYCHO

I could’ve brought her to the back of the house, and directly to the basement, but it’s better this way. Going from the surroundings of a beautiful house, to what my brother calls my torture chamber, is jarring. It will heighten her fear and, at this moment, I want that more than anything. We walk through my collection of cars, and turn a corner. Her expression shows her curiosity, as I enter the code to get into my favorite place. The doors slide open, and I yank her through the doorway, before it closes behind us automatically. She glances behind her, and realizes there’s no escape. Turning back to the room, she looks around, taking it all in. The metal tables with restraints, the drains on the floor, a cage I don’t use very often, and a St Andrew’s Cross, bought just for my little lamb. The moment I saw her picture, I wanted to tie her up, and now I’m moments away from realizing that fantasy.

“Get undressed.”

Tilting her head to the side, she flashes me a ‘fuck you’ look, and I don’t hate it. Fuck, I think I like it.

“No.”

This is not about sex, it’s about pain that she fucking owes me, but my dick is hard as a rock for her again. Her defiance means a fight, and that’s my favorite thing. I step closer to her, and she raises her tiny fists.

“No.”

I can’t help the grin that overtakes my face.

“Yes,” I say, with a narrowed gaze. This is not optional.

Pulling her fist back, she hits me in the chest, hard. I chuckle when she starts jumping up and down, while holding her right fist in her left hand.

“Motherfucker. You asshole.”

I arch an eyebrow at her, but I’m not pissed. I’m fucking entertained.

“You hit me and I’m the asshole?”

“I was protecting myself.”

As I move closer to her, she steps back frantically, until she hits the wall. I can hardly wait for her to find out that, behind her head, sits my collection of blades. Once she can’t go any further, I wrap my hand around her throat, while I retrieve my favorite knife from my pocket. My brothers make fun of me, but I have an emotional attachment to this knife. It was custom made for me, and cuts through almost fucking anything.

“Is that what you’re doing, little lamb? Protecting yourself?”

Her heart rate, and breathing, both pick up at the same time, as she glares at me. This woman is fucking fascinating. Anybody else would have tears streaming down their face, but not her. She stands strong, even though I know she’s terrified. Her heartbeat betrays her, as does the trembling of her bottom lip. The same goddamn lip I want to suck into my mouth, and bite, until it bleeds.

Standing over her, I jerk my chin down, my gaze connecting with hers, as I take in the fire in her eyes. The same one I’ll destroy. Tracing my thumb over her bottom lip, I speak low, and stifle a groan as her breath brushes over my skin.

“Last chance, little lamb. Would you like to take your clothes off on your own? Or do you prefer I cut them from your body? I will warn you, when I get angry, I get careless with my knife.”

“I’ll do it,” she whispers, and I step away from her, to give her room to get undressed.

She pulls her black t-shirt over her head, and angrily throws it on the ground.

“You’re insane. You know that, right?”

I shake my head no, because she’s wrong; I am many things, but my sanity is intact.

“I’m not insane. I’m a psycho. Maybe look up the difference.”

She unbuttons her pants and pulls them off, as she continues her pointless argument.

“Insane means a state of mind that prevents normal perception, behavior, or social interaction. Or,” she waves her hand in the air, while standing in a pink bra and matching panties, “severely mentally ill. I believe this situation describes it well.”

“Psycho, not insane.”

She rolls her eyes at me like I’m an idiot, and I stop myself from cutting her throat right now. The temptation is intense, but I have bigger plans for her.

Patience, Psycho. You’ll get there.

“An unstable and aggressive person. Again, either fits.”

I’m not the idiot this woman probably thinks I am. I do know it’s not normal to be the way I am. I shouldn’t be excited to see blood dripping down her skin. I shouldn’t be wondering what it tastes like. We kill our enemies. The fact that I will take pleasure in torturing her, before ending her life, is probably not a good thing, but I don’t fucking care. Call me insane, but I’ve been the person I am since I was twelve. I don’t know another way, and I don’t even want to.

“Bra and panties too.”

She shakes her head like she cannot believe she’s here, but does as she’s told. I watch her as she slides the bra straps down her arms until it hits the floor. It’s not lost on me that this woman is beautiful. Long dark hair, hazel eyes made to seduce and torture a man, perfect ‘C’ tits, and a small waist, with wide hips. She’s tantalizing from head to toe. Even so, it won’t save her life. I’m not my brothers, and her beauty does not change the fact that she wronged us. Maybe Kage can look past it, but I can’t. I won’t. She’s stunning, but it’s business as usual for me. After she removes her lacy panties, I direct her to the cross.

Anastasia walks to the cross, with her head hanging down in defeat, as I remove my suit jacket, and dress shirt, before folding them, and placing them on the metal table.

I walk over to her, grab her arm, and tie her to the post, using a square knot, then do the same with her other arm, and legs.

“Is this what you do to all the people you murder?”

Standing back, I admire my exquisite canvas.

“No. Most of the people I kill aren’t as beautiful as you. I’ve never wanted to watch someone bleed the way I do you. I could kill you quickly to be done with it, but I want to savor it. Now, tell me, pretty girl. Are you ready to tell me why you came after us?”

I pull my knife out of my pocket, and she whimpers softly.

“Please don’t.”

I slash the inside of one thigh, and then the other, and watch, captivated, as her blood trickles down her skin. Pressing my fingers into the scars on her stomach, I’m lost in her beauty. Even the deep scars begging to tell a story are stunning.

“So beautiful.”

She hisses from the pain, but does not shed a tear, and it fascinates me.

“Why aren’t you crying?”

Shrugging her shoulders as much as she can, she glances away from me.

“When you’ve been through the pain I have, you find a way to manage it. Tears show weakness. Do your best, Bonetti, but you’ll never see me cry. If that’s what you’re after, you’ll be left with nothing other than disappointment.”

I pull out my cell phone and take a picture of her, earning me an instant glare.

“What the hell are you doing?”

Instead of responding, I dial Raina’s phone number. They are all together at the reception still, so I’m not surprised when the voice of my brother, Bones, is the first one I hear.

“Where are you?” Bones asks.

“Doesn’t matter,” I respond, and then add, “Raina, I’m sending you a picture, and need you to tell me if you recognize the person in the photo.”

“That’s the ADA. That’s Anastasia Crowne,” Raina gasps.

I drag the blade over her tit, and circle the tip around her nipple. “Oh, little lamb. You lied about who you are.”

Bones says, “Psycho, you cannot fucking kidnap the Assistant District Attorney.”

“You’re wrong, Bones. I already did.”

I disconnect the call and get back to work. As I stare at her horrified expression, and then the blood trickling down her thighs, I smile to myself.

Fuck, I love my job. They say to do what you love for work, and I do love this. It’s not very often we have to deal with a woman coming after us. It’s usually a man, either from a rival family, or someone we do business with, trying to steal from us. Theft is one of the biggest reasons, because money makes people stupid. Lack of it causes them to do dangerous things. This is a unique opportunity, and I plan to fucking enjoy every moment of it.