Page 69 of Hunted Vengeance

My lips curve up into a grin as I watch him from across the room. He tilts his head to the side, his gaze searching mine for a long, silent moment, then he dips his chin as if coming to some kind of agreement or decision with himself.

“You’re ready,” he murmurs. “Let’s get this shit done so we can start our lives.”

Start our lives.

I don’t think I’ve ever heard three words sound so sweet before in my entire life.

“I’m ready.”

Chapter Thirty-One

MERRICK

My phone dingswith a new text from Grayson when we’re about fifteen minutes into our drive toward the abandoned bar.

GRAYSON: No cameras that I can find. I’ll be waiting on the roof in case some shit goes down.

I don’t tell Marcello about Grayson waiting on the roof. I don’t trust him implicitly and probably never will. So I won’t be telling him where Grayson is, just in case he tries to fuck me over. Because I’ve had enough of that to last me a goddamn lifetime. Marcello is, after all, still one of Adriano’s men.

When he pulls up to the back of the bar, we stay in the car, waiting in silence. I can feel the uneasy vibes as they sweep through the cab. A few moments later, I realize why I feel those vibes, because a large black SUV comes wheeling around the corner and stops facing our car. They shine their headlights into the front of the vehicle, but I couldn’t give less of a fuck.

He won’t recognize me. It’s been far too long. And if he does, I hope he looks right into my fucking eyes and knows that I’m the one. It’s me who is going to fucking end him. I might not be the one who ultimately pulls the trigger, but I’m the one who is going to hand him over to his death.

It’s been a goddamn decade in the making, and I’m here for every fucking second of it. I’m disappointed that I have promised my vengeance to Adriano, but it was either that or risk losing him again, and not only do I want to ensure that he is taken out, but I need to keep Colette safe as well.

“Are you ready?” I mutter, careful not to make my words too obvious in case they can see me clearly.

“I’m ready,” Colette whispers.

“Stay here. Merrick and I will go out together and motion for you to come when it’s time,” Marcello says.

As much as I fucking hate that Marcello is part of this and giving orders, I don’t say anything. I’m so close to this whole thing being done, to being able to breathe freely again. I can’t remember the last time I felt at peace. I don’t think I ever have, actually.

I’m not sure how I’m going to feel without having the thought, the idea, of Ravet hanging over my head. I don’t think I’ve ever lived a life without him consuming at least some part of my mind.

Marcello and I open our doors and unfold from the car. Before I walk away, I reach for the keys and turn the vehicle off. Looking behind me, I smile at Colette. “We just gotta get through this, baby,” I rasp.

She smiles, giving me a small nod, but doesn’t say anything else. She doesn’t need to. Straightening, I close the door, then take a step forward, locking the car behind me. I’m not going to let anyone fuck with what’s mine, and Colette is mine.

The back doors to the SUV open, and I watch as he unfolds. My spine straightens at the sight of Ravet. It may have been ten years since I’ve laid eyes on him, but I understand exactly why Theron froze.

He’s not any less intimidating today than he was back then. It feels like I’ve been catapulted back to fifteen years old. Pressing my lips together, I roll them a few times as I wait for him to say something.

I can’t speak first, mainly because the words are not coming. They’re lodged somewhere deep in my chest, and as much as I want to scream at this fucker and lunge toward him, I do nothing but stand in silence, my jaw clenched as I stare.

“Where is she?” Ravet demands.

“In the car,” Marcello mutters.

Finding my voice, I clear my throat before I speak. “Have you canceled the hit?” I ask.

His gaze flicks over to me, his eyes sliding down my body, then back up to meet my own. It makes me feel the same way I did years ago—disgusting. I watch as he tilts his head to the side, his eyes staying focused on mine, then he chuckles.

“You have changed, Merrick,” he states. “I don’t know why you thought you could take what was rightfully mine, bought and paid for. You know better than that. I always win.”

I hate him. I hate every fucking thing about him. “Have you canceled the contracts?” I ask.

When he laughs, the sound slides down my spine. “Where is my bride?” he asks.

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