TYLER
I toywith a knife in my hands as I sit in front of a bloodied, terrified man. I always prefer to use a knife. A gun is too easy. A knife is moreprecise.
Fear has his body trembling. My first warning clearly wasn’t enough, and that was me beingnice. It’s his own fault that he’s landed himself here.
“Listen, man. I’m sorry, okay? I’ll do anything to make it up to her.” He pleads shakily. It’s the same words every time.I’m sorry.I’ll do anything.
It’s the one thing I can applaud Mitchell for. He never once apologized, because he meant everything he was doing, and knew he’d do it again.
My smile only makes him tremble harder, because he knows he isn’t going to leave this room alive.
In these moments, I don’t have to shut my humanity off to complete my task. The world needs to be rid of people like him — men whohurtwomen. Consider it my penance to balance all the bad that I do.
Cole stands next to me with his arms crossed, his jaw flexing, clearly upset over what he did. If he’s so okay to do it to her,someone he claims to love, who else has he done it to or will do it to?
I’m going to watch the blood drain from his body slowly. He’s going to feel the pain he caused — and he’s never going to cause it again.
“You’ll never go near her again.” The smile fades from my face.
“You’ll never go near another woman again,” Cole says, looking up from under his brows.
The man thrashes in his chair, scooting it this way and that way, but never really going anywhere. He’s wasting his energy, because he isn’t going to be able to run from this.Run from me.
“I didn’t think it would end up that way! I was just trying to get her attention. I love her!” He yells.
I laugh. “If that’s how you love a woman, then I surely can’t let you continue.” I lean back in my chair, crossing my arms.
“No! No, I swear I’ll do better. I’m only human! I made a mistake,” he pleas.
“Finish him up.” I stand, handing the knife to Cole. Something tells me he needs to be the one to do this.
“No! Please! Please! I’ll do better. I’ll do anything you want! I can give you any information. Seriously, you name it and I’ll do it!” he cries, thrashing more in his chair.
I kneel down to meet his face. “You really think someone like you could give someone like me useful information? Anything I need to find,I find. How do you think I found out about you and what you’ve done?” I give his face a gentle tap and get to my feet. “Meet at the gym upstairs before the opening?” I ask Cole.
“Absolutely.” He stares at the sorry bastard tied to the chair.
“Sounds good. I have things I have to do. Have at it.” I walk out of the room.
His screams follow me out, and I smile.
SUNNY
Standing on the rooftop on a cool September night, I rub my arms, wishing I brought a coat or scarf. The days have been deceptive by being warm, only to create chilly nights once the sun disappears to give the moon his glow.
The city buildings surround me in a sparkling array of heights and widths, lights and bustling sounds, speaking something magical.
I spent the last few weeks in the commotion of work and haven’t truly taken in the magic that surrounds me here, especially from this angle. Boston truly is something else.
This place is magic.
I glance around the hotel’s rooftop, looking for the color of Sam among the black suits and cocktail dresses. One person’s outfit is a few paychecks of mineat least.
Music lightly plays in the background while people stand and talk or lounge in the chairs and couches surrounding the fire pits and pools. Waiters and waitresses dance around the venue, serving drinks and appetizers, making me feel like I don’t belong in such a fancy place. It’s hard to believe this is considered a small event.
I finally catch Sam mid-stride, hustling around as she greets the guests. All people who I don’t know names to or their involvement to make all this happen.
Oddly enough, she’s good at this, despite her parents’ ideas of her. People like Sam. They feel comfortable with her, and they seem to enjoy their conversation with her. She makes people feel seen.
