Addictive (Houston Defiance MC #2) - K.E. Osborn Page 0,36

been paid off by the Baron.”

“Name?” I demand.

“Pretty sure he’s part of the Serbian Mafia. Heard something about the Triglav Clan when I was trying to be stealthy and listen in to his conversation with another inmate. Turns out, I wasn’t as stealthy as I thought.”

“And that’s why you look like all this?” I ask, waving my hand around in front of him.

“That was the first time.”

“Fuck, Zero!” I sit, rubbing my temple to ease the headache now brewing behind my skull.

“I’m okay. I’ve had far worse beatings than what Damir and his fuckers are—”

My ears pick up. “Damir? That his name?”

“Yeah…”

“Says he’s Serbian but speaks perfect English?” I grunt.

“Yeah, fucker, get with the program.” Zero tries to smile, but he winces when his face obviously hurts.

I haven’t heard that name for so long.

It can’t be the same guy, can it?

But honestly, how many Damirs, around the same age, from a Serbian background, who also live in Houston, can there be?

I can’t breathe.

My eyes flash open, but the weight of something on my face causes panic to set in instantly. Darkness engulfs my body as the heat from my frantic breaths against the plush fabric only make it harder to draw in the air I so desperately need. My fingers claw at the pillow, scratching at the strong hands pressing it into my face while I kick and jerk off the tattered, hard mattress.

But nothing is helping, my body is weakening.

I’m losing the fight.

Maybe I’m better off.

I’m a monster. The product of a monster, I don’t deserve to live, anyway.

I let go.

Accepting my fate.

My hands drop from my murderer as I stop resisting. A wave of calm washes over me as I let the darkness take hold of my body, knowing all the pain my mind puts me through will all be over soon.

I. Just. Let. Go.

Clenching my eyes shut, waiting for my fated last breath, I relax into the bed to let a wraith collect me. Whatever reaper wants to drag me off to hell, I welcome it. Then, without warning, the pillow lifts away from my face. Oxygen invades my senses as I take in a deep breath but keep my eyes shut.

“Finally, I’ve put an end to your fucking pathetic life, you insignificant little bug.”

Counting to three in my head, I wait enough time for him to turn around and head for the door.

My eyes shoot open, his back is facing me.

His blue jumpsuit is disheveled from me clawing at it.

Demir tried to kill me.

So, now, I won’t hesitate in returning the favor.

I catapult from the bed, lunging for him. My fingers threading around his neck as he drops face-first to the ground outside my cell. My knees rest either side of his back as he struggles to buck me off as I strangle him from behind. Adrenaline surges through me, just like when I did this to my mother.

She deserved it.

So does Damir.

He gasps. Coughing and spluttering as the other kids stand back cheering, egging me on. Nothing will stop this high I’m on. I’m locked in the zone. My head a garbled mess of death and chaos.

I feel him starting to slip away from me when my entire body goes rigid. My skin prickling and buzzing with a surge so intense all I can do is ride it out. My hands unclench as I shake and shudder uncontrollably losing all cognitive function. I’ve never felt anything so fucking intense in my life, it’s like burning heat and frigid cold at the same time as my body slams to the floor beside Damir as I jerk to and fro completely out of control.

The ringing in my ears is dramatic, but when it finally stops, it’s like the world’s stopped spinning, and I can finally breathe again. I take in a deep lungful of air as two guards rush up to me. One grabs my arms, yanking them behind me. The other detaches the Taser. I can’t gather my thoughts completely, but I think the first is putting cuffs around my wrists as the other leans down to check on Damir.

“You’re going in isolation for a fucking long time, Talon,” the guard behind me grunts in my still ringing ear.

Gathering my bearings, I chuckle. “Good. Throw away the key while you’re at it.”

The guard starts pulling me away as Damir rolls over. His light brown hair, his dark eyes, the scar running down his neck all on show as well as a great big dirty smirk on