“The only stipulation to this is that J gets the two coming with him. So Reginald will be the only one entering this room. Okay?”
We knew this information, and it’s actually really helpful because they won’t be the same mountainous men he had withhim at my house. Tanner got them already. Reginald is the only one I want.
“Fine with me.” I nod. Raising my chin to try and mirror the confident stance that appears to come naturally to River, I take a deep breath and manage a smile. The tremble from before is beginning to ease out the closer we get to completion.
“I’m curious why she wants them? I couldn’t find a lot of information on the two extra.” Won’t lie, I’m curious too, so I’m glad Tanner asked.
River shrugs. “She’s bored. Been a while since she had a chance to play and they’re ripe for the taking. Her words.”
“Got it, and thanks for the assist.” Tanner politely ends the conversation and his warm hand on my lower back leads me into the room as I smile and wave awkwardly at River in thanks.
She closes the door behind us and now it’s just a case of waiting.
Reginald has been here before and has paid for private dance sessions from the extracurriculars the club also dabbles in, so as far as he’s aware, he’s just here for a normal night out with his goon friends that he probably has to pay to hang out with him.
“You good?” Tanner’s question doesn’t come from nowhere but I do startle a little, immediately giving him all of my attention as I remember to breathe.
He holds my eye contact for a few moments, his deep browns boring into my light blues, and that’s what I concentrate on. Us. Our connection. Everything he has given me since it was ripped away from me so cruelly, all because I said no.
I hum a yes in response with a sharp nod, afraid that if I speak I’ll fuck this up somehow. We’re so close.
The world goes quiet, dulled, all except for the noise of the handle as it lowers, the door opening, and the sound of my blood rushing through my body with the rapid beat of my heart.
“Why’s it so dark in he—” His voice grates at my spine, awakening the anger from deep inside, one that he put there that night, but he’s quickly cut off as the door slams closed. The music outside gets louder, and I hit him over the head with a new baseball bat. Tanner presented me with it before we left for our stakeout, said it would be good for Karma.
Reginald’s yell of pain makes me smile. There’s a fleeting thought that this is insane, feeling so good about inflicting this kind of pain, about the thought of this man’s blood splattered all over the room, but I push it aside. I’m making the world a better place. I’m enacting karma. This complete scumdeservesit.
A dim red light flickers on, showing Reginald on the floor in a fetal position, holding his head in his hands and writhing around. Blood is pooling from the wound…
“Shit. Did I hit him too hard?” I grimace and turn to Tanner, who is covering his mouth, trying to hide his growing grin. “It’s not fucking funny. What do we do?”
I hate to be the girl that asks the guy what to do, but I’d be asking the same to whoever was here with me. I’m basically a student at this point—something I have always excelled at—and Tanner is my teacher in this specific subject. I’m here to learn, not grow a bravado over something I have little experience with.
Clearing his throat, he glances toward a contraption up against the wall. “I think that’ll do nicely.”
“What is it?” I frown, my eyes wide and questioning as I take in the huge cross-shaped object.
“St. Andrews Cross. Kinky as fuck if you use it right. Maybe I’ll let you try it on me when we’re finished here.” He winks. “But for now, it’ll keep him in place so you can do your thing.”
“Okay, yeah, let’s do that.” I wait for him to approach Reginald first because I’m not fucking stupid and about to get punched in the face for not being careful.
Quick as a whip, Tanner grips one of Reginald’s wrists and drags him up toward the giantXon the wall. It’s as though the guy weighs nothing with the way Tanner lifts him, strapping him into the contraption with ease. He groans, not putting up a fight until his last foot is being strapped.
“Wha…What’s going on?” He’s a little sluggish, his eyes glazed over, blood dripping down the side of his face from his head wound.
Without saying a word, I step forward so he can see me as I pull out a gleaming silver dagger, courtesy of Tanner. I hold it up, allowing the light to catch the shine and enjoying the way Reginald’s eyes widen in recognition and fear. True to form, he attempts to mask it and scowls.
“You bitch. I should have finished the job that night.” He spits in my direction, but it’s weak, doesn’t go much farther than dribbling down his own chin.
I chuckle. “Yeah, maybe you should have.” One step closer and a deep inhale. I hold out my empty palm, hoping Tanner gets the hint. He does. His hand soon envelopes mine and I sigh, my heartbeat slowing to a more steady pace.
“And you…” Reginald snarls at Tanner. “You should have taken that job. You wouldn’t be holding that cunt’s hand like a fucking pussy, you’d be halfway across the world with all the fucking money I was gonna pay you.” He coughs, wincing and twisting his neck, his body tensing briefly before he calms again, his dozy gaze back on me. “And you’d be pushing daisies because your protector wouldn’t be around to save you.”
Tanner squeezes my hand, and I know he wants to say something, but this is my show. I don’t need to argue with the man in front of me because he’s not worth it. Right now, I am saving myself…yes, with Tanner’s help, but there’s no shame in having help.
“Pussy and cunt aren’t the insults you think they are. They’re stronger than the dick and balls I’m about to slice from your body.” Not my finest moment, but it felt good to say that out loud.
“You wouldn’t fucking dare.” Reginald’s snarl sounds like it took a lot of energy and I don’t know how long he has left with that head wound.
