Deadly Betrayal (Finding My Home, #7)

by Nikita Parmenter

“Erm, dude, I think you better explain the reasoning behind why you just flat out refused to let our girlfriend, who doesn’t like being told what to do, go to headquarters by herself.” Atlas points out, studying my face closely, and Trick’s eyes widen slightly. “I kind of want popcorn,” Jensen stage whispers to Rage, and they both start snickering.

“Ever, I didn’t mean it like that. It’s just that Jared has made threats, we’re not exactly popular there, and Luc got shot at today.” “I didn’t get shot at; I got shot near,” Luc clarifies helpfully.

“Bring him up tomorrow. I miss the troublemaker,” Rage suggests. I very quickly learned that his love for animals extends way past just the horses. I often catch him snuggled up with Runa and refusing to move so he doesn’t wake her. It’s the cutest fucking thing.

“He doesn’t just hate them; they send him into a full-blown panic attack.” Zemi adds, ignoring the scowl he sends her way, and adding, “They need to know if you want Luc to fix you up, just in case something he does makes you spiral.” “She’s right,” Luc adds, already heading toward the door, “I’m just going to grab my bag, and we’ll see what we’re dealing with.” “Thanks, man,” Raiden calls after him. “It’s just embarrassing, that’s all,” Saint adds. “Don’t be ridiculous, man. We all get panic attacks,” Jensen reassures him.

I have never met a guy who would ever admit to having panic attacks. I wish they would though. The majority of people who get them are women :(

“I kind of feel like we’re in a horror film.” Jensen grins, “I know what you mean, being trapped here with people who are trying to murder us.” “Why do you look so happy about that?” I ask.

“I love how you’re talking about this like it’s a shopping trip and not a trip to torture information out of someone.”

“This is more fun than a shopping trip.”

“You fucking psycho bitch,” he hisses, his voice filled with pain, “you’re supposed to ask fucking questions first.” I shrug, “That’s not how I work.”

Grinning, I tell him, “Stay still. This won’t hurt a bit.” “She’s lying,” Jynx chuckles. I pretend to pout, “Aw, now you’ve ruined the surprise.” “You don’t have the balls to . . .” the guy starts, but his words quickly turn into screams of anguish as I repeatedly smash the baseball bat into his leg and hear the sweet sound of breaking bones. Jynx calls out over the sound of his screams, “I love that sound.”

“That’s for Raiden, a leg for a leg and all that.” “I think that’s supposed to be an eye for an eye,” Jynx adds, sounding amused. I shrug, “Potato, potahto.”

I’m aware that we probably look like absolute psychos, sitting here eating cookies and watching as some guy moans and yells in pain, his eyes wild with pain and fear, and that’s because we most likely are. I’m repaying this guy for the pain he put my men and Zemi’s men in, I’m repaying him for the lives he and his team willingly took, and I’m repaying him for the danger that he’s put countless people, including children, in, maybe I should feel bad for what I’m doing to him, but I don’t. “So, how was Thanksgiving?” Jynx asks as we watch the guy closely. “It was great actually. Nice to see everyone again,” I reply. “What did you guys end up doing?” “We had a massive dinner at the house, and it was awesome.” She replies. “Are you seriously talking about your holiday plans right now?” the guy in the chair asks, breathing heavily. “Ooo, that’s my cue. If you talk, you can bleed,”