“WhatIdid?What about whatyoudid?Planting drugs in my car and home?”He chortles.“Too bad for you, I got a judge on my payroll.”
I file that tidbit away for later because that man is now on my shit list, too.
“That’s too bad for both of you,” I tsk, pulling out a pocketknife that my father gave me when I was eight.The blade is razor sharp, gleaming in the warehouse light.Gently drawing the tip along the top of his thighs to cut off his cheap dress pants, he bites back a whimper as I expose flesh.
Squinting down at his pale flesh, a booming laugh erupts.“Do you wax, Vincent?”He has less hair than a pre-pubescent boy.
Flushing red with embarrassment, Vincent turns away, muttering under his breath.
“I suppose it really doesn’t matter.You’ll bleed out with or without the hair.”There’s no masking my amusement.“I bet you’ll squeal like a little pig, too.”Before he can react, I dig the tip of the blade into his thigh, carving out his own initials into each limb.He sweats, he cries, curses, and begs, but I have no remorse for anyone who targets a pregnant woman in an already vulnerable state.
“Why are you doing this?”Tears, drool, and blood from biting himself slide off his jaw and onto his stained white shirt when I finish.
“I thought I was clear when I warned you to stay away from Noa and her children.Apparently, I wasn’t, and now you’ll simply pay the price.”Reaching forward, I rip open his shirt, buttons pop and fly across the room.Vincent sucks in a sharp breath, and when he’s about to scream, I slap a hand across his mouth.“One peep, and I’ll go after your child, your wife, and the cute little mistress in Jersey.We clear?”
He nods, and I release him.“You’re going to kill me for hurting your woman, but you're threatening my family?What a fucking joke.”
“The difference…” I glide the blade down his chest, bare as a baby's bottom again, and slice off a nipple.His piercing scream echoes around the warehouse.There’s something to be said about a blade as sharp as a scalpel.“I’m threatening to get you to do as I please.As long as they’re innocent, I won’t touch them.”
Swiftly swinging my hand across his chest, I take the other nipple, and he wails again.This time, Jermaine enters the warehouse to check on the fun he’s missing.
“Feeling a little left out,” Jer says, crossing his arms behind Vincent, a pout on his lips.
Tossing him the knife, I retort, “I’m bored anyway.He cries too much.”Staring my friend in the eyes, I explain my wishes.“Finish him off and spread his body parts up and down the river.”
Vincent bawls, begging and pleading for us not to kill him.
His shrieks are ignored as I exit and accept the cleansing wipes from Holy as the door slams behind me.“Nice day,” he remarks, his eyes directed at the clear blue sky, sun shining bright.
“Indeed.Might take the kids to the park after school.”It’s something they did frequently before I barged into their lives.
“Kind of surprised you haven’t had one constructed in the backyard yet.”Holy chuckles as I walk to my vehicle.
“Don’t think I haven’t thought about it.Noa would be annoyed at me for spoiling them like that, though.”Those kids would love a treehouse, and Emma and Kylie would enjoy a spot for tea parties, too.
“You’ll do it anyway.You always do.”He’s not wrong.
“How’s Della?”I haven’t seen her in a minute, and I suspect it’s due to her depression over having trouble conceiving.
“She’s hanging on.Made plans to spend a weekend with CJ soon.”The two girls have been good friends most of their lives, so I’m never surprised to hear about them spending time together.
“Make sure this mess is cleaned up before you guys leave.”
Holy confirms that he will, and just as I sit in my car, my phone dings with a message from Noa, saying that she’s home and the girls have left.
Perfect.
I have a ring in my pocket that needs placement on her finger, and the best way to do that is to distract her with sex first.
* * *
A delivery truck leaves the estate as I pull up, and Becky stays in the doorway when she spots me.“Your girls can be quite the bullies.”She wags her finger at me with a huge grin on her face.
“How so?”I leave my SUV out front so we’re able to get the kids in an hour and rush up the front steps.
“Had that girl stressed out and in tears because they bought so damn much.”Becky doesn’t appear to mind too much.
Frowning, I’m confused.“That’s what I wanted.”
