Page 95 of Keepsake

His black hair was combed off his face, a smirk tugging his thin lips and those eyes.

Lachlan's eyes.

David Murphy was just at the door, leaning against the wall, watching everything like he didn’t fear for his life. I stopped, my hand gripping on the handle of my duffle so forcefully I could feel the cuts bleeding all over again.

He should have been scared.

I tried everything to make this pain go away, and nothing helped. Killing him might.

It was the only thing that made sense. Killing him the way he killed my sister. Destroying every bit that made him human, like he did to her for years. Dragging him somewhere and taking my time as I slashed his skin slowly until he begged for mercy.

That possibility felt so good, so vivid in my brain it was enough to spread a demented smile over my lips. And right when he should have bolted from the sheer image of me, he smiled.

My blood boiled, my vision darkened, and before I could think much about it, I was moving people away and going after him. He moved quickly for someone who didn’t seem so scared. He turned on his heels and left at once.

I pushed someone to the side, barely sparing them a glance as I stepped over and reached for the door. I could only see David.

I needed revenge to survive my next breath, the satisfaction of ending him. For the first time, I knew what I had to do.

It was so clear… so fucking clear.

He had no claim to the kids. He was no one. I knew his parents weren’t close because they weren’t involved with the kids at all.

No one was going to miss the fucker.

Actually, this was a public service. Life would be better without him, I was sure.

Cold wind bit my skin. I couldn’t give a fuck. I turned from left to right, trying to guess where he went. The parking lot in front of the gym was full. He could be anywhere, but I chose left toward the alleyway.

When I turned, he was there. With a cigarette hanging from his lips, he looked me up and down with a smile.

“What are you going to do, El Toro?” He snickered. “Kill me?”

“Sounds like a great idea.” My bag dropped to the ground, and I stepped toward him.

He took a drag, the smoke coming out of his nose slowly.

“Think about the kids,” he mocked.

I chuckled, shaking my head. “You don’t have parental rights.” I gladly informed him. “What did you have planned with that visit? Extort money from us?”

David whistled. “Not from you. You have nothing.”

“Logan is their legal guardian,” I said again, coming even closer. “You are nothing. And you won’t be missed.”

I was ready to pounce, have his neck in my hands and bash his skull into the brick when he moved his coat to the side, showing off the gun.

“I chose wrong.” He continued smoking. “Logan is loaded, but she was so annoying at school. Too frigid. Sofia was softer.”

I growled under my breath and did not think twice when I advanced. He was quick too, taking the gun into his hand and pointing at my chest.

“You’re going back there and getting my money.”

I laughed.

“I just want something for my emotional distress. Logan has it. Go back there and get my money and she’ll never hear from me again.”

“Or what?” I shrugged. Refusing to give in. Even if he was the one holding the gun.

---