I slammed him to the ground in an instant, forcing the air out of his lungs, then drove my heel straight into his crotch.
"Gaaaaaaaaaaah?!"
I heard a crunch from down there, and it sure as hell sounded like I'd broken something. Good. I didn't care if I did. This asshole didn't deserve to have his dick intact. He didn't deserve to be married to someone like Grace, who had taken care of me when I was a kid. He should just die.
I raised my heel to smash his crotch again, but that's when the other men around me opened fire.
I dodged, moving faster than they could follow, bullets whizzing past me as I dashed toward them. Their eyes widened, the fear sinking in. They didn't stand a chance. I was in front of them before they even realized it, and with one swift motion, my knee slammed into the first guy's crotch, sending him crumbling.
Before he hit the ground, I spun and kicked the next guy straight in the balls, his legs giving out as he collapsed, clutching himself in agony.
The two of them hit the ground hard, bodies crumpling in an instant. But I wasn't finished. No, they had to pay. Even though they were already writhing, helpless on the floor, I pressed my foot down onto their balls, grinding the soles of my shoes against them.
"GRRAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
"NGGGGGGGH!"
Their cries ripped through the air, mingling with the sickening crunch beneath my heel. I felt the tension give way as something inside snapped. It was satisfying, seeing them squirm beneath me. I wasn't going to let them off easy.
The other three watched in horror, their faces drained of color as they realized what they were witnessing. Fear took hold of them, their bodies trembling like leaves in the wind. I could practically see their thoughts, the instinctive panic kicking in as they squeezed their legs together, trying to protect their dicks from an imagined pain.
Even just watching was enough to make them feel like their own balls were getting crushed.
"Are you finally alright?" Her voice was soft, filled with concern, as she held on to me tightly. She hadn't let go, even after everything.
I took a deep breath, still feeling the rage simmer beneath the surface. "Yeah," I muttered, forcing myself to sound calm. "You can let me go now."
Slowly, almost reluctantly, she loosened her grip and stepped back. I turned to look at her, trying to smile despite the storm still raging in my chest. Even after all the shit she'd been through, she stood strong, unwavering. That's what made her special—her ability to stay tough, even when the world tried to break her. I couldn't help but wonder if I'd ever be that strong. Could I ever be like her?
"Thank you," I whispered, my voice quieter.
She gave me a warm, reassuring smile.
I crouched down and examined Philip's wrist. My suspicion was confirmed—there it was, a tattoo bearing the symbol of the cult we were investigating. Philip was indeed a member of the Eclipse. I checked the other men, and they had the same mark.
"When did he get this tattoo?" I asked Grace, my voice steady despite the chaos.
"It was when a man came to our home," she replied.
"A man?" I pressed. "Do you remember anything about him?"
"All I know is he was a young man with pure black hair and black eyes. He looked otherworldly, like he didn't belong to this world at all."
Her description didn't match anyone I knew.
"Do you know his name?" I asked.
"James," she said, her voice almost a whisper. "James Moriarty."