Red. (Den of Mercenaries #1)(5)

He was lost, stuck in a place where he was just slightly aware of his surroundings, but immune to the pain he was in, at least until a bucket of cold water was thrown on him, bringing him back to focus.

The pain came rushing back almost instantly, enough to nearly take his breath away, sparking over every nerve-ending until he was gritting his pain to get through it. Valon dropped the bucket and moved back.

“Your time is up,” Jetmir announced as he crossed the room, his first time back in this place since Niklaus was brought in.

Though Niklaus wasn’t looking at him, he knew the man carried something heavy, the liquid inside sloshing around before the container was set down. Once Jetmir was beside him, he fisted Niklaus’ hair, forcing his head up, and with the action, Niklaus finally saw Sarah.

The sight of her was worse than anything they could have ever done to him.

She was bruised all over in varying shades of healing. Gone was the beautiful girl that had been laughing with joy as they explored the city, replaced by someone he hardly recognized. Makeup was smeared all over her face, her clothes gone, leaving her stark naked, and though he wished he hadn’t, Niklaus’ eyes zeroed in on the blood coating her thighs.

“I’m sorry,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “I’m so sorry.”

She hung her head, never once looking at him, but he thought he saw a tear drop onto her leg.

“I have given you ample opportunity—more than if we are being honest—to tell me of your business and the men you intend to meet in a few days’ time, but you have continued to defy me. To what end, only you can know. Perhaps it is the Russian way?” Jetmir released his hold on Niklaus. “What more must be done before you break?”

Blinking more water from his eyes, Niklaus looked to him, noticing the black lighter he held in his left hand, an engraving he couldn’t make out on its onyx casing. A sliver of anxiety shot through Niklaus each time Jetmir flipped the top back, igniting the flame to flicker in the darkness of the room. He had long since stopped begging, knowing that he would never get out of the room alive. But he had never stopped begging for Sarah…at least from what he could remember before his body gave out on him.

“Tell me what I want to know,” Jetmir said, his tone soothing for once, the same request that had been demanded of Niklaus since entered this place.

No matter how vehemently Niklaus denied any knowledge of what they were talking about, none of them were convinced he was not the person they sought.

For what felt like the hundredth time, he said, “I’m not who you’re looking for. I don’t even know what it is you want!”

Sighing, as though Niklaus had disappointed him once again, Jetmir grabbed the red, plastic container from the floor by his feet, walking over to her, whistling as he began dumping the contents onto Sarah’s head, the liquid soaking her hair and washing away the red that stained her body in seconds.

Her eyes pleaded with Niklaus as she seemed to snap out of whatever fog she was under, her cries of alarm not quite muffled by her gag.

When the acrid scent of gasoline hit him, Niklaus began begging in earnest, not caring how weak he sounded. “Please…I’m not who you think I am. I live in Florida. I work construction! Whatever you want. Money? I can get it for you. Anything. Anything you want, I’ll do. Just please, please, let her go.”

Jetmir held the lighter out, his expression thoughtful as the flame sparked and danced, as if it too was anticipating the moment of contact.

“One last chance.”

Niklaus met Sarah’s gaze, helplessness eating at him. He could see it in her eyes, the moment she knew she was going to die, and instead of fear, there was acceptance.

Acceptance that there was nothing he could do to stop this.

And maybe...maybe acceptance that a part of her believed this was his fault.

No matter how short the time would be, he knew the look on her face would haunt him until he died. Her lips were moving, as though she was trying to tell him something, but he couldn’t understand her words…and he never would.

“Please…”

The word had barely passed his lips before Jetmir dropped the lighter.

Time slowed to a crawl as Niklaus watched its descent, falling end over end until it clamored on the floor, bouncing a couple of times before settling. Then, he watched in horror as the flames rushed over her, licking at her skin until she was consumed entirely.





Chapter Three





His ears were ringing.

From his screams or hers, he wasn’t sure.

The smell of burning flesh refused to leave his nostrils. For as long as he lived, he knew the stench would stay imprinted on his mind, along with everything else about this place, including the people in it.

Jetmir had watched him the entire time Sarah was burning even after she had stopped screaming. It wasn’t the act, that was getting him off, but Niklaus’ reaction to it.

When he was alone again, or so he thought, Niklaus finally let himself break down.

God, how pathetic he felt crying as though that could do anything to bring back the life that just been taken. All these years, all the taunts that everyone threw in his direction, they had been right. He hadn’t been a good choice for her because in the end, he had been the one to get her killed.

Even if it was no fault of his own, he still felt that way.