I remember the neon sign flickering when I walked up, Chen, Duck, and Hu followed close behind.
The door to Pedro’s hotel room wasn’t locked.
Cocky bastard didn’t think anyone would dare come after him.
And I didn’t hesitate. I kicked the door open with a force that rattled the walls and there he was—Pedro, half-naked and grinning like the scum he was, surrounded by cheap liquor and cheaper women.
Yet, the moment our eyes met I saw the fear rip through his bravado.
He knew.
I didn’t give him time to react. I stormed in, grabbing one of the women by the arm and flinging her to Duck. He carried her away.
The other woman tried to scream, but Hu was on her before she could make a sound, taking her out the door with cold efficiency.
Pedro started to get up, but I was on him before he could even think about defending himself.
I slammed him back down onto the bed. Next, my fist connected to his jaw with a sickening crunch.
Blood sprayed from his mouth, painting the dingy brown sheets red.
And I didn’t stop.
I couldn’t.
I hit him again and again, each punch driven by the anger that had been building for years.
The betrayal.
The disrespect.
The way he treated Chanel like she was nothing.
His face was a mess of blood and broken bones, his eyes were wide with terror, but I didn’t stop.
“Get up, you fucking coward,” I snarled, grabbing him by the throat and dragging him off the bed.
Pedro tried to speak, to beg, but I didn’t care.
I threw him to the ground and my boot connected with his ribs with a force that made him wheeze.
Blood bubbled up from his mouth.
Pedro tried to crawl away and his hands slipped in the blood pooling on the floor, but there was no escape.
I kicked him again, feeling the satisfying crunch as his ribs gave way under the pressure.
He coughed, choking on his own blood.
“You think you can treat Chanel like this?” I hissed. “You think you can disrespect her and live?”
He tried to say something, but it came out as a gurgle.
Blood spilled from his lips.
I kicked him again, harder this time, aiming for his chest. I felt the bone give way, the sickening sound of his sternum caving in under the force of my boot.
And this twisted victorious sensation hummed through me.