“He wants to be,” I reply. “Well, his body does. His mind doesn’t get a vote.”
“What is it?” Atlas asks.
“Vigilum.” I let the word sit. “It keeps them in the present.”
Jack whimpers, a thin, broken sound. It’s not from fear this time, but realisation. I lean in until my mouth is level with his ear.
“Shh, don’t worry,” I murmur. “You won’t miss a second of this.”
I step back and nod to Victor. “Now we can talk.”
“Felix, do you want a go?” I glance at him, keeping my focus on Jack’s pulse.
“Yes,” he doesn’t hesitate and I step aside to give him space.
Felix moves to the tray and picks up the pliers as Jack starts begging again.
“Is that what the girls said when you sent them to the kennels?” Riggs growls and I feel a flicker of guilt that I didn’t let him go first.
“Answer him!” Atlas shouts, it catches me off guard. He’s not the one who usually shouts.
“Ye… yes,” the little prick snivels.
“Hmm,” Felix bends down to Jack’s feet and then gags. “Shit, he already pissed himself?”
He looks back at me.
“Twice.”
“Gross,” Fae mutters and I turn to look at her. Her chin is high and her shoulders are back. I am not sure if she knows why he is here, but there is no hesitation.
She is perfect for me.
“Every time you lie, you lose a toenail,” Felix says, matter-of-fact, as he rips one free and Jack screams. “That was just a tester.” He taps the pliers against the exposed flesh and Jack starts crying.
“Please, I will tell you what you want to know.”
“Where are the girls kept?” Felix asks and before Jack can answer, he pulls another nail.
“STOP!” Jack cries. “He… he has loads. The main one is Marks Tey; there’s an old barn just off Motts Lane.” He starts rambling off coordinates.
Felix glances back at us like we should be writing it down. I don’t move. Victor reaches for his phone, but I shake my head and tap my temple. He nods.
This need to stay off anything that can be traced. I trust no one outside this room.
That’s not true. I still have my mum and dad.
“How many girls?” I ask.
“T… too many to count,” he mumbles.
“Bolt cutters.” Felix snaps, and Riggs hands them over.
Felix lifts Jack’s foot and wedges his big toe between the blades before snapping them shut. The crack of bone and cartilage cuts through the room.
“Not good enough,” Felix says over Jack’s screams.
“Over a hundred in the last ten years,” Jack blurts, trying to get ahead of the pain.