Page 75 of Hunted Vengeance

So I squeeze the trigger just like Grayson told me to do. And I watch as my father’s expression changes from smug to shock, then nothingness as he falls to the floor. I don’t know what happens after that.

Chaos.

But my mind is, for the first time in my entire life—calm.

Chapter Thirty-Four

MERRICK

Holy.Fucking. Shit.

And I mean that with everything inside of me. Holy. Fucking. Shit. The moment Colette pulls the trigger, everything goes wild. Ravet turns to me and pushes me backward, but since he’s weak as fuck right now, I only stumble a few steps before I right myself.

I pull my gun out of my holster and press the barrel against Ravet’s forehead. Looking down at him, I think about letting him live and maybe just ruining his life. But then I remember what he’s capable of.

All he’s capable of.

And fuck that.

Absolutelyfuckthat.

Leaning forward, I look into his eyes, and I pull the trigger. I don’t close my eyes when blood, brains, and hair explode in my face and everywhere else. I hear screaming in the background, but I ignore it.

Turning toward Marcello, I jerk my chin down to the politician. He lifts his hands, his palms facing me.

“Please,” he cries. “Please.”

I watch as tears stream down his cheeks, and for a moment, I feel sorry for him for just a second, but then I remember exactly who he is. If this man survives, he will, without a doubt, come after us. It doesn’t matter that he bought and paid for a chance to fuck my woman. I’ve got no proof of it, though. So good fucking luck getting anyone to believe me.

“Marcello,” I rasp.

Without me having to say another word, Marcello takes out his gun and shoots the secretary of state in the temple. I watch as the blood sprays everywhere from him, brains and hair too. Slowly, I lift my gaze to meet his.

“You’re the man in charge now,” I say. Marcello tilts his head to the side, tipping his chin slightly as he looks into my eyes. My lips twitch as I watch him for a moment. “Thank you for everything, and I hope I don’t offend you by saying I never want to see you again.”

Marcello’s lips curve up into a grin as he lets out a bark of laughter. “Agreed,” he says with a chuckle.

I watch him as his gaze flicks over to Colette. I haven’t even looked at her yet. She could have been the one screaming, for all I know. I can’t look at her right now, not in this room, in this house, not until I know that she is safe.

“You’ll take care of her?” he asks.

“Not that it’s your fucking business,” I say before I continue, “but yes. Colette is mine. What about that Marina woman?” I ask.

“She will be taken care of,” Marcello murmurs.

My lips twitch into a smirk. I should not be happy about the fact that Marcello is going to take care of anyone, but I know that woman is a cold-hearted fucking bitch, and I’m pretty sure nobody is going to miss her.

Marcello dips his chin, his gaze flicking over my shoulder, no doubt to look at Colette standing there. Whatever he sees in her, he must be fine with because he focuses his attention back on me before he clears his throat.

“We are good, Merrick.”

I don’t walk away immediately. Grayson makes his way to my side, and we look down at the pile of flesh and bones on the floor. This is the man who ruined our childhoods, our teenage years, and ultimately our lives.

The only reason we are not all stuck in the constant state of anger is that most of us have been able to tamp that down. And now look, two of us are in relationships. Theron married, me divorced and ready to be married again. We can all rest easy now that Ravet is dead.

Our vengeance has been taken.

A palm’s warmth is placed at the middle of my back, tearing my attention from the pile of shit on the floor. I lift my head, and my eyes slide to the side, to Grayson beside me. I don’t face him. This isn’t a moment when we need to even look at one another.

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