Page 54 of The Colour of Revenge

It doesn't take much convincing Simon to join Nate for a late-night drive. He spun some excuse about the merger, I’m still not entire sure what the two companies do, too dull for me to pay attention to. I probably should have but business deals bore me. Besides, the only detail that matters is where the night is leading.

Meanwhile, Kai and I take a different route—the direct one.

Kai picked me up from the hotel, and now we're here, deep in the woods at Nate's infamous murder cabin. A secluded, forgotten stretch of wilderness where Simon's screams will carry no further than the walls around us.

I let out a slow breath, anticipation curling in my chest.

Time to make him suffer.

I stand tall in the dimly lit room beside the chair, where Simon will soon be tied and helpless. A slow smile tugs at my lips as I survey the space. The air feels charged, thick with anticipation of what's to come—like the cabin itself is holding its breath, waiting for the chaos to unfold.

I glance at my phone. Still nothing from Nate. Hopefully, that's a good sign. Instead, the screen glows with our messages from last night—a strange mix of playfulness and dark chemistry.

Daddy Death:Hypothetical question: Would you let me in if I showed up with pizza at 2 a.m.?

Queen Carina:Depends. What kind of pizza?

Daddy Death:Wow, no loyalty.

Queen Carina:Wow, no answer.

Daddy Death:Pepperoni.

Queen Carina:You're basic.

Daddy Death:You're judgy.

Queen Carina:You'd better have chicken strips too.

Daddy Death:Who do you think I am? Of course, there's chicken strips.

Queen Carina:Fine. I'd let you in.

Daddy Death:Noted.

Queen Carina:Wait, was this hypothetical?

Daddy Death:Depends. Are you wearing that cute little set of pyjamas again? The one with the penguins?

Queen Carina:How do you know about those?

Daddy Death:;)

Queen Carina:I'll block you.

Daddy Death:You won't.

The memory makes me grin despite myself. Of course, Nate hadn't shown up with pizza in the middle of the night, which was reassuring and disappointing.

"You're enjoying this, aren't you?"

Kai's voice cuts through my thoughts, pulling my gaze from my phone. He leans against the cabin wall, arms crossed, watching me with quiet amusement. It’s the first time I’ve really seen him without a scowl on his face.

"Enjoying what?"

"The revenge. The bloodshed," he says, eyeing me warily.

A flicker of warmth spreads through me with the knowledge that Kai doesn’t usually willingly initiate conversations with me.