Page 114 of The Colour of Revenge

Kai pinches the bridge of his nose. "Because I'm the one who cleans it, and I don't enjoy scrubbing intestines out of tile grout."

Nate looks sheepish for exactly half a second before grinning. "Fair point. But… I just can't help it."

Kai shoots me a look. "How do you deal with him?"

I smirk. "I more than like him."

Nate coughs, looking far too smug. "We are absolutely coming back to that."

I roll my eyes, shifting gears. "We could stage a gas leak in his office. One little spark, and poof—problem solved."

Nate snorts. "And what? Hope he's standing in just the right spot when it goes off? Too many variables."

"Fine, Mr. Practical. What's your big idea?"

"Okay, hear me out." Nate leans forward, excitement flickering in his eyes. "We hire a mime."

I stare at him. "A mime?"

"Yeah," he continues, gesturing animatedly. "A really good one. One who can, I don't know, pretend to stab him or suffocate him or something. He'll be so confused; his brain will just give up. Instant death."

Kai groans into his hands. "I work with psychopaths."

I stare at Nate for a long moment. "See, now I know you're joking, because you'd never let someone else take your kill. And never so cleanly."

Nate grins. "I let you."

Something in his voice makes my heart stutter.

He did, didn't he?

Not because he wanted to step back. But because he wanted it to be me.

Because he knows what this means to me.

I swallow.

The smugness in my chest betrays how much Nate's words warm me.

I roll my eyes. "Come on, Mr. Death. You're the expert." My voice is teasing, but inside, I'm itching to get this over with.

Nate leans forward, all playfulness vanishing. "We lure him somewhere isolated." His tone is smooth, certain. "It could be under the guise of reconciliation—you haven't spoken to him since he sold you, right?"

His gaze locks onto mine, searching.

I nod, jaw tight. I haven't spoken to him since I was thirteen. Since he threw me away.

Nate continues, "You contact him, say you want to talk. Then, once we have him alone… we have some fun."

The room holds its breath.

Kai mutters, "I still think the mime was a solid option."

I snort and hurl a cushion at his head, letting out a sharp laugh that feels too easy.

Because deep down, my stomach is a knot of barbed wire.

Over the next few days, we finalise every detail.