“Nyet.” I rub my jaw. “Do you think you can actually drown someone in a toilet?”
“What, like theoretically? Or are we talking practically?”
“Practically. How would someone actually do that?”
He considers it and rubs his jaw with his tattooed hand. “You would need to keep their head submerged. Continuous water supply. Force their face down into the bowl, boot on the back of their neck for leverage. Flush repeatedly. Water keeps rising, nowhere to drain while their head is blocking it.” He pauses, then a disturbing smile spreads across his face. “Fuck. That is diabolical. Technically, yeah. Could definitely work.”
“How long would it take?”
“Few minutes, depending on lung capacity and how much they fight. But it would work.” He looks over at me, curious now. “Why the toilet specifically? Bathtub would be easier. More water capacity.”
“It has to be the toilet.”
“Interesting choice.” He studies me for a moment. “Very specific.”
I reach for the door handle.
“You are really committed to this method.” He tilts his head. “Not your usual style.”
“Does it matter?”
“Not really.” He folds his arms. “Can I watch?”
“Why?”
“I want to see if the method actually works as well as I think it will. Professional curiosity.”
I shrug and push the car door open.
Brent Cole Lawson shoved Kelly’s head in a toilet and called him a faggot in high school, laughed about it, made other people laugh, thought it was funny. I’m returning the favor. Hold him under until he drowns, let him choke on the same filth. Karma has a sense of humor too.
Calder walks beside me toward the house. “How are we getting in? Front door? Window?”
“Front door. I don’t care about being subtle.”
“Even better.” He pulls out his knife, testing the weight. “I will clear the house while you grab the target. Make sure no one interrupts.”
I will kill a man for looking at him wrong, but I won’t tell my own family he exists. What kind of sense does that make?
None. But here I am anyway.
Kelly pretends it’s fine. Says he understands why I keep him hidden. But he shouldn’t have to pretend anything. Shouldn’t have to be my secret while I tear apart anyone who hurts him. I’m doing this for him whether he wants me to or not.
He doesn’t have to know. Doesn’t even have to say thank you. All he has to do is keep existing and keep letting me near him.
I will handle everything else. It’s the only thing I know how to give him.
Chapter 15
Kelly
My hands shake while I go through the stack of fines. They actually filed a ticket for biking without a light even though I did have one. It broke when he slammed his squad car into my bike. I’m drowning in debt now because of him and his partner.
Now David’s contacted some judge about all the parking tickets he used to keep sticking on my car. Got so bad I sold the car just to make it stop. That was four months ago, and now he wants a judge to come after me for the unpaid dues? I’m not giving him that satisfaction.
I let out a deep sigh and rest my face in my hand. I don’t even know what to do at this point. I don’t think he’ll stop until I’m completely destroyed or dead.
There’s no way I’m taking this to Alexei. He could help somehow, but I’m too ashamed to explain what really happened. How I was stupid enough to let David treat me like that for so long. How I kept making excuses for him.
