"𝐂𝐢𝐫𝐜𝐮𝐬 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐬"

𝟗𝟔. "𝐄𝐝𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐍𝐲𝐠𝐦𝐚"

★ Jeremiah P.O.V. ★

"You're pushing my men way too hard." Sykes whined as he came closer to me.

I rolled my eyes and reached into my pocket to grab my dagger. I ran my thumb over the engraved G and unconsciously tightened my hold on it.

"We're not gonna break through for at least a couple more days. There is absolutely no way to make it on schedule."

And just as he finished that sentence, I slashed his throat. He grabbed it pointlessly, let out a couple of chocked grunts and fell to his knees.

"Well, not with that attitude, you're not." I sneered and let out a soft chuckle.

"Now!" I began and turned to the thralls around me.

"Everyone, let's reached inside and dig a little deeper, shall we?" I grinned.

"Cause that's the only way you're all making it out of this hole." I added gravely and licked the blood of the blade in my hand.

***

"It's a nice little gift for him." Jerome's voice rang out in my head. I unconsciously muttered it aloud.

"He won't like it." I growled at him.

"Yes, he will." He grinned.

"Come on, yes, he will." He started chuckling through me. I turned around, and my face fell when I saw Ecco.

I cleared my throat, attempting to regain at least some outlook of keeping it together. I glanced at the people she brought and noticed there were only a flimsy few of them.

"Are these all the recruits?" I asked stiffly and paced closer to her.

"Well, uh, I thought you would want quality over quantity." She said tensely. I glanced at her with distaste.

"Not everyone can pass a .38 calibre test of faith." She muttered.

I swiftly gripped her throat, causing her to let out a surprised gasp. Then I pulled her to me and tilted her head so that I could look at the bullet wound behind her ear.

"Yes." I breathed out and took my hand off her.

"You certainly have set a high bar for devotion." I pulled her into a waltz.

She gasped softly and grinned happily. I grinned too, but mine was a smile of ridicule more than anything else.

What wouldn't I give to have Grace in my arms right now. But soon, I will. In a few days, I'll see her. I'll take her back.

"Oh." She muttered suddenly, successfully snapping me out of the pleasant thoughts and causing my smile to turn into a slight grimace.

"Bruce Wayne and his sidekick Curls...or is he the sidekick?..." She trailed off. I sighed with frustration.

"Anyway, they tried to infiltrate our little operation." She told me.

"Oh." My eyebrows creased at the revelation.

"Oh, and Curls can walk. Really well..." I twirled her away from me.

"Especially for a paraplegic." She grinned.

I smiled with satisfaction and pulled her back into me. The wind caused a bit of her scent to enter my nose. I shut my eyes with frustration.

I miss Grace's smell. It always managed to relax me. She smells like peaches and vanilla. Ecco smells like something I don't want to be in proximity to.