Page 51 of The Monsters Within

“Where is she?” Torment asked.

“In the kitchen,” Nav said. He switched the feed, and we watched as she went to the pantry and the freezer. Then she frantically searched through the drawers until she found a knife.

I jumped from my seat, and Tank pushed me back down.

“Get your fucking hand off me. That’s an order, brother.”

“No can do. King outranks you.”

“She’s going to hurt herself,” I growled and tried to stand again.

“Yes, she is,” Torment agreed as he fully entered the room. “You have to let her.”

“What the fuck for?” I asked, my anger almost at boiling point.

“She has to make a decision. On her own. She can’t do it for you.”

I understood what he was saying. And I knew this was part of his plan, but I fucking hated it. I watched helplessly as Rose stuck the knife in her boot and moved back to the hallway.

Nav switched the feed, following her as she moved outside. We had cleared the clubhouse today, leaving only a few brothers so it didn’t look suspicious. When she found out I let Torment set her up to fail, she would fucking hate me.

I promised her brother I would never hurt her.

She’s hurting herself.

Rachel’s voice in my head calmed me. I knew she was right. I knew fucking Torment was right. I had asked Haizley about his plan and while she didn’t like it either, she agreed that a controlled situation was better than an uncontrolled one.

Only we had no fucking control of anything.

She was doing so good. Her scratching was at a minimum. She smiled more. The real smile, not that fake one she gaveeveryone before she got to know them. Hell, she even petted the fucking dog this morning.

“This will set her back.”

“Yes,” he agreed, his eyes glued to the screen. I hated this fucker. Everyone knew the Soulless Sinners were a bunch of narcissistic assholes. How Pippen had gotten involved with them was a mystery. He was the only decent one of the whole fucking bunch.

“You’re supposed to be fucking helping her.”

“Look, Cash,” he exhaled, “I know this is hard to watch. But she hasn’t had a setback yet. That’s not how this works. She should have caved before now. If she doesn’t fall, she can’t climb back up.”

“Fuck you. Maybe she’s happy. Maybe she doesn’t fucking need you anymore, and you’re setting her up so you can stick around until it’s time to run back to fucking Montana and tell him everything you learned here.”

“Brother, I know it’s hard seeing your old lady in pain, so I’m gonna let that slide for now. But you ever fucking question my dedication to helping my clients again and I will fuck you up.” He pointed to the screen. “There, what’s that building?”

“None of your fucking business,” I growled.

“Cash,” he warned.

“It doesn’t matter,” Nav said. “She isn’t trying to go inside.”

He switched to a camera on the corner of the building. They pointed down the side so if anyone was hiding, we would see them.

Rose sat against the wall and pulled the knife from her boot. My heart was fucking breaking as she traced the vine tattoo before pressing the blade against her leg. When she hesitated, Torment pumped his fist in the air and shouted, “YES!” just as she cut into her skin.

Tank dropped his hands from my shoulder and growled.

Right there with you, brother.

I stood up and shoved Torment against the wall.