For days I’d taken out one person after another, unmerciful to their families, but I’d left mothers and children alive. As much as I wanted to blame all the partners, I didn’t see any reason to make the children suffer unduly. I was positioned outside the last house. This was the man who was fourth in command, and I’d leave him alive only long enough to tell me what I needed to know. The ones before him were simply killing for the sake of killing, punishment for what they’d taken from me.
I crossed the street with my head down, and my hands tucked into my pockets at the chill in the air. My mask in place to disguise myself. I had no issues killing the wife, but I’d prefer to leave her alive for an example alone.
The bastard and his wife had entered an hour before, and I could see them sitting in front of their TV having dinner. They were settled and comfortable in the safety of their home. My other marks weren’t discovered yet. Cristo had lost control of his crew, or they simply grew complacent because I was one man. Purposely not perceived as a threat and I marveled at their stupidity.
It was my lot in life, my size and looks that made me unremarkable. I was in no way scary in outward appearance. My former employer had forgotten the monster he’d hired. Cristo knew what I was capable of. He’d seen my work many times and had witnessed the cruelty I could inflict without remorse. I loathed everyone except Harrison. I experienced emotions I never had before, and when they’d taken him, the last rein on my control had broken.
The rumors were spreading about the five bodies I’d left at the bar. Did they ignore my warning? My thoughts were Cristo’s crew was too stupid to prepare themselves for the war they’d instigated when they’d taken my boy. My rage grew as I imagined what they were doing to him. His body was meant only for my hands—my pain.
I knocked on the door and waited patiently. When the door opened, I slipped my hands from my pocket with my weapon at the ready. Then I placed my suppressor between his eyes.
“Good evening, I hope I’m not interrupting. Oh, yes, I’d love to come in. Back up.” I proceeded forward, and the larger man had his hands in the air.
“He’s not here.”
“I already know that, but what I don’t know is where my boy is. I’m surprised Cristo and you all thought it would be prudent to take something from me.”
“Haven’t you drawn enough blood?”
I would’ve laughed at the absurdity of his question if I’d known how. I closed the door behind me without taking my attention away from him. “Please inform your wife to make no silly attempts to call the authorities. It’ll make it harder on you and her.”
When we entered the living room, the woman started to scream and was quickly hushed by her husband. He rushed to her side, and I went to the windows to jerk the curtains together to shield us from the people outside. I had a lot to get done in a short period of time, and disruptions weren’t ideal.
“Now, why don’t you tell me where my boy is?”
“I’m not telling you shit.”
“Not the answer I wanted.” I squeezed the trigger and took out his wife’s knee, and she screamed. “I take out the other if you don’t quiet her now.”
The man covered her mouth and quietly whispered in her ear as if to soothe her. It would almost be a sweet display if I didn’t know he’d spent the afternoon with a couple of women he fucked at least twice a week. Loyalty was a lost art.
“Where is my boy?”
“You’ll never get him back. If they haven’t beaten him to death by now, they’ve used up his ass.”
I surged forward and jerked his wife out of his arms. I held her up by her hair and kicked the back of her bad knee to drive her to the floor. I was unused to the rage. I could deal with a lot but my boy made me feel—care, and I didn’t understand how to process. Time was running out. Cristo had left messages, and I’d sent ones of my own, but I couldn’t allow them to find me first. He would be lost to me because they’d continue to keep him hidden for insurance.
I bent at the waist and pressed my face next to hers and looked at the bastard. It was clear to see he was ready to attack at the smallest opening. “You have a very beautiful wife. How would you feel if I took her from you?”
I drew the silencer down her cheek as I kept eye contact with him. She whimpered so prettily and her face wet with tears brought on by fear and pain.
“You wouldn’t dare.”
“You’d be surprised at what I’d dare. I’ve never had anything that belonged to me before. Dying is something I accept as my due for the life I lead, but my boy had nothing to do with it.”
“You can’t tell Cristo no.”
“I’ll take her apart piece by piece just as Cristo threatened to do. Where should I start?” I asked as I set my weapon aside and unsheathed my knife.
I placed the tip just below the tender skin beneath her eye. “Maybe something for you and her to remember me by?” I nicked her with the slightest pressure. “Are you going to tell me what I need or do I take the eye first?”
“Fuck, fine, fine. They’re hiding in the Beauregard Hotel, near the docks.”
I was almost disappointed at how easily he gave in, but I returned my knife to the sheath inside my boot. I picked up my gun. “Do you love your husband?”
“Ye-yes,” she stuttered out.
“Tell him.”
I slowly raised my arm and aimed.
“I love you.”
As soon as the bastard started to open his mouth, I compressed the trigger, and she screamed. She dragged herself to where he was sprawled on the couch. A hole between his eyes. I eased to my feet and stared down at her. She was weeping and holding the corpse of her husband. I grew bored with her blubbering.
“You didn’t have to kill him. He told you what you wanted to know.”
“You’re wrong. His boss needed an example of what I’m capable of because it appears Cristo has forgotten. Would you like to join him?”
“No.”
“Remember that, make sure you pass it on to Cristo. If you say anything to anyone, I’ll come back. Your only purpose is to make sure Cristo knows there’s no one else between him and I. They started this war…I’m simply finishing it.”
I left without a backward glance and walked out onto the quiet street. No movement caught my attention—it didn’t appear as if anyone was coming to the woman’s rescue. I seamlessly disappeared into the shadows and removed my mask as I turned the corner at the end of the block.
The hotel was abandoned. I owned several properties nearby. The buildings were slowly crumbling under years of neglect.
Soon I’d have my boy back where he belonged. I tried not to think about what they were doing to him. My mind needed to be free to focus—to plan. Sirens blared in the distance as I reached my car which I’d parked a mile away. I slipped into the front seat, started the engine and returned to the safe house I’d crashed in since I’d started this operation.
Harrison just needed to hold on a bit longer and then I’d never let him out of my sight. I still didn’t understand the power he had over me. I was unused to caring for anyone other than me and most days I rarely cared whether I survived. I wanted him home, curled up in bed beside me, feeling the weight of his larger body. I craved him as if he were an addiction I couldn’t break free from. For that reason alone, I should let him go, leave him to whatever fate Cristo had for him. Yet, I couldn’t do that. I owned him. His presence was a weakness, but one I’d gladly accept just to have him. When this was over, I’d figure out what made me want him in my life—my bed.
First, I needed to bring him home.