Page 110 of Viper

Now she was kicking herself for not saying something when he’d given her the chance. She’d been in shock, hadn’t been thinking rationally. And part of her wanted Craig to suffer—just not at the cost of losing Troy.

Atlas hooked an eyebrow and chuckled. “You’re joking, right?”

She rolled her eyes. “You might avoid prosecution when you’re overseas on a mission, but things are different here.”

The amusement slid from his face. “No one will look twice at his death. Promise.”

“Well if he’s battered and⁠—”

“Paige.”

“Fine, whatever,” she relented.

“Sit tight. Coast Guard will be here soon.”

She curled her knees closer to her chest and rested against Atlas’s side. Her body still shook. She probably wouldn’t get warm for days.

But as long as she was going home with Troy, nothing else mattered.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

“It’s easy, Craig. You’re going to die anyway. Pick a knee,” Troy said casually, enjoying every minute of fucking with him.

His knife stuck out of Craig’s hand, which was pinned to the wall above his head. Troy stood over his pathetic body, the guys flanking him.

“Fuck you!” Craig’s scream echoed through the lower level of the yacht. Sweat rolled off his face.

Dark energy poured off the bastard in waves. If Troy were into supernatural shit, he’d assume Craig was possessed by a demon.

The asshole stared up at Troy, a sick laugh rolling from his throat. “Did I tell you how my little starfish screamed? How she cried when I⁠—”

Wham!

Havoc delivered a brutal blow to Craig’s jaw.

“You’re going to pay for that,” Craig said, seething. He opened his mouth and rocked his jaw from side to side.

Wraith burst into laughter. “Ya hear this eejit?” Then, to Craig: “You’ll be dead in five minutes, chum.”

Dammit, five minutes wasn’t long enough. Troy bit back a growl and aimed the gun at Craig’s left knee, then pulled the trigger.

Craig screamed and spittle ran from his lips. He grabbed his leg to stifle the gushing blood—just as Troy shot the other kneecap.

“Dude, we should get going,” Havoc said. “We still need to take care of the boat.”

“Aye. I’ll get the life raft ready. You two take care of this piece ’o shite.” Wraith flicked his gaze to Troy. “Mind if I?”

“Go for it.”

He pressed the mouth of his Glock to Craig’s femur and pulled the trigger. Craig’s screams rang through the cabin. Wraith flipped his weapon in his hand then slammed the butt of it against Craig’s mouth, shattering his teeth.

Havoc winced. “Oooh, shit.”

White particles sprayed the carpet. Craig covered his mouth, his body shaking violently.

Troy balled his free hand into a fist. He should probably feel a sliver of remorse watching a man suffer like this. But not only did he not feel bad for the motherfucker—he wasn’t done.

Nowhere near.