Leo’s still trying to speak, but I don’t give a fuck.

Aspen, however, does, “What do you think he’s trying to say?”

Grinding my molars, I aim the gun at his head. “Who the fuck cares.”

“He’s not screaming,” Aspen notes, walking over to him.

I’m about to remind her that he will if she removes the handkerchief from his mouth, but she does it anyway.

“Please, don’t kill me,” Leo begs and it’s all I can do not to laugh.

“Put the gag back in his mouth—”

“No,” he pleads.

I’m about to shoot the motherfucker, but then he says, “I know where the knife is.”

I freeze as I take in his statement.

Aspen looks at me, but I’m too busy looking at my father.

It’s quick, but I notice his hand clench as his eyes briefly narrow on his brother.

“Where?”

Leo clears his throat, his gaze flicking to my father for a split second before he says, “In a safety-deposit box—”

I stop him right there.

“Look at me.” When he does, I grind out, “You only have one shot at this.” I jerk my chin at Aspen. “There are two of us, which means we can check if you’re lying or not. Therefore, I suggest you choose your next words carefully, because you don’t want to fuck this up.”

He looks like a mouse stuck in a trap, because he knows the next words out of his mouth are the difference between life and death.

“It’s buried in your backyard. To the left of the shed.”

I look at Aspen. “There’s a flashlight under the sink in the kitchen and a shovel in the shed. Try to be quick, Stray. We’re losing time.”

Nodding, she runs out of the room.

I glare at Leo. “You better not be lying.”

Aspen returns after what feels like a goddamn eternity.

“He’s right,” she says, out of breath as she barrels into the room. “The knife is there.” She makes a face. “Along with the skeleton of a finger.”

A weird sense of relief combined with sorrow tangle in my chest.

The power he’s wielded over my head like a guillotine all these years is gone.

But the fact he made me do those gruesome things to my own mother is something I won’t ever forget.

Or forgive myself for.

A raging inferno erupts inside me, rushing to the surface and making my insides burn.

“Put the gag back in his mouth.”

Leo squirms. “You promised—”

“I didn’t promise shit, motherfucker,” I sneer as Aspen stuffs the handkerchief between his lips.

Aiming the gun at my stepmother, I glance at Aspen. “You ready?”

The color drains from her face as she turns ashen. “I don’t want her to suffer, okay? Just make it quick and painless and—”

I pull the trigger.

Aspen jumps as her mother’s body goes limp and blood pours out of her skull. “Jesus, Knox.”

I shrug. “You said quick and painless.” Walking over to where she is, I hand her the gun. “Your turn.”

She swallows hard as an array of emotions color her face.

I’m not surprised. Saying you want to kill someone is one thing.

Having the balls to make good on your word and going through with it is a whole different ball game.

Given she’s almost a foot shorter than my father, I motion for her to stand on top of the crate I brought in.

When she does, I move behind her and adjust her aim.

“I can do it if you want.”

“No.” She tenses, and I can practically feel the contempt for the man who killed her father coursing through her body, despite the helpless way Leo’s looking at her. “I want to.”

Glaring at my uncle, I place my hand on her abdomen and kiss the crook of her neck. “Whenever you’re ready, Stray.”

I dip my fingers beneath the waistband of her sweatpants, because I want my hands on her body to be the last fucking thing he sees.

Aspen trembles and for a moment I think I’m going to have to take over…but then she pulls the trigger, and he slumps against her mother’s corpse.

“Holy shit.” She sucks in a sharp breath. “I did it.”

Yeah, she fucking did.

Prying the gun from her hand, I kiss her neck again. “Hard part is over, Stray.”

Only it’s not…

Because there’s still one more person to kill.

I’m practically choking on the cloud of wrath smothering me as I approach him.

Realizing he’s next, he thrashes against the chair, putting up a formidable fight as I uncuff his right hand.

But I’m stronger, not just because of my strength-training, but all the hatred I’ve built up inside me over the years.

Fury claws its way through my chest, robbing me of air and sending me spiraling as I realize.

All the torture he’s inflicted.

All the pain he’s caused.

He’s going to die without experiencing any of it.

Chapter 49

Aspen

I watch Knox pace back and forth, his expression stormy and uncertain—like he’s waging a war against himself.

“Knox,” I call out, trying to claim his attention.

Finally, he stops moving and looks at me.

Only he’s not really looking at me because he appears unfocused and his eyes are glazed over, as though he’s trapped some place inside himself.

A place I can’t reach.

“Call the police,” he instructs, his voice vacant. Distant. “Tell them I hurt you and held you hostage while I killed your mom and Leo.”

My heart beats faster as the walls of the room begin closing in.

We’re already two murders down. This isn’t the time to be changing tactics.

This isn’t the time for him to fall apart.

Because his plan is the only chance we have of making it out of this together, and I will not abandon him.

“Knox—”

“I need to torture him,” he rasps, the anguish in his voice imploring me to understand. “I need to slowly drain the life out of him bit by bit and make him suffer…just like he did to her.”

My heart sinks as I realize I’m losing him.