REVENGE WITH LOVE : CHAPTER 51 – 60

REVENGE WITH LOVE : CHAPTER 51 – 60

CHAPTER 57 & 58

LETHAL BARBIE

“I really hope that son of a bitch opens his mouth, because I’m more than ready to beat his brains out this morning,” Clinton growled, his voice dripping with anger.

Clinton was leading Kracus towards the basement in the right wing where they kept their hostages in the afternoon of the next day. Kracus listened half-heartedly, his mind preoccupied.

After the bomb Tesiera dropped last night, he barely got any sleep. Her boldness had taken him by surprise, and the thought that she found him attractive had left him reeling. It was probably the most he’d ever heard her say at once before.

Her detailed description of him had replayed in his mind all night, leaving him with a non-stop boner and distracting him throughout the day.

He had been distracted when Valerie had given him the news of her pregnancy, and also when she had left with Hazel two hours ago to tell her husband the good news herself. Thanks to Tesiera, he couldn’t focus completely on his tasks for the day.

Does it mean she was attracted to him? And if she was, does she want him to do something about it?

If those words had come from any other woman, Kracus would have taken it as a concealed-but-blatant invitation that it seemed like. But Tesiera wasn’t like any other woman. He wasn’t even sure she’d meant it as a compliment, more like she was simply telling it to him the way she saw it. Merely stating a fact.

It took all of his self-discipline not to chase after her last night and kiss her passionately until they were both breathless. He had come dangerously close to taking her to bed, damning the consequences.

“Boss, are you listening to me?” Clinton’s voice pulled him out of his thoughts, and he looked at his confused bodyguard. “Sorry about that, what did you say?”

“I was telling you about the weak point I found during the perimeter check around the mansion today. There’s a gap that could be climbed over at the west wing, and the overgrown vegetation at the south end could provide cover for an intruder to hide while attempting to gain access to the property,” Clinton repeated as they came to a stop at the basement door, and he held it open for Kracus.

Kracus walked through, instructing Clinton to take care of the issues immediately. “Good job, Clinton.”

“Thank you, boss,” Clinton replied, and he started walking towards the inner door, which was made of heavy-gauge steel. “I still believe it’s a better alternative to have The Torturer extract information from those two men.”

“I’m going to try to have a normal conversation with them first. If they don’t cooperate, then we can bring in Tesiera,” Kracus said. He’d sent her to escort Valerie and Hazel home, as the new bodyguard he had hired for his sister wouldn’t start until the next day. He had also sent Bose to purchase gifts for his good friend Kelvin, whose birthday was today, so it was just him and Clinton.

As the security door to the basement swung open, the room was flooded with bright lights, revealing two figures sitting in chairs. One was lean and wiry, while the other was slightly overweight. Both men were bound tightly with heavy padlocked chains, their hands and feet restrained.

Kracus walked towards them, and they raised their heads to look at him. He stopped right in front of them, assuming a menacing stance with a tight-lipped frown and his hands clipped to his sides. He narrowed his eyes at them, giving each of them a lingering gaze in silence, and then he spoke.

“Who sent you?” he questioned curtly.

The men didn’t react, their heads remained lowered, but they were awake. Just then, the door opened, and Bose walked in.

“It’s done, boss,” he announced.

Kracus nodded solemnly, his expression grave as he focused his attention on the captives once more. “I asked who sent you?”

The two men exchanged a knowing look before bursting into a scornful laughter.

Bose clenched his fists in anger and stepped forward, getting in front of their faces. “How dare you laugh at the boss? I’ll make sure you swallow your teeth,” he threatened, raising his fist towards the overweight captive. But Kracus was quick to intervene, grabbing Bose’s fist and holding it back.

“Calm down, Bose,” Kracus implored, his voice steady but firm.

The personal bodyguard huffed and glared at the two men, but he nodded and stepped back. “Sorry, boss.”

“No need to apologize this time, I get it,” Kracus replied, his piercing gaze fixed on the captives. He arched an eyebrow and asked them, “Did I say anything funny?”

“Look here, stop wasting your time,” the slim captive said sarcastically, “Like I told the funny-headed big guy over there, it’s better you kill us now because you’ll never get any information from us. You’re wasting your time, boss.”

Clinton snickered at the mention of “funny-headed,” and Bose flipped him off in response.

Kracus crooned thoughtfully, “Interesting. That means you’re ready to die then. I could have Bose beat you both to death right now.”

The overweight captive snorted, while the slim one shrugged nonchalantly. “We really don’t care. Just get on with it.”

“Just give me a few minutes with them,” a familiar feminine voice said from behind them.

They all turned to see Tesiera, who was casually leaning against the door. It was the same voice that had haunted Kracus the night before. He wondered how he hadn’t heard her enter. The woman moved so soundlessly it was almost unreal.

“I like this,” Clinton grinned, “I like this a lot.”

“Here comes Barbie,” the slim captive laughed, addressing Tesiera. He turned to the overweight captive, “Hades, Barbie wants to take a shot at us.”

Hades looked amused. “I think this is a circus because I’m having so much fun.”

“She’s beautiful. Hey Barbie, come and kiss Daddy,” the slim captive beckoned.

Tesiera didn’t react. Her eyes were on Kracus, “Can I play with them?”

“Hell, yeah, you can play with us,” Hades replied, “I’ll let you play as much as you want.”

Kracus finally spoke up, addressing Tesiera. “I hired you as my bodyguard, not as a torturer. Are you sure you want to do this?”

“I want to,” Tesiera replied firmly.

Kracus stepped back, allowing her to take charge. “Then you can have them.”

“She has a very generous boss, Kane,” the overweight captive taunted the slim captive.

Both Kane and Hades shared a look and burst out laughing again.

“Oh, I will enjoy this,” Tesiera drawled as she stepped forward, a deadly glint in her eyes. She could feel a rush of excitement fill her system, and she smirked. “I hope you two are still laughing by the time we’re done. It’ll be a disappointment otherwise.”

Bose, Clinton, and Kracus took a seat on the wooden chairs situated at one corner, folding their arms as they watched intently.

Thirty minutes later, Henry and Kane, now barely recognizable, were in agony.

Blood oozed from their arms, where the skin had been brutally peeled off, and their fingers lay scattered on the ground. One eye each had been plucked out, and their legs hung limply, broken and mangled. Some of their teeth were missing, having been knocked into their throats when Tesiera struck them. Their screams cut through the air like a sharp knife, reverberating through the basement and sending shivers down the spines of the witnesses.

The three men watched the gruesome scene in disbelief, their mouths agape and their eyes wide with horror. Clinton’s voice broke the silence, filled with awe as he spoke in a hushed tone, “They’re still alive because she wants them to be. She knows exactly how to keep them alive. How to cut to inflict pain but not to kill. How to cut and slice with precision.”

Bose nodded grimly, his eyes fixed on the gruesome spectacle before them. “No wonder she was infamous. She’s like a living, breathing torture machine,” he muttered.

Clinton winced as Tesiera chopped off another one of Hades’ toes. “Look at her face,” he whispered, “She doesn’t feel an ounce of remorse for them. Even I feel pity for them already.”

“I don’t. I enjoy their screams,” Bose said callously.

Clinton shook his head, appalled. “You’re cut from the same monstrous cloth as she is.”

Kracus, who had been silent all this while, kept his eyes fixed on the scene playing out before them.

“You know, I don’t mind an attack or two from people like you. I don’t mind monsters who take people’s lives—I’m one myself,” Tesiera lectured, her attention solely on her captives, “However, I draw the lines at any sort of attack in front of children. You both almost scarred Hazel for life.” she finished that last line by chopping off yet another toe.

“Please, Stopppppp!!! I’m sorry!!” Hades screamed in agony.

Kracus tilted his head to the side in thought. Three weeks ago, when she had attacked him on his boat, she had revealed that her father had been killed in front of her when she was a child. Was that why she drew the line at attacks in front of children? Because it had scarred her for life?

Tesiera, in the meantime, continued her merciless assault on the captives. “Smile for me, love. You promised me you will,” she taunted them with a cynical smile on her face. “Smile for Barbie.”

“Cruel. She is so cruel,” Clinton whispered, horrified. “That woman is a maniac. I would never want to be on her bad side.” To Bose, he added, “You see the fire you have been playing with? I know you’re a killer and you’re very annoying, but I would never wish that woman on you, buddy.”

Bose, still captivated by the scene, shot back at Clinton, “Fuck off, Clinton. I can handle her.”

Clinton patted him on the back, a sympathetic expression on his face. “I suggest you make peace with her, bro. Apparently, she’s not above tearing a man’s body apart just for fun.”

Ten agonizing minutes later, which must have felt like an eternity for the captives, Tesiera finally stepped back and calmly asked them who sent them to kill Kracusian Kingston?

****************

REVENGE WITH LOVE : CHAPTER 51 – 60

“Tsk, tsk, tsk. The boogeyman? So people still go by that ridiculous name?” Clinton scoffed as they ascended from the basement half an hour later. “Typical.”

“So, we know that it wasn’t Carter Walker who sent them to kill the boss, but they don’t know the identity of who this Boogeyman is,” Bose reiterated, “Fucking awesome.”

“At least they gave us everything about the contractor that handed the job to them, so we can run checks on him and find a way to track down this Boogeyman,” Kracus stated firmly.

“Yes, boss. I’ll brief Harvey on the situation so he can get our private investigators on the case as soon as possible,” Bose replied, as they all stepped into the elevator.

Kracus nodded, his attention divided. Tesiera wasn’t with them. After she had finished with the captives, she had left before everyone else, saying she needed to clean up. They had stayed behind while the security team tidied up the mess she had left in the basement.

He had finally witnessed the infamous Torturer. He had seen what she was capable of, and he was conflicted.

The part of him that was a doctor, who saved people’s lives, was horrified, appalled, and disgusted. She had tortured those men as if it meant nothing, showing a disturbing lack of empathy. The doctor in him despised the Torturer and all she represented.

Yet, the other part of him, the man in him, couldn’t help but admire her. The methodical way she had made them spill their guts was mesmerizing. He hated to admit it to himself, but the man in him had been captivated by her bravery.

As they reached the top floor, Kracus was lost in his thoughts. He noticed Tesiera waiting for them in the hallway, her expression unreadable.

She had changed into a fresh outfit, her red hair pulled back into a sleek ponytail. Her eyes met his, and for a moment, he saw a glimmer of vulnerability before it disappeared behind her usual steely facade.

“Boss,” she nodded at Kracus, acknowledging his presence. He nodded back, his conflicting emotions still swirling inside him. He couldn’t deny the undeniable attraction he felt towards her, despite everything.

Hell, even now, his little man reacted at the sound of her voice.

You really have a deathwish, Cock. There are so many women out there to crave like a fucking drug, so why the hell are you insistent on the one that could chop you off without blinking twice, and throw dart with you just for fun?

He stopped in front of her, “Bose, Clinton, leave us.” he ordered while looking at her.

They nodded and bowed their heads, before they walked out of the door and closed it behind them.

Kracus and Tesiera stood in silence for a moment, the tension palpable between them. She took a step towards him, her eyes blazing with defiance. “What?” She spoke with a mix of anger and curiosity. “Do you want to talk about what happened in that basement? Say it. I know you want to.”

She stopped right in front of him, her stance challenging. “I’m a monster, right? Don’t bother, I know that more than anybody, doc. So if you’re gonna give me a pep talk, you can save it for your patients fighting to live at the hospital.” Her words were sharp, her eyes locked onto his with unwavering intensity.

Kracus closed the distance between them, until there was only a breath of air separating them. He leaned in, his voice low and gentle. “You did a good job today, Tesiera. Thank you.” He whispered into her ear, and then took a step back, watching her closely.

The truth was, he had also surprised himself too, but as he said those words, he realized that he meant them. He continued, sincerity lacing his voice, “The truth is, the doctor in me was appalled and uncomfortable about that scene. But on the other hand, a different side of me—a bigger side—feels gratitude and satisfaction. I don’t know what that says about me, but that’s how I feel. I am indebted to you, Tesiera Rinderson. Clinton, Bose, and I tried to extract information from those men and couldn’t. You made it possible in your own way. Thank you so much.”

Her expression remained blank, but Kracus noticed some tension leaving her shoulders and her arms relaxing by her sides. She shrugged noncommittally, “You’re welcome.”

There was a white lie in that statement she made before, after all. Kracus thought as he watched her. She DID care about what he thought—no matter how little a damn it might be, she gave a damn at all and that was all that mattered.

Does that mean that she was remotely half as attracted to him as he was to her?

Only one way to find out.

Without hesitating, he covered the distance between them once again. Tesiera’s eyes met his, and he noticed her gaze lingering on his mouth.

It did something to him, made him feel hot inside. He couldn’t help but focus on her beautifully shaped lips, aching to taste them. He began, “About last night…”

REVENGE WITH LOVE : CHAPTER 51 – 60

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