Page 227 of Ruthless Desires: Vol. One

“I don’t regret it,” he says. “I may not have been able to execute all of you, but I had all three of your men scrambling to get to you like scared puppy dogs. I got to see the downright terror in Oliver’s eyes while I drowned you. He was so desperate, he begged—”

Wren slaps him across the face, which takes me by surprise. “Say Oliver’s name again, and I will put you through so much pain that you’ll be begging god to erase you from all of existence.”

I can’t help the smile that spreads over my face.

Protective rage looks good on you, sweetheart.

“Fuck you,” Jordan seethes.

Ignoring him, Wren turns to me. “I’m ready.”

I untie Jordan from the bed. His wrists are still bound, so I yank him to his feet. The idiot tries to get away, but it’s barely an inconvenience for me. I keep a firm grip on him as we head to the basement. The stairs are a little tricky, but I make Jordan go first so he has no choice but to descend.

Oliver and Elliot have dragged the tub into the middle of the floor and filled it to the brim with water. When Jordan sees it, he starts struggling again, but it’s in vain. I force him forward until he’s standing in front of the tub. Then I look to Wren for instruction.

She moves to stand in between Oliver and Elliot. “Get him on his knees.”

I push Jordan to the ground in front of the tub. He tries to get back up, but I don’t let him.

Wren continues hovering a couple yards away. I’m not sure why she doesn’t want to get up close for this, but I suppose it’s a lot for her. Jordan may have almost killed her half a dozen times, but this is still quite an adjustment to the life Wren was living a month ago.

“Put him under,” she whispers.

I oblige, grabbing the hair at the base of Jordan’s neck and shoving his face into the water. He thrashes, trying to get free, but I cage his body to the tub in the same way he did to Wren.

When Jordan’s movements slow, Wren says, “Up.”

Once I’ve pulled him out of the water, Jordan sputters and coughs. “Fuck you,” he growls once he’s gotten enough air.

“Maybe you should stop struggling,” Wren says dryly. “You’re making it harder on yourself.”

“You bit-”

I don’t wait for Wren’s permission this time, forcing Jordan underwater before he can finish his sentence. She watches with a hardened gaze, lifting her chin after a few seconds.

When I pull Jordan out of the water, he’s shaking.

“Please,” he gasps. “I’ll leave you alone. I’ll give you whatever you want. Money, my inheritance, anything. Please just give me a second chance.”

Wren is silent for a moment, and I begin to worry she’s actually considering Jordan’s offer. But then she asks quietly, “Were you going to give me a second chance?”

He doesn’t answer.

“Were you?” she shouts.

Jordan cringes and shakes his head.

“Then you don’t get one. Rhett.” She points to the tub.

When I push Jordan down this time, he doesn’t fight. I keep my eyes on Wren, waiting for her to tell me to pull him up, but she doesn’t. She’s frozen, holding onto one of Elliot’s hands and one of Oliver’s.

“Sweetheart?” I say.

“Keep him down.”

Eventually, Jordan’s body sags against the tub. He’s unconscious, but he’s still not dead. I look to Wren, but she doesn’t give me any indication that she wants me to move him yet.

“How long… how long does it take?” she asks after a couple minutes.