Cruelty is instilled into the veins of people like Fredrick and his men. Their behavior is not as a result of their gender, or because they think of me as a helpless woman currently drawing breath on their goodwill. It’s simply because they lack empathy; they are devoid of basic human understanding. And I get that Fredrick is upset with me for having murdered his son, but wasn’t he absolutelytorturousto Timothy when he was alive? He was killing him slowly, one day at a time. At least I was merciful enough to give him a permanent end, bloody and messy as it may have been.
Fredrick gives me a scornful look as his laughter dies down. “You really tho–”
I don’t let him finish; I move forward and spit on him, then stand back with a smirk as I watch my saliva dribbling down his Balbo beard.
The guards shift uncomfortably on their feet as silence fills the air.
Utterly enraged, Fredrick pulls out a fresh napkin from his pant pocket before hastily wiping his face with it, then throws it on the ground before sneering at me. Moving towards me, he digs his fingers into my skin as he grips my jaw and pulls me to him. “Listen here, you cunt,” he hisses, shaking my face once. “Were you expecting me to give you the VIP treatment after what you did to my son?” A spark of hatred lights his eyes. “Didyouoffer Timothy water before putting a goddamn bullet in his throat?”
I scoff. “Your son spent his last night riding pretty-lookin’ upper classes and snorting cocaine up his ass like it was his only source of sustenance, so I’d say,Fredrick, that he had a pretty good last run for someone who was a worthless little stain on your family’s name.”
“You…” He grinds his teeth as he lets go of my jaw, then rears the same hand back and slaps me across the face – hard.
I fall back against Chris as the force of it makes me lose my balance, then slowly find my footing before laughing at Fred.
He’s absolutely livid now, which serves my craving of wanting to see him break, when he’s the one trying to do the same to me.
“What, you can’t handle a little truth?” I muse. Tasting metal on my tongue, I move my head sideways and spit blood on the ground. “It’s true, though; your son told me everything you’ve done to hi–”
He slaps me again, to which I only laugh harder.
“Man, you’re such a pussy, Fred,” I say, then lick the blood off my bottom lip before grinning at him. “I guess I should have let Timothy live, huh? Because he seemed like twice the manyou’llever be.” I click my tongue. “Shame I can’t turn back time.”
He’s outright shaking with how angry he is. It’s so satisfying to watch.
He goes to hit me again, but stops when he hears his name being called.
“Fred.”
He turns and moves away from me, and I see Heyman glancing between us, his face showing no emotions whatsoever. Out of all the assholes around me, he definitely is the most cold.
“They’re here,” he announces, and my very first thought is: they’re selling me off to the Rajvanshs to be turned into food on a silver platter, and my heart starts beating so fast that I’m afraid I’ll pass out. There’s no doubt that I’m a killer, but I sure as fuck don’t deserve the kind of death these bastards have planned for me.
“Let me go!” I scream as I try pulling myself out of Chris’s grip. “Fuck, let me go!”
“Shut the hell up,” Chris scolds, then looks ahead before nodding at someone.
I turn, and watch as Heyman starts walking towards the clearing, with Fredrick and his guards close behind.
Chris drags me forward again, and when I don’t move, he grunts and glances at the guards on our backs, then leans in and whispers, “Keep quiet, and you just might live to see tomorrow.”
I’m so taken aback by his words, and by the kindness I see on his face that I can’t help but study him. His eyes are creased around the corners; his frown seems genuine. It’s clear he feels guilty, because he can’t hold my gaze for more than a second.
“I…” I swallow, then shake my head a little. “But you beat me toshit.”
He once again glances behind us, then pulls me away from the guards. “What else would you have had me do?” he asks. “If I didn’t do as I was told, we’d both be dead right now.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
“Because I want out,” he says. “I can’t work for him anymore; I needout.”
I blink at him. “And how exactly do you plan on getting out?”
“I’ll nudge your arm now, so act like you’re being pushed,” he mutters, then once again tugs at my arm.
I curve my back and loosen my body, pretending to trip, then straighten quickly before looking at him. “You didn’t answer my question.”
He sighs, keeping his eyes on Fredrick. “When you leave, take me with you,” he says in a rush. “I’ve been killing for that man for years. For once I’d like to end a life that didn’t belong to an innocent but adeservingone.”
