Page 104 of Diamond Kisses

Oh for fuck’s sake.

I’d never despised someone as much as I did this creep.

He gave me a visceral reaction. A despicable crawling deep in my bones.

But…I also had to respect him.

I’d never met anyone as smart as him. As sly as him. As un-fucking-killableas him.

Ben and Stewart hissed at each other, their hands waving with plans.

I didn’t listen.

I didn’t try to strategize.

I would never be able to win against Victor’s games or manipulation.

I’d tried.

I’d failed.

And so…I’ll play this my way.

Without thinking, I charged the door, kicked it open, and fired.

Bullets pummelled plump purple cushions, shredded liquor bottles on a shelf, and shattered the stone walls beyond. Torn pages flew, curtains shivered, and destruction detonated in a sweeping arc as I mowed the room with bullets.

Four men pounced on me, two from each side.

One wrenched the gun out of my stupidly feeble hands, one kicked my legs out from under me, and two pressed Glocks to my temples as I crunched to my knees.

I breathed hard as I blinked at the dust and carnage I’d caused.

I studied the floor for red puddles.

I narrowed my eyes at the swirly silver and blue carpet, desperate to see Victor’s corpse.

Only…nothing.

I’d shot up the room and for what?

Fuck!

A sinister chuckle sounded to my right, sending chills down my flayed back. Victor limped from around the corner. Just a small alcove. A tiny bolthole designed to protect the person in the room from anyone entering like I had.

Leaning heavily on a walking stick that looked as if someone had smashed a table apart and given him one of the legs, his face flushed whiter than usual, his burgundy suit a rusty crimson down the front.

It gave me vicious, violent pleasure to see him hurt.

He’ll be easier to kill.

But then again…so was I.

Out of the two of us, he might be walking toward his grave, but I already stood in mine.

Stopping in front of me, Victor breathed hard and leaned on his stick. “I’d hoped I would see you again before I had to leave.” Checking his diamond-encrusted Rolex, he pursed his lips. “You and your little war effort certainly picked an inconvenient night for an uprising. My plane was undergoing planned maintenance but no matter. It’s almost done. We were just heading out actually.” He grinned. “I might bring you with me. I’ll need someone to keep me entertained while I exterminate everyone on this island and start anew.”

Doing my best to hide just how weak I was, I sneered, “Going to bomb the entire place, huh?”

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