The hiccup with this situation, however, was the fact that the bastard was no longer the ghost he used to be. According to our sources, he was a ruined man, sick and bedridden—clinging to what’s left of his miserable life in a shabby apartment. Forgotten by his allies, discarded by the world.
Some might argue that there was no honor in killing a sick man, but I couldn’t care less. What honor was there in killing an old, defenseless man? He started this fight, and eventhough it had taken me years to finish it, I was determined to do so.
Bedridden or not, Mercer would pay for his crimes—not just because the Bratva demanded revenge. But because I wanted to look him in the eyes when I took his miserable life.
Blood for blood. That was the code that I was ready to uphold.
Nothing on this earth could save him from my wrath—not illness, not weakness. Nothing at all. Betrayal was punishable by death, and there was no escaping it.
My grip tightened around the glass as I lifted it to my lips and took a sip. My eyes darted across the room to the oil painting hanging on the wall.
“Actually, it’s Renoir. Not Monet,”the gorgeous waitress’s voice echoed in the back of my mind.
Before I could take control of my thoughts, images of her polite smile and the quiet crinkling of her hazel eyes invaded my head. The little incident at the restaurant came rushing back in, distracting me from the mission at hand.
I tried to channel my thoughts toward Mercer and the satisfaction of ending his life. But the more I did that, the more my mind kept shifting back to the petite blonde.
The sound of her voice—soft, sweet, and tender—was music to my ears. I recalled how she moved through the space, poised and elegant, and how she made me feel whenever we locked eyes, an emotion I had yet to name.
I set my glass down on the table and reclined in my chair, rubbing my eyes with my fingers. “Fuck.”
This was a serious moment, one where I was supposed to be planning my revenge. I didn’t need this unwelcome distraction. Not at all. The petite blonde was just a random waitress at a random restaurant. She was of no significance to me and shouldn’t occupy so much space in my head.
I clenched my jaw, my brows furrowing to form deep creases between them. My blood boiled with rage at the fact that this complete stranger had refused to let me think straight.
How difficult was it to dispel an insignificant thought?
I combed my fingers through my hair, the scowl on my face deepening by the second. She had no right living rent-free in my head, and it was time to force her out.
My revenge was close—that’s all that mattered!
Chapter 5 – Scarlett
The Uber driver dropped me off at the location and drove away soon after, leaving me standing by the sidewalk.
My heart pounded in my chest, my pulse quickening as I stared at the run-down building across from me. I had no idea what awaited me inside, no idea what I’d say to the man after all these years or how I’d even react when I saw him.
Confusion slithered in, making me question my resolve to honor his invitation. Maybe I should just turn back and leave before it was too late. I didn’t owe him anything, and I shouldn’t come running just because he asked to see me.
He had no right to demand anything from me. Not my respect, not my presence, nothing at all. I thought about all the pain his absence from my life had caused, and I suddenly grew bitter. My jaw tightened, accentuating the frown on my face as I felt my blood boil with anger.
Yet, I couldn’t bring myself to leave despite the pain and anger coursing through my veins. My chest was rising and falling, and my fingers had clenched into a fist.
You’re here already. You might as well just go in and see him,a voice whispered in my head.Let’s find out what he wants.
Iwascurious about why he wanted us to meet, so the voice was right.
My eyes roamed the surroundings, drinking in the serene atmosphere—quiet and peaceful. The sun was setting across the horizon, its golden glow draped over the neighborhood.
I clutched the handle of my handbag slung over my shoulder and let out a soft sigh. “Here goes nothing.” I put one foot in front of me, then another, and another until I found myself walking toward the building.
I headed inside, climbed the stairs, and strolled cautiously through the dimly lit hallway, lit by a single flickeringbulb. My flats were soundless on the cracked, dusty floor as I searched for the room number on the address.
Not long after, I spotted the room nearby, and my heart began racing again as I approached it. I stood in front of the door, my hand in the air, knuckles hovering over the surface. After a moment of hesitation, I summoned the courage to knock.
To my surprise, the door creaked slightly open, a foul stench drifting into my nostrils. My brows knitted together in displeasure, my elbow rising to cover my nose.
Maybe this was my cue to turn back and leave, but my curiosity got the best of me. I looked both ways down the corridor before lowering my elbow and daring to step inside.
