Page 63 of Serena (Shattered Queens #1)

Ineed to hurt him. To make him feel like I felt all those years ago. He was the spark that lit the match.

“Serena, why didn’t you come to me?” I knew he would feel this way. He would think that I don’t trust him enough, but it’s not about him.

“I knew you would do it for me, but I need to be the one to do this. Please understand. I need to take back the control that he took away from me.”

“I could have helped.”

“You’re going to help. I can’t imagine doing this with anyone else but you.”

I approach Byran, and he looks at me like I’m unhinged. I get to the point.

Turning to Ian, I say, “You see, the summer I was attacked, Byran and I spent it together.” I turn to the man hanging in front of us.

“He told me he loved me, and I gave him the one thing I was holding on to. My virginity. I actually thought he loved me. When he left without a word, I was devastated. I felt used and unlovable.” I close my eyes at the memories.

“My friends and I decided to have a girls’ night, to help with the heartbreak.

That was the night of my attack.” I look back at Byran.

“Now I know that it wouldn’t have mattered whether it was that night because if it wasn’t, it would have been another. You’d already put a target on my back.”

No response. Coward. I look at Ian; his eyes are on Byran.

“Did you know I was at the bar that night?” He’s crying like a little bitch. I remove the piece of tape that’s covering his mouth.

“Yes, I didn’t think they would actually hurt you.”

“Did you know that Stephan Lars has been following me for months?”

“No, but I knew he was going to look for you. He came to the center and told me he thought he saw you. He showed me a picture of you visiting the bar. Serena, he threatened my family. I tried to warn you. A couple of weeks ago. I was outside your office, but I chickened out.”

“Are you fucking kidding me, Byran! For years, I drove myself crazy wondering why me. My parents blamed me. People victimized me. I lived with shame. Blaming myself. I never thought it’d be because of you.”

“Ser—” I cut him off.

“Do you know what it’s like to have a piece of glass removed from deep within your skin? To feel the warmth of your blood drip from your neck? To beg for mercy? To think you did something to provoke your rape and mutilation? No, you don’t.” I pull out my phone and show it to him.

“Look! These are the scars that remind me every day of what happened to me because of you.”

I look at Ian and motion for him to come. I put on the gloves that I requested. My hand trembles as I put it into the plastic container. I pick up a shard of glass, and I calm myself. Counting. Respira, I tell myself.

“Ian, baby, will you hold him still?” His smile reaches his eyes.

“Anything my girl wants. I’d like to add, this is a huge turn on.”

I know the feeling. He’s wearing one of his T-shirts that I love, with black jeans and those tattoos. Damn.

I look at my phone. I see the location of one of my scars and find the corresponding area on Byran’s back.

I press the glass into him, and I hear his screams, but I don’t care.

If anything, it brings me joy. I press the glass deep into his skin; blood drips down his back.

Some of it splatters onto me. I do it again and again and again until his back is marked just like mine.

My shirt is covered in blood; sweat coats my skin.

I look up at Ian, and he’s lost in this as much as I am.

After killing Stephan, I felt nothing. Byran is different.

He knew me for years. He told me he cared about me.

Made me feel special, but he also made me collateral damage.

After a couple of hours, I’m finished. I move to face Byran.

“You’re going to stay like this for a few hours. I’m going to walk out of here and never look back. You’re lucky I’m not killing you like I did Stephan.”

“The Serena I knew would never hurt anyone,” he shouts.

“The Serena you knew died a long time ago.” I take off the gloves, and Ian steps between Byran and me.

He holds my face in his hands. “I love you, Mi Reina—my queen. This is who you are. This is who we are. He pulls me into a kiss that makes my knees weak. He moves to face the man hanging. “She isn’t going to kill you, but I am.” I see the silver of the blade in Ian’s hand and, without hesitation, Ian slits Byran’s throat.

I stand there and watch as the life is drained out of him.

I feel Ian pull me toward the door, then I pick up my phone and text Damon.