“Remember the night we met?” I sigh dreamily.
His gaze narrows. But I know he’s seeing what I’m seeing right now…
Me, cleaning the blood off of his hands, and those same brass knuckles.
“You’re exactly everything I need…”
“That was a long time ago,” Jonathan grunts.
I purse my lips. “Is that what this is about? You have grievances, my pet?” He’s practically baring his teeth. “You’d like a raise? Or some vacation time??” The amusement falls off of my face in an instant and I square up to him, putting us nose to nose. “You are such a bad dog.”
“Surrender,” he hums. “That’s the only way out of this.”
“Not much of a discussion,” I purr, pulling my weapon.
His eyes fall to it, but he doesn’t move. I press the barrel up to his chest.
“I could kill you right now,” I hum calmly.
He leans in, his lips hovering over mine. “Do it.”
An aggressive shiver runs through me, and it stiffens my muscles with rage.Because fuck him, and fuck this.
My finger ghosts over the trigger.
“Where’s the fun in that?” I chirp, tucking the gun back into my belt. “It was lovely talking with you, Jonathan. I have missed our chats.” I boop him on the nose with my fingertip. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do, my pet.”
Spinning, I saunter away slowly, feeling his deep blue gaze on my back as I go. I’m enraged, but it’s at the point where the anger is so strong, it’s replaced by an odd sense of calm. A clarity you couldn’t see before, when the red wastoored.
The moment I step around the corner, I hum to my men, “They want a fucking war… They’ve got one.”
On our way out of the prison, my satellite phone goes off.
“Yea,” I grunt, pausing outside the SUV when one of my guys holds up a finger, like something is off.
“Sir…” It’s Kent. “I thought I’d let you know that I’ve found Dr. Love, Trevel Fenwick and Byron Kang in the woods. I’m bringing them back to the mansion.”
Back?
I don’t even have time to think about that word. Because there’s a sudden commotion.
Bullets are popping off from the west, walkies chirping, voices hollering.
“What now…” I growl, a severe and potent irritation growing inside me with every second that passes on this goddamn island which, just like the people on it, can’t seem to remember its fuckingplace.
If I believed in karma, I’m sure I’d be reading into all this.
Good thing I don’t.
“Fuck all of this,” Pedroia grunts, whipping opening the door to the SUV. “I’m getting you out of here.”
I’m knee-jerk frustrated at being treated like some useless politician.I ain’t afraid of no bullets… I’ve been getting shot at for decades.
But then I remember that Iamin charge here, and this good solider is just doing his job.Well, I might add.
So I nod, and hop into the car. “Worry not. I have a plan.”
The next thirty minutes are spent on the phone, making calls. Lots of them. Calling in any and all reinforcements I can get on such short notice. But in truth, this is what they do. They live to be on call.
