Chapter <b>310 </b>
<b>I </b>stood up suddenly, the sound of <b>my </b><b>boots </b>against the cold concrete echoing <b>in </b>the room. <b>I </b>walked toward the door, my mind set on what I had to do. When I opened <b>it</b>, <b>I </b>found Luke standing there with two <b>of </b>his men<b>. </b><b>Their </b>faces <b>were </b>pale, <b>their </b>expressions anxious. <b>I </b>could feel the concern in the air<b>, </b>thick and <b>palpable</b>. They <b>didn’t </b>know what I was about to do, but I did. And they couldn’t stop me.
“Nick,” Luke started, his voice cautious, “Samuel’s fine. Why don’t you give him a <b>call</b><b>? </b>It will help ease your mind. I promise you, he’s fine.”
I could see the way he was trying to distract me, trying to take my mind off <b>of </b>Xander. I wasn’t fooled. He thought I was too emotionally attached, too vulnerable, to go through with what <b>was </b>necessary. But I wasn’t in the mood for distractions. My son’s safety had beenpromised, and I wasn’t going to let Xander escape justice. Not <b>now</b>. Not after everything.
“Don’t ask any questions, Luke,” I replied, my voice sharp “Just get me what I need, and you can leave. I <b>will </b>deal with this. You don’t need to stay.<b>” </b>
Luke opened his mouth to protest, but I cut him off before he could speak.
“Get me a bucket of water and salt,” I demanded.
The guard closest to me hesitated. I saw his confusion. I didn’t care. They could question me all they wanted, but there was no going back now. This was my decision, and I wasn’t going to justify it.
“Just get it. Don’t ask,” I repeated, my tone leaving no room for debate.
The guard hurried off, and Luke stood there, a quiet frustration in his eyes. He didn’t understand. He couldn’t understand. But I didn’t have the time or the patience to exin. The guard returned quickly with the bucket of water and a packet of salt. I took the items without a word and mmed the door behind me, dismissing them all.
I didn’t need anyone watching over me while I did this.
Once the door was shut, I set the bucket down, the cool metal of the container a stark contrast to the heat building inside me. I opened the packet of salt, letting the grains pour slowly into the water. I stirred the mixture with a steady hand, watching as the crystals dissolved.
And then I looked down at Xander, whoy unconscious on the floor. He had no idea what wasing. And that, in a way, made it worse. He wasn’t going to get a peaceful death. He wasn’t going to be spared any of the consequences of his actions. Not while I had anything to say about it.
I picked up the bucket and walked toward him, my steps slow and deliberate. The anger inside me burned like fire, but there was something else, too. Something darker. Something more primal. I poured the saltwater over his body in one swift motion, watching as it sshed across his skin.
Xander shot up, his body jerking violently as the salt burned his wounds. He screamed, his voice raw with pain and confusion. His eyes darted around, wide with panic.
But there was no sympathy in me now. None. Not for him. He had put my family at risk, and now he was going to suffer the consequences.
“Stay awake,” I hissed, the words escaping my lips like amand. “You don’t get to rest. Not after everything you’ve done.”
Xander’s body jerked again, but his screams only fuelled my resolve. I wasn’t going to let him slip back into unconsciousness. Not while he was still breathing.
No sleep for the wicked. Not anymore.