Page 102 of Redd

“What did you tell your family? What did you say to your wife about where she was?”

Shrugging his shoulders, he spoke low, filled with nothing but guilt. “I told her that she ran away. I couldn't bring myself to tell her the truth. I'm fucking pathetic.”

“You're not pathetic, you're just misguided and afraid. You did what you thought you had to, and you tried to save your wife from the pain of something far worse.”

Pierre nodded, sitting silent. Staring aimlessly at the ground, he took in deep breaths. “The question I keep asking myself now is. . . What's next? Where does it go from here?”

“I can tell you that.” Pushing up onto my feet, my arms hung at my sides. “We get the fuck out of here and kill that motherfucker.”

Stalking to the door, I lifted my foot up and kicked it as hard as I could. With a loud grunt, I kicked it again and again. No door was going to come between me and revenge. I was going to kill Diablo, and anyone else who got in my way.

This ended here, it ended now. I was done waiting for him to make a move.

“Hey! Calm the fuck down in there!” Val yelled through the door, his voice annoyed and irritated. “Or I'll come in there and make you!”

“Fuck you!” I barked back, kicking the door again.

I didn't stop. Grunts and loud growls spilled from the back of my throat as I used all the muscles in my body to drive my foot like an ax through the wood. The door would rattle and creak, each time a little louder.

It couldn't stay whole forever, it wasn't made of metal. I wasn't being held in a cell with steel bars. This was just a room in a house.

Bang! I kicked. Bang! I slammed my heel in the center. Bang, bang, bang! Over and over, I brutalized the door.

Crack!

The center split, creating long veins through the wood grain. So I hit again right in the soft spot, cracking it more, allowing light from outside to spill in.

“You fucking prick!” Val yelled. “I said to stop! Do you want me to come in there and put a bullet between your eyes?”

“Go on and do it! Come in and stop me, Asshole!”

Keys jingled from the outside, so I stepped to the side behind the door. The handle began to turn, and the hinges started to swing open. I watched his shadow as it grew over the paneling, patiently waiting for the perfect moment.

Now!

Snatching the handle, I threw the door inward and hit Val in the face. “Ah! Fuck!” Cupping his nose, he mumbled more words into his hands as he wobbled unsteadily on his feet.

Charging forward, I slammed my body into his. And this time, I wasn't going to let him walk out. Catching him in a daze, I sent him toppling over, landing on his back with a heavy thud.

Lashing out with his hand, he clocked me in the face. But I was too fucking pissed to feel it. Dropping my elbow into his throat, I heard him cough and gag, unable to speak.

Balling my fists, I let punch after punch fly into the soft flesh of his face until he stopped moving and his bones were mangled into small broken shards.

“Fuck you.” Clearing my throat, I spit on his chest. “I should have killed you that night too.”

Standing up, I checked his pockets and found his gun tucked in the back of his belt, and a flip blade stashed in his boot

The first time I was in that house, I was all about being quiet and getting in and out without being noticed. This time, I didn't give a shit. I wanted Diablo to hear me, I wanted him to know that I was coming for him.

Clicking back the hammer, I pulled the trigger, putting a bullet between Val's eyes. He was a part of this, it didn't matter how big or small his role was. He knew Bijou was being held here against her will, and he was willing to help Diablo keep her. That was all I needed to not have one ounce of mercy for that man.

Glancing over my shoulder, I snapped, “You coming or what?”

Pierre stood in shock, his feet and arms locked in place. “I. . . I. . .”

“Let's go!” Snapping my head for him to follow me, he finally registered his own presence and quickly ran up beside me. “I don't know how many people are here. Keep your eyes open and be on your toes. We can't risk missing one of them.” Passing him the knife, I let my eyes connect with his. “It's time to make this right, Pierre.”

“What are you going to do?” he asked, panting as he breathed heavily to keep up with me.

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