Desmond clenches his jaw, rage radiating in his pretty blue eyes. At least I used to think they were pretty. They’re a traitor’s eyes now. Disgusting.
“Desmond.” Gianni shakes his head, disappointingly. It’s all he needs to say. His hostility is palpable. That’s the sign of a true boss, when one word can strike fear in the people who are on your own side.
“It was all you,” I accuse. “You were the one who told Regina where to find Baz in Colorado. Where to find us at the safe house. You were the one who gave me up after Baz and I arrived. You told her when we were getting married. You helped her try and sabotage us. Baz was supposed to be your friend! How could you betray him like that? Betray your entire family?”
Desmond remains quiet. He knows he’s fucked.
“Kill him,” Gianni gives the order.
“No,” I stop him. I’m wearing brass balls today. “I’ve had enough of this. You’re going to deliver a message. I need a knife.”
I pull up a chair directly in front of Desmond as Gun retrieves a sharp paring knife from the kitchen. Bull remains in place with the barrel of a gun pressed firmly to Desmond’s head.
Gianni stands quietly beside me, arms crossed, morbidly engrossed in what I’m about to do.
I pick up the knife and lounge in the high back chair. My blood is a rushing river of lava right now. I press the point into my fingertip and twist it back and forth.
“You know, I once watched Benny skin a man alive. He started with his neck.” I show him on myself with the tip of the blade, pressing it lightly under the side of my jaw. “Did you know you can see your pulse beat beneath the skin? The muscles actually quiver with every thump.” The dread in Desmond’s eyes is actually gratifying. “Hold his head still and tilt it up.” I flick the knife. Gun, with his two huge paws, traps Desmond’s face. Desmond flails, and Bull whacks him in the stomach with his gun, causing him to double over.
“You brought it on yourself,” I seethe. “I’m tired of hiding.” I press the point of the knife into Desmond’s neck and pierce his skin. He shakes, inhaling terrified breaths as I move the tip through his epidermis in the shape of a G. “You are going to tell Regina this ends now. I’ve had enough.” I continue to carve slow curves across his neck. H-O. I deliberately slice his Adams apple as I draw the S. He whimpers like a little bitch. “You tell her I’m coming for her. And I’m not afraid to pull the trigger.” She’ll know exactly what I mean. I finish the T, admiring my handiwork once it’s complete, blood oozing from the letters hacked into his throat.Ghost.
“Jesus,” Gianni grunts. “I’m sort of pissed Benny found you first.”
I eye him deviously. “I’m yours now.”
His lips curl up in a cold, conspiratorial smile.
“Make him a pretty shade of black and blue, and then return to sender,” I direct Bull and Gun. They both smirk darkly. Desmond is in for the ass kicking of his life.
I rest the bloody knife on the table as Bull and Gun drag Desmond away. There’s a heaviness in my chest. Sorrow for Baz and Frederick and even Gianni. Desmond betrayed them all, and he’ll get what he deserves. If he lives beyond this evening, it will be a miracle. Regina will have him put down like a dog, no doubt. I wish I could see her face when Bull and Gun drop him on her front doorstep. Hopefully they’ll toss him out of the car while it’s still moving.
I bet she thought she was never going to see him again.Surprise!
“Stevie?” Gianni demands my attention. “When you saidI, you really meantwe. Correct?”
“Sure.” I cop to nothing.
Gianni raises a suspicious eyebrow at me.
I stare back at him expressionlessly. I’ll give nothing away.
As I climb the stairs, the steel wall guarding my defenses falls down, allowing what just happened to finally register. To affect me. Letting the devastation of what almost became my life seep in.
He could have killed everyone I love. My husband. My baby girl. My precious, innocent, helpless baby girl. The rage is uncontrollable. The fear and the what-ifs take over my mind. I nearly crumble to my knees once I reach the door to our room and hear Baz singing softly to Audie through the small crack. He loves her so much. I love them so much. So much it’s terrifying. The thought of losing either one of them is crippling.
I push open the door, and the sunlight shines directly in my face. Baz’s silhouette illuminates like a spirit as he paces in front of the large palladium window.
“Is he dead?” he asks about Desmond straightaway. “Did you kill him?”
“No.” I take Audie from his arms and hug her tightly. I can finally breathe. Nestling my face against hers, I explain. “I sent a message.”
“What kind of message?”
“That I’ve had enough.”
Baz regards me quietly. “And what does that mean exactly?”
I flick my eyes up. “It means I’m done hiding. Today was the last straw.”
