Page 118 of His Juliet

ROMEO

I stoodoutside the midtown apartment building. The streetlights cast a glow as a flurry of snowflakes swirled in the air.

A beautiful, quiet night.

But it wouldn’t stay that way for long, at least not for Chase Miller.

It had taken too long to track him down. I’d enlisted Sienna to help me, bribing her with the new handbag she’d been eyeing. Although, as soon as I’d told her who we were looking for, she’d agreed to help. No bribery needed.

Juliet’s rapist was going to die tonight, screaming.

I smiled as my inner monster rose to the surface, eager and bloodthirsty.

The lobby door opened, and I stepped forward to hold it for the woman exiting with her dog.

“Thanks,” she said with a smile, which I returned before slipping inside the building.

I took the stairs to the fourth floor. My nostrils flared as I stood outside apartment forty-seven. Years ago, Juliet had stood in this same place with all her trust and sweetness.

This man had betrayed it.

I picked the lock and stepped inside, holding the handle of my small backpack.

Chase sat on the couch in full view of the door. He jumped up and let out an indignant shout, but I covered the distance between us in a few steps and grabbed him by the throat.

His arms flailed, trying unsuccessfully to pry off my fingers.

I cocked my head, dispassionately watching his face turn bright red.

With one swift movement, I thrust him against the wall. His head snapped back and he let out a strangled groan. Hopefully, the hit was hard enough to cause a concussion, but I punched him in the stomach for good measure. He wheezed and choked.

I scanned the pathetic man before me. Stringy brown hair fell in his watery eyes and drool dripped onto his pubic hair beard. His mouth gaped as he attempted to speak. I loosened my grip on him just enough to hear his croaked words.

“Who are you?”

A slow smile spread across my face. “I’m the last face you’ll see before you die.”

Before he could respond, I grabbed his arm and pulled until I dislocated his shoulder. He dropped to the floor like a sack of flour. I curled my lip as he writhed and moaned.

“To answer your question, I’m here for Juliet.”

He gasped, eyes wide. “Who?”

I raised an eyebrow and let the silence hang between us.

His pleading grew more desperate. “Look, man, I don’t know who you’re talking about. You’ve got the wrong person.”

I kicked him in the balls. His scream cut off as he vomited from the pain.

I stepped back to ensure none of it got on my shoes.

“Juliet,” I repeated. “Early twenties. Brown hair with pink highlights. You brought her home two years ago.”

The flash of recognition in his eyes was the only confirmation I needed. I lifted him off the ground by his hair. He scrambled to get his knees under him as tears and snot ran down his face. I forced his head back until it was bent painfully. “You raped her.” My voice was cold as I submerged myself in the darkness. “You drugged and raped my girl. I’m going to enjoy making you suffer.”

“I’m sorry! She said she was single, I swear! I didn’t know she was yours.”

I snarled, holding myself back from wrenching his neck back hard enough to snap it. That would be too easy a death for him.

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