Page 6 of End It All

"Good enough, you two can stop. Toss up the shovels." I fixed the brass knuckles on one hand and held out a blade with my other.

Time ticked slowly, none of us moving. The wait was half the fun, watching them war with themselves on if they'd have the balls to face me or give in to their fate.

"The money?—"

I shook my head, stopping twin A in his tracks. He talked the most, the only difference between the two being one had brown eyes when the other had green.

"You both know it's not about the money you stole but who you stole it from."

Westly or was his name Winsten?One or the other shook his head.

"We didn't know?—"

I hopped down into the pit and swung before either of them knew what was happening. The brass knuckles slammed into his jaw. His head whipped to the side before he stumbled back and fell to the ground. The shovel fell out of his grasp.

"A thief is all fine and dandy. We all do shit to survive; but what I won't tolerate is lies." I glared at the other brother. "Want to try and say you didn't know who you were stealing from?"

His fingers trembled around the shovel and he took a small step back. Dirt covered him from head to toe and one of his eyes was already puffy and black from our earlier encounter.

"We're sorry. We can give it all back."

I shook my head. "Should have thought about that before stealing from one of Denji Hayashi's sons. It’s no better than stealing from the crypt keeper. That old fart doesn’t let shit slide.”

Two months was all it took me to hunt the idiots down. If it wasn’t for the war that had just ended and my other jobs, I would have gotten to them sooner. They were stupid enough to stay in New York. Thank God. I was finally going to get paid. My baby sitting job was gone. Kei was sent back to Japan along with a few others. And without Harlow, there wasn't much use for me.

Anyone loyal to Harlow had mostly been shipped back to Japan, and because I had no desire to leave New York, I was in a state of limbo. Dealing with this little problem was my way ofshowing Mr. Hayashi that he could leave Harlow's old division to me. I was more than capable. Even if Kei, Harlow's younger brother, had tried to run it into the ground.

Twin A on the ground reached for his discarded shovel.

"Don't even try it. I was waiting to see what the fuck you two would do, but instead of teaming up and coming at me, you went for the pussy route." Sighing, I couldn’t help but be disgusted by them. I snatched the other shovel from the quivering man. His blond hair much like his brothers was mostly caked in mud.

The twin still standing dropped to his knees and went to grab for my pants. My slacks were already ruined, it was a brand-new pair at that. Still I had no desire for him to cling to me like I was some lifeline. I was his executioner and nothing more.

It was another day and the same shit. He'd plead for his life or trade for someone else's. It happened all the time. Before his dirt-covered hands could touch me, I kicked him away. My foot connected with the middle of his chest. He sprawled out on his back, quick to get back up and try again. They were like roaches.

“Please.”

“Please please please. Is that all you two got? You had a better chance asking to suck my dick before you meet your end.” Poor things would never know the pleasures of having my cock rammed down their throats, but hey, they could have offered.

Hopping out of the pit, I dusted the dirt off my clothes and hands the best I could. The two men looked pitiful in the hole. Hope slipping away from them. I'd seen it a million times and would probably see it a million more.

“Whatever you want, we can get it for you,” twin A said.

Twin B nodded like a good yes man. “Money, girls, drugs. Anything. Please, we’ll disappear. You’ll never see us again.”

“You could promise me all the male hookers in the state of New York and enough blow to plow my way through a few times,and I still wouldn’t agree.” I smiled down at them. “You made your grave, now lie in it.”

My phone vibrated in my pocket before I could say anymore. Harlow's name flashed on the screen. He'd been my best friend since we were kids. Once upon a time, we clawed our way out of hell together. Two lost children clung to each other out of desperation and survival, but it was never a recipe for more. I’d always assumed we’d stay together and one day become more, but that wasn’t in our plans and never would be. He was far happier with Benito Vitale now, and I was happy for my friend.

I pressed a finger to my lips before answering. "Talk and I’ll come back down there and show you what I can really do with a shovel.” I put the phone against my ear. “What's up?"

"Where… shit… insane." The line crackled, cutting off Harlow’s words. The reception out here was spotty at best. I got maybe three and some garbled up mess that couldn't be counted as any language.

"What?” More gargled words. “Har, I got a shit signal.” I had no idea if he heard me or not. It was more static through the line making it impossible to decipher what he needed.

"Come… now."

The twins inched closer to the walls of the pit. I shook my head with a smile stretching my lips.Don’t even think about it, I mouthed.

---