Bodies of the enemies are falling down left and right, all dying instantly. The bullets hit right between their eyes or straight into their chest. The deaths are quick, easy, and clean. It’s like he’s a completely different person.
No wonder New York fears this man more than the boogeyman. He is the monster I’ve been waiting for all my life. The kind to kill everyone for me, all while wrapping his bloody hands around me, protecting me from all the harm.
Arlo De Santis is the king of fear, and I’ll become the queen he needs.
His eyes are widened, a dark, twisted smirk on his lips. He doesn’t blink, taking life after life. The blood continues to splash and splatter, and the longer I’m watching him do what he was trained for, the more I love him.
I shouldn’t feel like this.
This kind of life was exactly what I used to want to run away from.
Yet, right now, all I want to do is stay.
I’ll stay by Arlo’s side through all the trials and tribulations. Until all of our enemies are dead, until we’ve gotten revenge for all of our loved ones — until we’ve risen to the top.
A man starts approaching from the right, and I spot him right on time. My hand is raised, and the bullet leaving the barrel echoes in my ears. He falls to his knees, looking down at the wound on his stomach. I don’t stop there and fire another round of shots until his limp body slumps down, the blood coating the marble tiles beneath him.
There’s no use in denying it anymore.
I became a part of this life the moment I killed my mother and stepfather. There’s no going back. It’s too late for redemption, and taking this man’s life means nothing to me. I became the villain of the circumstances, and I’m embracing it.
After all, Paul Simmons will be next.
And I won’t go easy on him.
FORTY
I wipe the blood off my face with the back of my sleeve, then turn to look at Blair. Her eyes are dull, almost dead, as she fires another shot, taking the second man down. It’s a sight I never wanted to see — her getting used to the brutality this world represents.
But there’s no going back. It’s too late for me to wish for her to find a way out of this dark, endless hole. Because I’ve been one selfish bastard. The moment I massacred the prison for her, then slowly led her to me, the decision was made — Blair became mine.
I observed from the shadows, followed her every move, and even dictated it at times. It all brought her straight intomy arms. And I haven’t let go of her since. She belongs with me, body, mind, and soul. I don’t give a shit about being selfish, because on so many levels, Blair completes me in ways no one else could ever do.
She takes in a deep breath, then turns to look at me. Instantly, it’s like a switch flips. She offers a smile, her eyes lighting up. The fact that I’m covered in blood, head to toe, and she isn’t scared of me just makes me love her even more.
My feet move toward her on their own accord, but before I can close the distance between us, I’m shoved into the wall with full force. My back cracks, and the shoulder that got pushed starts aching.
“Are you fucking blind?”
Cove’s harsh words make me blink the pain away, focusing on the surroundings. The wall behind the very same spot I stood not a moment ago is filled with three bullet holes. If Cove hadn’t pushed me away, they would’ve been between my eyes.
“Fuck,” I hiss, then straighten up. My butterfly’s by my side quickly, but I don’t let her get a look at the shoulder. Instead, I take her hand and lead her away from the main area. It’s the living room on the ground floor, and there’s no sight of Woods.
“Do you think he left?”
I shake my head. “No way. He’d never have the balls to leave his hiding place.”
“Hiding place?” Curiosity laces her tongue as I pull her behind a pillar, avoiding the bullets that fly our way. I peek around it, shooting a round, and watch as the target falls down.
“Mm,” I hum, replacing the clip. The old one hits the floor with a thud, but amidst all the chaos, it barely reaches my ears. “He’s too much of a coward to try and leave when his place is being shot at.”
Blair doesn’t say much more, and once the coast is clear, I take her hand in mine, taking her upstairs. The stairs are wide, and men from upstairs start shooting our way. Immediately, my entirebody covers Blair’s, and a bullet grazes my shoulder.
I wince a little but manage to hit the man square in the throat. He falls over the railing, his skull hitting the floor first, and let’s just say it’s not a pretty sight. It gets split, and for a moment, I’m positive I can see his brain.
Blair gags from behind me, and I waste no more time. This house has four floors, and I know Woods is somewhere on the upper floors. He wouldn’t go to the basement, simply because it’s the only place with no exit plan.
The first thing I spot is Aria head-butting a man twice her size. He groans in pain, and she switches to kneeing him in the groin. He doubles over in pain, the gun dropping from his hands. I look away as soon as she pulls the trigger, continuing the rushed walk.
