Liam waited for a moment, slowly dragging the tip of the crop over the bright red mark it left behind. He could do so much better than that. Perhaps he'd go in layers. Make it really hurt before Mike was done. By the time the tip reached the opposite end of its path, Liam realized his little captive hadn't answered. He was about to scold, forcefully, marked by a sharp intake of breath, when he realized he hadn't phrased it as a question.

It wouldn't teach a proper lesson if he wasn't consistent.

He pulled hard on the grip he had of Mike's hair, forcing his head back further. He leaned closer, drawing in a deep breath. He could practically feel the waves of terror rolling off of the junkie. Still so capable of such raw emotions. And here he'd come to assume that people who numbed themselves so completely remained dead on the inside. But Mike was a special case in so many ways.

"Do I make myself clear?" He hissed in Mike's ear, teeth clenched hard. He sounded angry as ever.