“I’m staying.”
“Creed, what’s the first rule?” Havoc asks.
The boy looks like he wants to fight, but he nods, not giving his mother a second glance. “Come on. You don’t need to see this.”
My heart breaks for the boy who has accepted that his mother is going to die.
“Havoc?” There isn’t much I can do for him.
“I’m kinda busy right now.”
“Don’t do anything your son will regret.” Because I know he won’t regret killing her.
Three Little Words
Havoc
The moment that woman’s face came up on the screen in my office, my blood ran cold. Seeing her now shouting at my son…is making me murderous. “Can this thing go any faster?”
“You know it can’t.” Rogue’s in front of the wheel instead of me, which is a good and bad thing.
“Why isn’t he in school? He’s supposed to be at school for another forty-five minutes.”
“My guess is your girlfriend had something to do with that.”
My eyes were so focused on Creed that I didn’t notice her get out of the truck. “I’m going to kill her this time. If she touches him…”
“Creed’s smart. And you taught him how to defend himself. He’ll be fine until we get there.”
“How long? How long until I’m there to protect him?”
“Three minutes. But it looks like Creed has another protector.”
Greer. She’s at his side, holding his hand like their lives depend on it. And every time that woman gets closer to Creed, Greer inches more and more in front of him. “Does Greer really think that she’s going to protect my son?”
“Sure looks like it.”
That’s foolish and dangerous. And then she steps fully in front of him. “I think I’m in love with her.”
“If I wasn’t married, I would be too.”
My heart is standing there in the yard, beating outside my body. “Drive faster.”
***
The moment my son and Greer step inside the door of Greer’s house, I say, “Give me a name, and I’ll let you live.”
“You wouldn’t kill me. Not in the middle of the street with all these possible witnesses about.”
“What witnesses? Do you mean the people who have known Creed since he was born? The ones who brought me food in the hospital while I stood by as doctors tried to save my son’s life? You really think one of them will testify against me? They’ll offer to help me bury your body. So give me a name.”
“Havoc.” She steps forward, reaching her arms out to me. “Can’t you remember the good times we had?”
“They were replaced a long time ago by the image of Creed’s lifeless body. Of the infections he got because his diaper wasn’t changed and he sat in his own filth for days. That’s what I remember. A name.” I reach into my waistband and pull out my gun. “I won’t ask you again.”
“I don’t know his name. No one does. But he doesn’t like you blocking his sales here. Do you think I wanted to come here? I know you were serious when you said you’d kill me if you saw me again. As afraid as I am of you, I’m even more afraid of him.”
Our mysterious drug dealer found my ex-wife to warn me. He knows where I live. I’m getting to him. “Your fear isn’t my problem.”
