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Blood dripped from my knuckles as I drove my fist into the man’s face again.

He was spent, his body weak and shuddering as I added a pair of brass knuckles and sent my fist flying into his jaw again.

Teeth flew from his mouth on impact, but his agonizing screams didn’t breach the door of The Pit, a chamber beneath the earth where we handled our messier business.

“One more time,” I growled, removing my blade. “Who sent you?”

He spat blood, his eyes wild with pain and fear. The zip ties cut into his wrists, where he hung from a hook in the ceiling, and his toes barely scraped the floor.

My phone vibrated in my pocket. It was another unknown number. I usually ignored calls during sessions like this, but something made me check the screen.

“Don’t go anywhere,” I told my guest, stepping away to answer the phone. “I’m not done with you yet,” I answered. “Speak.”

“I know where she is.” The voice was young, nervous. “The woman you’re looking for.”

My grip tightened on the phone. “You have ten seconds.”

“My name is Aaron. I’m one of the men holding her. But I want out. I’ll tell you where to find her if you guarantee my family’s safety.”

I sparked my lighter, watching the flame dance as I considered his offer. “Why should I trust you?”

“Because I saw what you did at warehouse forty-nine. I know what you’ll do to all of us when you find us. And you will find us, it’s just a matter of time. I’d rather my wife and kids survive this.”

He was a wise man, and more intelligent than his colleagues.

“Talk.”

“Not over the phone. But I’ll guide you to her. When you get to the location, I’ll make sure you find your way through. All I ask is that my family stays out of it.”

I glanced at my bloody friend hanging from the ceiling. “How do I know this isn’t another setup?”

“Because I’m not stupid enough to fuck with a man who burns people alive for fun.”

That made me smile.

“You’ll have to fight your way to her. I can’t help with that part - they’d know. I can only point you in the right direction.”

“Give me a way to contact you.”

“I can’t, man.”

“Do it, or all bets are off.”

There was hesitation in the line, then Aaron rattled off a few digits.

“Tell me where she is.”

“Do you and your Paradox or whoever you are promise not to come after my family?”

“Where did you hear that name?”

“Your queen mentioned it. She keeps telling us we won’t survive a run-in with you, and I’m inclined to believe her. I can admit when I’m in over my head.”

Knowing Santari was taunting them made my dick hard. She was becoming like us by the day, and I didn’t know if that was a good thing, but my erection thought so.

“Is she unharmed?”

He hesitated again.

“Motherfuckeeeeer?” I growled.

“Look, I’ve tried to keep the guys off her as much as possible, but she’s feisty as a motherfucker. She fights, and she bites, so she’s got some bruises, but she’s okay, I promise.”

I locked my jaw and closed my eyes, inhaling the murderous insanity that moved through me.

“Where is she?”

“Do I have your word?”

“Where is sheeeeeee?!”

Aaron gave me an address. “I’ll take this as your promise.”

“Keep your phone on. I’ll contact you when we’re ready.”

I ended the call and dialed Cruz.

“What?” he answered.

“Get back to the house. I know where she is.”

“What the fuck you say?”

“One of them cracked. I’m meeting you there in ten minutes.”

I turned back to my guest, who had been watching the exchange with desperate hope in his eyes.

“Please...” he wheezed.

“Unfortunately for you,”I ran my finger over the indenture in my knife, “I don’t need you anymore.”

His screams surrounded us when I opened a fresh wound in his chest, but I quickly put him out of his misery. I never let them suffer more than necessary once they outlived their usefulness.

When I arrived at the house, Storm and Cruz were waiting, and tension radiated from them as I explained Aaron’s offer.

“It’s a trap,”Cruz said immediately.

“Of course, it’s a trap.”I pulled up the location Aaron had sent. “But it’s also our best lead.”

Storm studied the building schematics I’d pulled up. “An old manufacturing facility. There are multiple entry points and lots of ground to cover. Security will be heavy if they’re expecting us.”

“They’re always expecting us.”I traced potential approaches on the map. “We go in hard and fast. No subtle shit this time.”

“About fuckin’ time.”Cruz checked his weapons. “I need some action now.”

“I know that was why you were really angry earlier by the way,” I said.

“Shut the fuck up, nigga.”

Laughter boasted from me, and we spent the next hour planning and plotting every angle and contingency.

Storm would take high ground with a rifle, picking off external security while Cruz and I breached from opposite sides.

Aaron would guide us through the interior—assuming he wasn’t lying about helping.

“What if he is?”Storm asked as we geared up.

“Then we kill everyone, and I burn the place down.”I checked my lighter fluid levels. “The usual.”

The drive over was silent with each of us sinking into that familiar headspace where violence lived. By the time we pulled up two blocks from the target, the hunger for blood pulsed through my veins.

My phone buzzed. It was Aaron’s signal. Game time. I put my Bluetooth in my ear and answered.

“Don’t fuck this up, Aaron.”

“I won’t.”

“Stay out of my ear unless you’ve got something useful to say.”

“I will. I promise.”

With his rifle, Storm blended into the shadows while Cruz circled wide to his entry point. I approached from the east, staying in darkness until I reached the first guard post.

There were two men in professional stances holding high-powered rifles.

I slipped my hand around their mouths one at a time and cut their vocal cords.

They died quietly and efficiently, drowning in their own blood.

There was no time for creativity tonight.

I needed to be quick because once the gunfire announced us, I had no doubt they would attempt to move Santari.

I snatched the badges from their necks and moved forward.

“In position,”Storm’s voice was barely a whisper in my earpiece.

“Same,”Cruz confirmed. “There’s no movement from my side.”

I sparked my lighter once – giving Storm my signal. Storm’s rifle whizzed three times, signaling Cruz, and at the same time external security dropped.

“I’ve got eyes on you both. Move, now,” Storm said.

Cruz and I moved simultaneously.

At the side entrance, I swiped one of the badges, and it blinked red. The second one clicked green, and I entered silently like an apparition. Cruz took the back loading dock, his entry masked by Storm’s rifle, which would take out any guards in the watchtower.

“Left,”Aaron’s voice directed through my phone. “Third door.”

A guard rounded the corner and raised his weapon when he saw me, but my bullet took him in the throat before he could squeeze his trigger. Blood splattered the wall behind him as another rushed to check on the noise. He joined his friend on the floor with a matching hole in his chest.

Gunfire erupted from Cruz’s direction—he’d found company. The sound of his Glock mixed with pained screams told me he was enjoying himself.

“The storage area ahead,”Aaron guided. “You have heavy presence.”

I slipped my knife free, and my blade gleamed in the dim light.

The first guard never saw me coming; I slit his throat, let his body drop, and gave my attention to his partner, who reached for his radio but suffered from my blade’s invasion in his heart.

The third managed to lift his weapon, but I was quicker, sending a bullet tunneling between his brows.

“Go up one level. The northwest stairwell is clear,”Aaron said.

Storm’s rifle whizzed in rapid succession. It was music to accompany my hunt. More men fell as he cleared my path, his bullets sifting through the windows to meet his targets. Cruz’s gunfire had gone quiet, but the lack of cursing meant he’d found his rhythm.

The stairwell held three fresh corpses, and blood pooled beneath them. Storm was also finding his rhythm, knocking off hostiles before I neared them. So far, Aaron seemed to be holding his end of the bargain but trust only went as far as the next bullet.

The second floor opened into a maze of curves, dark corners, and dead ends. These men had chosen their ground well, but it wouldn’t save them. They were positioned to have perfect kill zones, but much like the men at warehouse forty-nine, they were unprepared for The Paradox.

Blood flowed as I carved through their defenses, each kill driving me closer to Santari while feeding the violence in my soul. Their bullets ignited the room, but I was already sliding my blade into their flesh by the time their machine guns powered.

“She’s in a secure room,”Aaron’s voice crackled. “East wall. But they have concentrated security there. At least eight men.”

“Copy.”I switched lines and buzzed Cruz.

“You good?”

“Always,” I said. “Meet my position. I’m coming up on Santari, but she’s heavily covered. Storm, watch the exits.”

“I’m behind you.”Cruz materialized from the shadows, with fresh blood darkening his shirt. “These motherfuckers can’t shoot to save their lives. Literally. Who hired them?”

“We’ll find out eventually.”

Gunfire filled the hall as we pushed toward the secure room. Guards dropped while trying to mount a defense. Their training meant nothing against our rage as Cruz and I sprayed the walls in DNA.

When silence filled our space, I scanned for movement. “Storm, status?”

“Still clear up here. But headlights are approaching from the north. A convoy of vehicles.”

“It’s time to move.”I faced the security door. “Aaron. Code.”

Numbers lit up my phone screen. I punched them in, and the locks disengaged.

Santari sat tied to a chair inside with defiance burning in her eyes. The sight of her bruises ignited fresh rage in my blood but watching her stare down her captors with such fire made my dick throb. She’d grown stronger in here - darker.

Cruz and I snapped the necks of the two guards who’d frozen – surprised by our entrance.

Their bodies hit the ground and Cruz whistled. “That was too easy.”

“You got here quicker than I expected.”Santari grinned as Cruz cut her free. He drew her into a hug and held on tight.

“You didn’t doubt us, did you, Goddess?”I said, checking the corridor.

“No. But I expected your arrival by dawn.”

“We would never rest until you were safe,”I said.

“Can you walk?” Cruz asked.

She moved from his embrace, and grabbed a fallen guard’s semiautomatic weapon, and steadied her grip. “Yes.”

I approached her, slipped my hand up her face, tilted my head, and squinted… then spoke to her in my mother’s native tongue – Yoruba.

“You’re feeding the darkness. Are you sure that’s what you want?”

Santari laid her hand on top of mine. “Whatever you’re saying, the answer is yes.”

I bit my bottom lip, arousal moving through my loins like a building orgasm. “Storm, get us out.”

“Take the south loading dock. I’ve got the approach covered. Those vehicles just parked up north.”

“Excellent.”I sparked my lighter. “Time to welcome our guests.”

“Hold up.”Cruz took the semiautomatic weapon from Santari.

“Hey!”

He grinned, took a nine-millimeter from a dead guard, and handed it to her instead.

“Let’s start small.”

She leaned into a hip. “With all those motherfuckers out there!”

I laughed and shook my head. “You’ll get your chance to use the big guns. But Cruz is right. Let us handle the high-powered weapons for now. The nine still gets the job done.”

She glanced between us and twisted her lips. “Fine. But because I trust you.”

We chuckled, and Aaron spoke in my ear. “My work here is done. Remember our deal.”

I disconnected the line, and we quickly moved to exit the building. Gunfire erupted from the stairwell as we descended. A guard burst through a side door with his weapon trained on Cruz’s back. Santari gripped her gun. She was focused, her arm steady as she aimed.

“Not tonight, motherfucker!”The words left her mouth as she squeezed the trigger. The bullet tore through his forehead, splattering his brain in a streak against the wall. She didn’t flinch, didn’t hesitate—just turned to face the next threat like she’d been killing her whole life.

My dick was stiff as shit, watching her embrace the violence.

As we moved, I emptied my high-powered weapon, then dropped it and reached with both hands for the nines in my shoulder holsters.

My arms were spread out above her head, taking down enemies on both sides of her and Cruz.

These men were no match for our lethalness.

When I ran out, Cruz covered us, and if we both emptied simultaneously, Storm’s rifle whizzed like fat raindrops falling from the sky.

A brief break in the commotion gave me a moment I needed. I grabbed Santari’s arm and yanked her into a dark corner, pinning her against the wall. Her breaths came fast, her pupils dilated with adrenaline as she stared up at me.

“You like that?”I growled against her ear. “Taking a life?”

“Yes.”Her voice shook with need as she ground against me. “It felt... right.”

I bit into her neck hard enough to mark her. She moaned as her fingers dug into my shoulders. “You’re one of us now,”I whispered. “There’s no going back.”

“I don’t want to go back.”Her hand slid between us, gripping my dick through my pants. “I want more.”

A snarl vibrated from my gut.

“Aye!”Cruz’s voice boomed from in front of us. “If y’all are done fucking around, we got company coming in hot!”

I pulled back just enough to see Santari’s face—flushed with arousal and splattered with the blood of our enemies. “We’ll return to this later,”I promised, letting my hand slide up her thigh. I gripped her there, then pushed her forward and smacked her ass, and we proceeded to make our exit.