My fists clench at Raiden’s words. I know without a doubt this man can be trusted. He wouldn’t go against the family or me. I brought him in myself, the way Grant’s father did with me. There was no questioning his loyalty.
Shaking my head, I move past Raiden and face Reggie, more than ready to make this fucker suffer.
With my sleeves already rolled up, I reach for one of my favorite knives. It’s nice and rusted with a very dull blade. Perfect for making pain last. I do prefer my blades to be sharpened and sleek, but for something like this . . . this is perfect.
It’ll also be painful for Reggie.
“What made you think you could come in and try to take what isn’t yours? What happened to the alliance you seemed so eager to have?” I ask, turning my attention to the older man.
I knew Grant would stay silent during this questioning. He wasn’t afraid to get his hands bloody, but this fucker used my wife as a pawn. In the short amount of time I’ve known Emerie, I know she was always meant to be mine. There was no questioning it.
If I’m honest with myself, with the number of times I’d looked into her in the past, I’ve always wanted her, and it’s not going to change now or ever.
“Fuck you. You’ll regret this,” Reggie blusters, trying to sound all authoritative, but he holds no authority. Not over me. Not over anyone.
“All of your men are dead. Your daughter has turned her back on you. You have nothing left. The Devore family will take everything you still hold,” I inform him, stepping closer, tapping the rusted blade against my hand.
“You so sure about that?” Reggie smirks.
I cock a brow and give him a smirk of my own that makes him lose his. “Oh, I’m sure, Reg. You think we don’t know about your bastard son you’ve been attempting to groom?” I shake my head with a laugh. “Hate to disappoint you, but he’s not going to be doing anything for you. Not when he finds out he’s free to finally do what he wants. Did you know your son was gay? That he was secretly going to meet his boyfriend down in Florida every weekend. All those trips you sent him on, he wasn’t doing his job as you think. Tell me, does Emerie know she has a brother?”
For some reason, that last question popped into my head because Emerie would have mentioned it if she knew about Reg Jr.
“Absurd.” Reggie huffs, his cheeks brightening even redder than they were already.
“Oh, it’s all true, Reggie-boy.” I nod and bend to get in his face. “You’re going to die and do so in the worst way.”
“You won’t get away with this,” Reggie shouts and starts thrashing around in the chair he’s tied to.
“Why’s that?” I ask.
“I’m high profile. People will look for me.”
I can’t help but laugh dryly at his words. “Do you know who I am? I’m the one everyone calls the Santa of hitmen.”
If Reggie’s eyes could pop out of their sockets, they would. I’m sure he suspected but never expected to know the truth. Just the name of me is like calling for the boogieman.
Done with the conversation, I get to work, savoring each slice into his body. With the blade dull it takes more effort, but that’s okay. His screams for mercy are worth it.
Satisfied with the slice and dice I’ve done, I move on, deciding to take out his eyes. I call Raiden over to hold his head still and, one by one, remove his eyes from their sockets. The last thing to go is his tongue. Finally, I grab the axe from the table, step behind dear old Reggie, draw the axe over my head, and bring it down on his skull, embedding the sharp edge.
I step back, not even winded by the torment. If I were honest, I could have done a hell of a lot more to him, but I have a wife to get back to and don’t have all day to deal with him as I’d like.
Looking at Grant, I jerk my chin toward the dead man. “Satisfied?”
“Never gets old watching you at work,” he snorts. “Come on, I know you’re ready to get back to your wife.”
“Damn right I am.” I look at Raiden. “Let the others come over and clean this up. Emerie’s going to want you to come get some food.”
“Hell yeah, I’m starved.”
Most people would lose their appetite after witnessing what I did, not my men.
Shaking my head, I walk out, knowing I’m heading for the woman waiting for me.
I still have one more mark that needs to be dealt with, but that’s okay. I’ll handle it soon enough. Christmas Eve is Emerie’s night to celebrate with her friends. I’ll handle it, then join her for the fun.
With my Emerie, I guess I’m not completely against the month of December and the holiday it signifies. As long as I have her. She’s the best damn gift a man could ever ask for.
