Total pages in book: 247
Estimated words: 248926 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1245(@200wpm)___ 996(@250wpm)___ 830(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 248926 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1245(@200wpm)___ 996(@250wpm)___ 830(@300wpm)
David carried Emily away.
My vision narrowed on Maxwell.
Blue handed me my pants.
Like a lion hunting his prey, I kept my view on Maxwell, snatched the pants from Blue, and put them on.
Blue pulled out her guns and rushed after David.
Take my mouse?
Rage continued to ripple through me.
I would snatch your head off your body before you made your first move.
I tasted blood and realized I had been biting the inside of my lip until it bled. A bitter, coppery taste filled my mouth.
I spat the blood on the floor and checked for the Butcher.
Jean-Pierre strolled around the room like he was a tourist at the Louvre admiring works by the great masters. When he made it to the corner, he leaned over, examined the severed arms, and nodded. “Astounding. Emily did all of this by herself?”
Silence served as the only response.
I buttoned my pants and turned my view back to Maxwell.
He was back on the other side of the room finishing a smiley face on the second cut-up chest.
I stared at him. “What did you say earlier?”
Maxwell rose from the body. “What?”
“You said you would take Emily from me?”
Maxwell headed to the next chest. “I sure did.”
“I would kill you for simply saying that, but it would shatter her mind.”
“Em’s mind is already shattered.” Maxwell lowered to the new chest and drew a circle. “Therefore, her mind would explode, if I died, so keep your threats to yourself, partner.”
“Still, we should have a conversation.”
“We sure should.” Maxwell stabbed two dots in the circle for eyes. “You can’t play these torture games with Em. And. . .when she wakes up, you don’t tell her what happened. Just pretend like it is another day.”
“I won’t do that.” I shook my head. “I won’t keep secrets from—”
“I said what I said!” Maxwell pointed the knife at me. “Keep your mouth shut!”
“You don’t tell me what I do with my mouse.”
“Yeah, but I’m not talking about your fucking mouse!” Maxwell carved the smile, stood, and scowled at me. “I’m talking about her dark side and how we are going to handle this.”
“You don’t tell me how to handle—”
“Listen, motherfucker!” Max touched his chest. “You run the Brotherhood, but I run Em. I’m telling you how to take care of her—”
“Yes, but the way you’re talking about it lacks the proper respect—”
“Respect these nuts!” Maxwell spat out the words and stomped off to the fourth chest. “Fucking lunatic! I thought you got rid of the monster. Instead your bitch ass is having a fucking tea party with it!”
“First of all, this is what she wanted—”
“There we go!” Maxwell pointed at Jean-Pierre. “There’s the answer!”
What answer?
I looked at Jean-Pierre.
The Butcher now stood by the pile of legs. Sometime during our arguing he had picked up a screwdriver from the cart of tools and was lifting some of the toes as if he was a detective investigating a crime scene.
What is he doing?
“Eh, Jean-Pierre. You wanted to know if the Lion was pussy-whipped.” Maxwell bobbed his head. “Well, now you have the answer. Super pussy-whipped.”
I glared at the Butcher.
Jean-Pierre avoided my gaze and began poking at an ankle.
I looked back at Maxwell.
He glared at me. “You do what I say or I will take Em away. Period and exclamation mark.”
“What?”
“You heard me.”
“I am done attempting to respect you. Enough talking.” I stomped over to Maxwell.
“Enough talking?” Maxwell took me in as I headed for him fast and got what I was about to do.
When I charged, Maxwell dodged me, dropped the knife, and fisted his hands. “Oh, I see, motherfucker. You want to bumble with the bee.”
“You think you can take Emily from me?” I swung at him.
Maxwell blocked it.
I almost slipped in the blood.
Maxwell swiped at me.
He missed.
I aimed for his face and slammed my fist into his cheek. It wasn’t a hard punch, but it was enough to turn his head and make him stumble.
“You take her somewhere, Maxwell.” I punched him again. “And I won’t kill you, but I will cut your fucking hands off and feed your fingers to you.”
“Fine with me. I’m sweet as hell.” Maxwell came back at me with a jab to my gut. It was fast, hard, and unexpected.
I gritted my teeth from the pain and bent over.
“Bitch!” Maxwell slammed his knee into my face.
Fuck!
I fell to the floor. Blood splattered.
While I was down, Maxwell tried to kick my stomach.
I grabbed his foot. He slipped and lost his balance. I yanked him forward and slammed him to the ground with me.
He crashed with a bang. Blood splashed on him. “Motherfucker!”
I let go and rolled away, readying myself to grab his neck and choke the shit out of him.
Crawling on the bloody ground, Maxwell hurried my way too.
Out of nowhere, Jean-Pierre appeared and stepped between us. “Did Emily say anything when she cut them?”