Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom

Chapter 333

Mandy stared down at the woman sprawled on the ground, barely clinging to life. The woman's chest rose and fell in shallow, trembling breaths-her life was hanging by a thread.

But even now, Mandy's fury was far from spent.

To be certain that the woman would never recover the use of her hands or feet, Mandy snatched up a heavy stone and brought it down, again and again, onto the woman's wrists and ankles.

Thud. Thud. Thud. Each blow echoed with a sickening crack as bone splintered beneath the force.

Blood and shattered bone mingled in a grisly mess. The sight was enough to make anyone avert their eyes.

Once she was done, Mandy straightened up.

Her hands were slick and dripping with blood; crimson trails trickled from her fingertips and fell to the pavement.

"This is the punishment you earned," Mandy said coldly, her voice devoid of mercy. "What Claire suffered was far worse." Without another glance, she turned away.

She had barely stepped out of the alley when she froze.

Someone was standing at the mouth of the alley.

A man, his face obscured by shadow, stood with the streetlight at his back.

Mandy's heart dropped. He must have seen everything.

he had, she couldn't

the bloodied knife

the movement and spoke, his voice calm and familiar.

hesitated, lowering the knife.

his eyes shadowed with a complexity she

long moment, her voice hoarse when

away; he just stood there, his gaze deep and

cool night breeze whistling through the alley, carrying with it the

the silence. "Mandy, what you

back. "You planning to call

gaze and

tried to push past him, but he caught her

was strong-Mandy couldn't break

he said, his

"Why should I

hers. "Do you really want to show up at school covered in

saw the dark stains soaking her clothes, stark

resisting, letting Liam

the city, neon signs flickering

face in