Free Edge of Obsession (SKALS #3) by Adriana Noir

hard you scrub, you can never can’t get rid of it.”
    Dominic cowered in his seat as Sebastian steeled his jaw and pulled his knife free. The wicked steel blade glinted beneath the solitary overhead light in a menacing flash.
    “I’m sorry…so sorry…not my fault Baas…listen to me.”
    The plea s came in a fragmented and broken stream. Leaning over him, Sebastian gripped the back of the chair with a damning shake of his head. “I’m not interested in your excuses,” he stated. “Only in hearing you scream.”
    Slamming his hand down, he buried the knife between Dominic’s legs, pinning the man to his seat. The room echoed with his teammate’s earsplitting wails. Bloody mucus shot past his nose and lips as Dominic screamed and bucked against his chair so hard it tipped. Sebastian righted the man with a cold smile.
    “You knew you had this coming. Was it worth it?” he whispered, stroking the side of Dominc’s head with mock affection. “Was it worth betraying me and your team? Was it worth going after the woman I love?”
    His teammate’s negative simper turned to a deafening scream as Sebastian twisted the knife and yanked his blade free. “As fun as this has been, it’s not nearly gratifying enough. No, there is only one thing I truly want from you, Dominic.”
    Steeling his jaw, Sebastian wrenched his pistol free and leveled it at the man’s face. A brief twinge of satisfaction flooded him as the thunderous boom of his Desert Eagle reverberated off concrete and through his skull. Closing his eyes, he relished the warm, telltale mist that splattered his skin. Josh exploded in a flurry of curses behind him. Eyes wide and fearful, his partner flattened against the wall with his hands splayed as he pushed past.
    Stopping in the hall, Sebastian wiped his face and tossed the bloody shirt at Vince. The gunshot brought personnel running, and a small crowd was already starting to gather in the grim, grey corridor. Lifting his chin, he regarded them with squared shoulders.
    “ This is the last act of mercy you will see from me. Cross me or come near my family again and you won’t find yourselves as fortunate,” he warned.
    Stunned whispers followed on his heels as he strode toward his office , leaving his team to ponder his words. Josh jogged behind him, his breath coming in quiet pants as he begged Sebastian to wait. Once inside the private chambers, his partner slammed the doors shut and sagged against them, his expression wild and bewildered.
    “What the fuck was that ? Have you lost your ever loving mind ?”
    Sebastian set his pistol down, poured himself a drink, and took a seat behind his desk before lifting his gaze. “I believe I made my reasons perfectly clear,” he said, swirling the amaretto whiskey in his glass.
    Josh gaped at him in disbelief. “Are you trying to get us both killed?”
    H is shoulders jerked in a humorless huff and he downed his drink. Setting the thick tumbler on his desk, Sebastian stood. “No, Josh. Believe it or not, I am trying to save us.”
    “And just how in the hell do you figure that ? Marx is going to have a fucking field day with this one, Baas, and you know it!”
    “ Marx…right,” he repeated as he made his way over to the window gracing the right side of the room. “I did what needed done. If you have a problem with that, I suggest you take it elsewhere. Let me deal with Marx as I see fit.”
    Josh flung his arms open in helpless display. “And how are you gonna do that? Huh? You just gonna walk in there and shoot him too, Baas? What do you think will happen to you then? Hell, how are you going to do anything when you’re locked down in a reconditioning cell? If you have a plan for that one, I’d really love to hear it.”
    “ My plans are not your concern. Send Agent Pellagreeni in on your way out.”
    He tensed at the sound of shatt ering glass behind him. Turning, he took in the broken remains of the framed diploma Josh had batted off the wall.