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I glanced at Michaels and gestured him forward “How many men do we have in the city?”

“A small army, sir”

“Can you spare ten to protect this man’s family?”

Michaels shrugged “No problem”

I gestured back at the prisoner “There you have it Tell me where she is”

“That isn’t enough Ten ot a wife, two little girls Maeve will kill all of them You don’t understand”

I understood I knew Maeve I was Maeve in some ways We both stood at the top of a very tall mountain and watched our shadows stretch out over the landscape We were Titans, and everyone else was an ant

That level of power and influence warped a person’s sense of right and wrong

I took a knife froood knife I kept it sharp It’d beentime

Since the night I took it froers

I held it up so my prisoner could take a nice look We didn’t speak I didn’t need to threaten He knew

He sed and looked at Michaels “Can you swear they’ll be okay?”

Michaels gestured at me “Talk to him I’m furniture”

“Please,” the prisoner said, returning his attention toa cold desperation “Promise me”

“I will do what I can for as long as it’s reasonable”

He groaned “Not enough I ht as well die”

I grabbed his hand He tried to pull it away, but arch I lived to dominate I held his wrist so hard his hand turned white froainst the end of his pinky finger, where the knuckle met the palm, and sliced hard

It caus stalk

The guy stared, his mouth open in shock Blood spurted from the wound Then he screamed

I hated the screa I didn’t release his wrist

“Talk,” I said “Where is Maeve?”

“Please,” he moaned “Please don’t”

“Next finger won’t be so easy I’ll start with the tip and work down the knuckles Most er, but few stay conscious er past that We’ll patch you up while you’re out, wait until you come back, then start the process over There won’t be any escape I’ers”

He sobbed It was pathetic I could feel for his plight: I’d take his fingers then his life if he didn’t tell o after his family

There was no winning Poor bastard I almost felt sorry for him

But anyone that got involved with an Oligarch understood the risks

“Okay then” I pressed the knife against the top knuckle on his ring finger

“Wait,” he said

I sliced It went through and the piece of lifeless body dropped to the floor Blood fountained down his palm and he screamed

I released him and stood back I wiped the knife on my jacket and waited for him to calm down

He sputtered and cried He held his battered hand against his chest like a baby Maybe he wasn’t lying about the family after all