I gave him a small smile and blinked the last of the slap-induced tears from my eyes. “We’re done here.” I turned to walk out when my father’s iced words stopped me in my tracks.
“I spoke with Mandla…”
The air inside my lungs refused to release. It clamped and burned as if I’d breathed in ammonia. I kept my back to my father and my voice came out emotionless. “And let me guess, you believe him over me.”
Shuffling came, then a sigh. “No. In fact, he admitted to the assault, though refuses to acknowledge he’d done wrong.”
Turning to face him, I stared him down. “He has.”
“I know, Helga. That is why I’ve detained him for you.”
My eyes widened. “Detained him for me?”
He motioned for me to follow him to a door at the rear of his study.
It opened into a secluded and windowless chamber. In the center of that chamber sat Mandla, bound to a chair and growling through his bared teeth. I barely hesitated stepping further into the room and ignored Arnauld’s hissed curse behind me.
My father turned and arched a brow. “I’ve heard about your military prowess and ruthlessness. Here is your chance to give your father a demonstration.”
A vile, sadistic smirk lifted one side of his mouth, then widened into a leer when I hesitated. The pause wasn’t out of fear, nor was it due to being timid. It bought me a second to make a decision. One I could end up regretting.
I tossed the shower hose aside and strode over to the mountain man with an attitude problem.
I bent at the waist to come nose-to-nose with him. “You’ll regret fucking with me.”
He laughed; a low, wicked rumble that sent a ripple of revulsion down my spine.
“I’ll regret nothing. You’re tainted and forever will be.”
My teeth ground together so hard they ached. I bit back all the ugly words I wanted to spew and pushed them all down to where they added to the pit of smoldering revenge.
Drawing in a large inhale, I turned to my father. “Release him.”
Both him and Arnauld balked, whereas Mandla laughed. “I knew you didn’t have it in you. You’re all fucking talk.”
“Helga,” my father warned. “This is your one and only opportunity for consented retribution. You will not be handed it again.”
“Cut him free,” I demanded again, fiercer this time.
Arnauld eyed me over my father’s shoulder and shook his head in warning. He had his reasons, but I had mine.
“Wrong decision, Helga,” came Mandla’s reply.
Before my father had the chance to undo the restraints, I turned to face the man who didn’t give a fuck about assaulting me. I grabbed him by the lapel. He didn’t budge, of course, so I reached across my secured hand to grip the other lapel.
I pulled down hard, wrists scissoring and putting pressure on his windpipe, then smiled wickedly when surprise, followed by shock, entered his eyes at the unexpected strangulation.
“Do you know what I do best?” I hissed into his face, satisfied when his eyes started darkening with fear. “I hunt. I’m not letting you walk free; I’m giving you a head start, because it makes it all the more satisfying when I catch you.”
He made a gurgling noise, and I feigned concern. “What? You can’t breathe? Aww, I’ll let you in on a little secret: this is just a tasteof what’s to come. But let’s talk about right now. Pressure will be building in your head—the trapped blood is making it pound. Your lungs will be screaming, and your throat will be burning, and when I tighten my grip like this—” I applied more pressure, “—your vision will start to turn gray at the edges. You see it, don’t you? Ten seconds from now you’ll be out cold at my feet, and when you wake, you’ll find the first mark on your forehead. Sweet dreams, Mandla,” I whispered against his ear, then gave the final pull that pushed him into unconsciousness.
He unceremoniously slumped in the chair with his head lolled forward, lifeless, but breathing.
“Jesus Christ,” Arnauld murmured, looking between me, Mandla, and my father.
My father eyed me without a care for his fallen pleb. “You toy with your food, Helga.”
I held out my hand. “Give me the knife.”