“You’ll never be able to find her. She’s scattered in pieces; the earth reclaimed her body, growing from her decomposed pieces.” He doesn’t blink, and I know with everything in me, he isn’t lying. He wants to see the way his words affect me, but he won’t get that pleasure.
“She was my first payment to Briggs, and she willingly went. Tried to do the motherly thing and keep you safe…look how well that worked out.” He smiles and my heart beats harder.
My vision becomes blurry, but I turn around from him so he can’t see the tears obstructing my view, eyes straining on the wallpaper peeling off the wall.
Swallowing my emotions down, I turn toward him once again; shooting him in his shoulder, his body flying back, his scream feeds me as I walk toward him. Raising the gun to his head, handshakes, but I ignore it. Not for fear of what I’m fixing to do, but from pure anger.
“Put the gun down.”
I look down at David, who tries to smile, but the pain he’s in makes it a grimace.
Not moving my gun, I turn my head, and a woman stands at the hallway entrance, gun pointed at me.
Looking back at David, “Well, what do we have here?”
“I don’t need God; I have people who have my back,” he mutters between his teeth.
“Good, because God won’t be the one fucking meeting you when I blow your brains out.”
No matter what, I’m not putting this gun down. I’m not letting this piece of shit live, and if I have to die along with him, I’ll be pulling him to hell with me.
“You can’t save a sinner.” I look over my shoulder, eyes roaming the woman who could be my age or, fuck, even older; the life she lives keeps you guessing. Her mousy brown hair is unkept, hanging in greasy strands around her face. Standing in only boxers and a bra, that’s seen better days. Both her hands hold each side of the handle of the gun, trying to keep it still.
I smile at her, not having the time for someone else to fuck up my plans. Spinning on my booted foot, shooting her in the thigh. She stands there for a minute, shock written on her face like she doesn’t believe I just shot her. When she fires at me, missing completely, hitting the window. I close the gap between us faster than she can blink, grabbing her gun, wrestling with my free hand as my other hand stays locked on my gun, to get her to let go. Finally overtaking it, I toss it down the dark hallway. Her hand reaches out, grabbing me by the throat, but I swing back, hitting her in the face with my gun. Hearing her tooth break from the impact of the metal. Her hold on me makes me lose my footing, and we fall in a heap, me on top of her. We struggle for the upper hand when hers wraps around my gun, forcing the barrel up, toward my chin. When the gun goes off, barely missing me. My heart stops for a split second.On reflex, I duck my head, and her fist makes contact with my nose. “Motherfucker!” I pant out. Wanting to grab it, but I stay wrestling the gun away from her.
“You should never have come here.” I freeze when his voice is behind me, not having time to react, I’m pulled off her by my now loose hair. My hand lets go of the gun, reaching up to unclasp his hold on my hair. My legs kicking as he drags me. His hold isn’t tight from his own wounds. She crawls in his drag path, scratching my skin, clawing it. Wanting to hurt any part of me she can.
“Let me the fuck go!” I scream, forgoing trying to pry his hands open, but raking my nails down his skin as he crawls across the floor with me in tow.
“You should've just killed me, Rowan.”
I don’t expect his abrupt withdrawal from my hair, as the back of my head hits the carpeted floor, thankful for the cushion. I’ve lost all lessons in fighting as I kick and swing, just trying to hit them, when David yells at the woman to back up as he puts my gun to my temple, cocking it.
“All hell will rain upon you, just know that.” I spit blood on his face, watching it coat his cheek, rolling down, leaving a crimson trail.
We all freeze when the front door is kicked open. I close my eyes, knowing this is it.
They bellow, "Get on the fucking ground!" And my heart stops because I know that voice.
Eyes popping open, Damian stands gun aimed at David, when another man enters behind him. And on instinct, I cry out, trying to crawl away. The man from the store stands in David’s house, knife in hand, his face pure rage.
“Damian,” I choke out.
“Stand up, Rowan.” Damian motions to me with his gun.
On shaking knees, I do, saddling up to him. He looks at me and anger radiates off his glare. I put my focus on the man behind us when he finally speaks.
“Get her out into the car. Call fucking Luca and let him know she’s safe.”
My mouth falls open when Luca’s name is mentioned by him. And then I’m immediately pissed. “I’m not going anywhere until I’m done with him.” I turn to look at David, whose now fear crossed.
Damian bumps into me. “You heard her,” glancing at me, “finish him, then.”
The woman now covers her face, hoping they'll spare her if she doesn't see them, and screams when they speak those words, shaking. But the thing she doesn’t know is that I’m not letting her walk out of here either way. She tried to protect him.
Walking to the table, I pick up the syringe. Placing myself right in front of him, looking down on him like the piece of shit he is. I drop it at his feet. “One last vein chase.”
He shakes his head. “NOW!” My voice isn’t mine; she’s full of rage.
