Page 74 of The Cleaner

“Well, you don’t have to wonder for much longer,” I say, unable to listen to her any longer. She’s not changed at all. Still the conniving bitch she was eight years ago. I ignore Maverick urging me to leave. The fear in his voice hurts my heart, but I’m not leaving.

"Lisa," Tanya sneers. "How nice of you to join us. We were just talking about you."

"I heard," I drawl coldly. “But don’t worry, bitch, I won’t be staying long.” I step forward, cocking my fist back and letting fly. One thing Ciarán taught me was how to fight hard and dirty. My fist connects with Tanya's jaw before she can react, sending her staggering backward.

She recovers quickly, her eyes flashing with rage. “Oh, sweetie, do you really think you can take me on? You couldn't even kill yourself properly."

Her words sting, but I push the pain aside. I'm not that broken girl anymore. "I'm not here to talk, Tanya. I'm here for Maverick."

I risk a glance at him. He's tied to a chair, blood trickling from a cut on his head. His eyes meet mine, filled with a mixture of relief and fear. "Lisa, get out of here," he pleads.

"Not without you," I reply firmly. I’m not leaving him. I won’t do it.

Tanya laughs, and the sound grates on my nerves. "How touching. But I'm afraid neither of you will be leaving here alive."

I lunge at the whore, my hand wrapping around her neck. My fingers dig into Tanya's throat as we crash to the ground. She claws at my face, drawing blood, but I don't let go. Years of pent-up rage fuel my strength as I slam her head against the hardwood floor. I hit her over and over again. She’s panting hard as she tries to fight me off, but she’s not a match for me. I’ve worked on being strong. I’ve learned how to fight and overpower even the strongest of people.

“Baby,” I hear Maverick say, and I let his voice wash over me. He’s alive and he’s safe. But this isn’t over. I’m not going to let this bitch get away with this. “Lisa,” he whispers. He’s right beside me, his lips pressing against my forehead.

I spot the rope he escaped from and smile, the perfect plan forming. This cunt wanted me to kill myself by hanging; well, two can play that game. Only this time, no one will be around to save her from the noose tightening and taking every last breath from her.

I look up at Maverick, his eyes filled with love and worry as he watches me. "Give me that rope," I instruct, my voice cold and determined.

He hesitates for a moment, then nods. He moves quickly, bringing me the heavy rope. She's dazed from the beating, but still conscious, yelling at me, calling me crazy. I ignore her and focus on what I do best. I tie a noose with the rope and slide it around her neck. She stills, her eyes wide as she watches me, and I can’t help but smile.

"What are you going to do?" Maverick asks softly.

I stand up, my eyes never leaving Tanya. "I'm going to finish what she started years ago." I drag the bitch to the doorframe, just as she wanted me to die over eight years ago. She’s a hell of a lot lighter than my other victims and getting her into position is easy. I’ve done this a hundred times over. By this stage, it’s just going through the motions. Maverick’s silent as he watches me. I don’t look at him. I don’t want to see the horror in his eyes at what I’m doing.

Once she’s in position, I let the cunt hang. She gargles as the noose tightens around her throat, her eyes wide as she tries to claw at the rope. I watch as Tanya's face turns red, then purple, her legs kicking uselessly in the air. Her eyes bulge, filled with terror and hatred. For a moment, I'm transported back to that dark day when I was in her position, fighting for my life. But this time, I'm in control.

"Lisa." Maverick's voice breaks through my trance. His hand slides along my shoulder and he pulls me against him. "It's done, baby. She's gone."

I blink, realising that Tanya has stopped moving. Her body hangs limp, swaying slightly. I feel... nothing. No satisfaction, no relief; just a hollow emptiness.

Maverick turns me away from the sight, pulling me into his arms. I bury my face in his chest, inhaling his scent, feeling the steady beat of his heart. He's alive. He's safe. That's all that matters.

I hear the crash of the front door being thrown open. “Fuck, did we miss it all?” I hear Ciarán ask with laughter in his voice.

“Shit, the Hanging Reaper’s got to her,” I hear a low voice say. “But damn, what a way to go. She looks like she was viciously attacked. But where are they?”

Maverick’s body tenses against mine. “Fuck,” he growls. “It’s you? You’re the Hanging Reaper?” he asks.

I swallow hard. I knew this day would come. Shit.

Chapter

Thirty-One

MAVERICK

I hold her close,needing to have her in my arms. Christ, seeing her walk into the room, knowing that crazy bitch would hurt her and there was nothing I could do, was truly frightening. Fuck.

“Fuck, did we miss it all"?” Cowboy laughs, and I glare at the prick. What the fuck is he doing here?

“Shit, the Hanging Reaper’s got to her,” Emmanuel comments. “But damn, what a way to go. She looks like she was viciously attacked. But where are they?”

Eman’s words hit me like a fucking freight train. Holy fuck. “Fuck,” I growl. “It’s you? You’re the Hanging Reaper?”

---