I wait to make sure she’s locked inside before I round the corner. I don’t want her trying to run, though I should know better. This sort of evil doesn’t know fear.
“Well, if it isn’t the Jolly Green Giant,” she sneers while dropping a tote bag on the sofa. “Didn’t anyone ever tell you steroids shrink your dick?”
“Better than all that Botox eating away at my brain.” My jab strikes a nerve. At least, I think it does. It’s hard to tell when her face is so immobile from botulism.
“What the fuck are you doing in my house? That bitch send you? She thinks she can ignore my texts, but it’s not like I can’t find her.”
Easy, D. You’re not here to kill the woman.
I force my body to relax, which isn’t easy. She’s got me pissed right the fuck off.
“Terina isn’t getting your texts because your number is blocked.”
She scoffs. “Little chickenshit can’t run from reality.”
“And what reality is that? You getting your son hooked on drugs and gambling? Sounds like a you problem,” I point out evenly.
“He graduated with honors because of me,” she spits angrily. “Besides, it never would have been a problem if it wasn’t for you people.” She jabs a bony finger in my direction.
My head tilts a fraction. “I know you don’t believe that.”
“I know he would have run if it wasn’t for her. Got his passport and everything. He wouldn’t ever get on a plane because ofher.”
So that’s it. “You torture her with blame because in the end, he chose her.”
The way she glares at me tells me everything I need to know. I shake my head slowly and start for the door.
She lifts her chin haughtily as I walk past. “He wasmyson. He wouldn’t have been alive if it wasn’t for me. I laid down my life for him, and he was so sickeningly infatuated, he threw it all away for someone who was utterly worthless. I could see it coming, too. Unlike her, I’m smart enough to read between the lines. I even took out a life insurance policy on him because I knew he’d end up dead because of that whore. If she’s tortured with guilt, then good. She deserves it.”
And there it is.
My breaking point.
Not only has she inflicted horrific pain on innocent lives but she has also profited from it with zero conscience. This sorry excuse for a human does not deserve to take up space in this world.
Fuck the consequences.
My hands shoot out lightning fast and pull her back against my front. With my left arm across her front to hold her in place, I use my right hand to whip her head around and snap the fragile bones in her neck.
Kristi Kirkland is mid-shriek when her body goes slack.
Killing someone has never been so easy or guilt-free. Becausefuck her.
She’s lucky I didn’t draw it out. She’s not worthy of the time it would take. I don’t even do her the dignity of setting her down gently. Her bony body collapses to the floor, hitting the coffee table on her way down. Good.
I get out my phone and dial Grisha.
“You know I hate phones,” he says in greeting.
“Yeah, but you answered.” I fight back a smirk.
“What do you want?”
Now I’m full-on grinning. “I wanted to know if your boat is going out in the morning.”
“It goes out most mornings,” he says noncommittally. “You looking to fish?”
“I have a donation if you’re looking for chum.”
