Page 39 of Bound By Blood and Lies

His hands drag through his hair as he stares at the man like he’s trying to burn a hole straight through his skull. The pliers slip from his grip and hit the floor with a dull metallic clatter.Behind us, Ben collapses into hysterical sobbing, the sound is ragged and desperate as it echoes around the dungeon.

“I told you everything I know,” he gasps. “I promise. Please—please—I helped you. Let me go.”

Felix doesn’t look at him anymore. His gaze drops to the blood-slick floor as the reality settles in.

Ackworth is the boss.

I step forward.

“I swear I didn’t hurt anyone. I just did security. I never touched the girls?—”

“I don’t care.”

He stops talking as I drive the blade into his ribs before he even understands what’s happening.His breath leaves him in a shocked gasp as the scalpel slides upward between his ribs.His body jerks once against the chains, then again, weaker. I hold his gaze whilst the life drains out of him. It doesn’t take long. When Ipull the blade free, his head slumps forward and the chains take his weight.

Silence settles over the room again asRiggs drags a hand down his face.“Right. Well. That’s definitely the end of that conversation.”

Victor steps forward and unhooks the restraints without waiting for instructions. The body drops to the floor with a heavy thud and Riggs looks down at it, grimacing.

“Same disposal method as last time?”

“Yes,” I say but the words feel raw and he sighs.

“I miss the card game already.”

Victor doesn’t respond. He just drags the body away. Ben’s boots leave a faint smear across the tile as he disappears down the back corridor. Riggs follows with a bucket and a string of curses, already arguing with Victor about bleach ratios.Atlas has his laptop open again before the body is even gone. The tapping of keys fills the room as he starts pulling apart whatever trail Ben just handed us.

Felix doesn’t move as I step toward him. He doesn’t even seem to notice I’m coming. He’s staring at the floor with curled hands like they’re holding something that isn’t there.

“Felix,” I say quietly.

He looks up. The sight of his face steals the air from my lungs. I have never seen him look so broken.

“You heard him,” Felix chokes.

“I heard him.”

“We need to bring him in. Now.”

Behind us Riggs mutters something about needing stronger gloves whilst Victor drags the bucket across the floor. Felix steps closer to me, almost chest to chest.

“He sold them. My sister. Hazel, Emily, fuck, he probably has Robyn too.” He drags in a deep breath. “All of them, Roman. ALL OF THEM!”

“Felix.” I hold his gaze. “Let’s jus?—”

“No.”

His head shakes once, sharp and furious.

“No more waiting. No more planning. We drag him in here and make him talk.”

“I need to speak to my dad first.”

“Are you fucking serious right now?”

“He’s the one who brought us this lead,” I say carefully. “Which means he needs to know what we just found.”

Felix looks like he might swing at me. Instead, he drags a hand through his hair and turns away, pacing two tight steps before stopping again.