Chapter 8

Chapter 8- Down below

Raven’s POV

I sit on my bed, legs crossed, Sienna’s earring resting in my palm like a loaded gun.

Ten minutes. That’s how long I’ve been waiting, and I know she’ll walk in any second now, lie cocked and ready on her tongue.

Sienna’s always been a good liar.

Right on cue, the door handle turns. She steps in, startled, eyes widening as she sees me.

Her hair’s wet, makeup washed away, and her eyes,red-rimmed and guilty.

“Hey, Ray,” she says softly, inching toward the bed and sitting beside me.

“I woke up and saw you weren’t there,” she offers.

“Your snoring was unbearable,” I deadpan.

She lets out a nervous laugh, high-pitched and useless. It doesn’t cover the truth,nothing could.

“I should get going. New shipment’s arriving today. I need to be there to take inventory.” She stands, heading to her bag on the vanity.

Her back is to me, shoulders tense, fingers fumbling through the mess. I can practically feel the panic vibrating off her.

Probably looking for something. Something silver. Tear-shaped. Small enough to fall out during careless mistakes and stupidity.

“What are you looking for?” I ask.

“My earring,” she says. “One’s missing. I noticed this morning.”

“Turn around.”

She does, slowly.

I open my palm. The little trinket gleams.

Her face lights up. “You’re a lifesaver, Ray. Thank you.”

She reaches for it and starts to put it on.

“Aren’t you going to ask where I found it?”

She pauses. “Probably on the bed,” she mutters, fiddling with her hair as she walks back to be in front of the vanity.

“No,” I say smoothly. “I found it in Leon’s room.”

She freezes.

Hands suspended mid-air. Eyes wide and full of dread.

I rise, walking up behind her, stopping just beside her reflection in the mirror.

We look good together. Strong. Lethal. A power couple on the edge of chaos.

Terrible shame that neither of us likes girls.

“You slept with Leon Vitali.”

Her body finally catches up with her mind.

“Ray—”

I press a finger to her lips.

Silence.

I glance at my finger. I need a fresh manicure. Red. Sharp. Clean. Nothing screams dangerously composed like a bitch with perfectly filed nails.

“Don’t say anything,” I whisper, a lazy smile curling on my lips.

Her eyes plead. I lean in close, and she flinches, expecting pain.

Instead, I place a soft kiss on her lips. Just a taste. Nothing more.

Then I pull away.

“Get ready. We’re leaving.”

I walk into my closet, already planning her punishment.

I’m not angry,anger is fleeting.

I’m calculating.

In the Car

The ride to the Casuro mansion is silent. Heavy.

Sienna hasn’t said a word since I told her not to. Smart girl.

I, on the other hand, am trying to figure out how to tell Jack I’ve failed.

Failure,now that’s a word I’m unfamiliar with. And I hate how it tastes in my mouth.

I reach into my bag and pull out my phone, dialing Marcus.

He answers, breathless. “Hey.”

“Where are you?” I ask, already needing the outlet.

“Down Below.”

“I’m coming.”

“Torture’s already in progress. It’s… messy.”

“Perfect.”

I end the call and turn to the driver. “When you drop me off, take Sienna to any hotel of her choosing.”

He nods.

“Ray—” Sienna starts.

Why does she keep trying me?

“Shut up, Sienna.”

“Please, just let me—”

“I’m heading Down Below. Marcus said the guy’s half-dead. You know I like my meat fresh. If you don’t shut the fuck up, you’ll find out just how vicious I can be.”

She stiffens and turns to the window, mute.

Sienna’s used to my moods. My sharp tongue. But she also knows they rarely last. I always cool off.

Not this time.

I’m not even mad.

Just disappointed, why would Sienna risk ruining the mission.

And—ironically,impressed. Shy little Sienna managed to seduce The Butcher.

What a feat.

The car pulls to a stop in front of the mansion. I step out and slam the door behind me.

Inside, the staff scrambles out of sight. I must look as murderous as I feel.

“You,” I bark at the slowest maid.

She freezes.

“Me?” she squeaks

.

“Don’t make me repeat myself.”

She rushes over.

I hand her my purse. “Take it to my room.”

She nods and scurries off.

I don’t bother changing. Blood doesn’t scare me,it suits me, besides if I ruin these clothes I can eailsy get another.

I take the back stairs and descend into the dark.

Screams echo through the concrete walls. Marcus better’ve saved me something good.

The moment I step inside, the thick stench of iron and pain hits me.

I breathe it in.

“I was right. You’re pissed,” Marcus says.

He’s wearing an apron soaked in blood. Bits of tissue cling to the front.

“I am,” I reply, slipping on the apron he hands me.

He gestures to the table of tools. “Wanna talk about it?”

“Leon doesn’t want to go through with the wedding,” I say as I scan the blades, trying to decide what fits my mood.

“Jack’s gonna lose it.”

I nod, fingers curling around a pair of sharp scissors.

“And Sienna… slept with him.”

That earns a rare flicker of shock from Marcus. “Our Sienna?”

“Yeah. Little slut.”

He reaches out and swaps the scissors in my hand for a bigger pair. “Take the big ones. You’ll need them.”

I head toward the restrained man Marcus had been working on.

He’s a mess. Fingers missing, one eye swollen shut, a foot completely gone. He’s sobbing quietly,useless now.

“What’d he do?” I ask as Marcus comes to stand beside me, hand on my waist.

“Owes Jack money. Tried to flee the country.”

I click the scissors open and shut.

“Unfortunate.”

Then I begin.

After

My shirt’s ruined, soaked in blood and sweat, but I don’t care.

I feel calm now. Centered.

I’ve even decided to forgive Sienna. She may be book-smart, but emotionally? A damn fool.

And that’s not really her fault.

A moan slips from my lips as my back slams against the shower wall, water cascading down my body.

Another moan follows. This one I let out fully.

I’m not a woman who runs from pleasure. I own it.

Marcus rises from between my thighs, his lips brushing mine as he stands. His hands grip my hips, grounding me.

“You were hungry,” I tease, breathless.

“I’ve missed you,” he murmurs, before crashing into another kiss, his fingers already finding their way back between my legs.

Every nerve in my body sparks.

Coming to Marcus was the best decision I made today.

Later

My hair’s still damp when I finish dressing.

“Coming with me?” I ask as Marcus lounges on my bed, shirtless and completely at ease.

He shakes his head. “Jack wouldn’t want me there.

I sigh dramatically. “Of course he wouldn’t.”

Looks like I’ll have to handle this one on my own.

Again.