Page 23 of Love Me in the Dark
I give up and set my laptop down before going to my SUV. I’ll do the same routine of parking and walking, but I don’t know much about his property. I am more nervous about this one because killing a mafia boss could lead to my actually getting killed. I am so meticulous about everything that I do, so I don’t think I will run into issues. He lives alone, and I am disguised the entire time. What could go wrong?
I park and grab the duffle bag. I decided to take a change of clothes with me this time so I can walk back cleaner. Last week, I was covered in so much blood that it was dripping off of me. Luckily, he lived out in the middle of nowhere, so I didn’t even get close to being spotted. I think the best part of all of this is that the murders never make it to the news. No one gives a shit that these men die.
When I get to the front gate, I find that it is open. I don’t want to walk down the main drive, so I go off to the left of the road and walk up to the house that way. There aren’t many lights on, but I can see someone sitting on the couch when I peep in the front. Before I can get myself spotted, I go around to the side and find somewhere to get in. I don’t want to chance a door creaking, so Ifind a window that is open in one of the bedrooms. I put the bag in first before quietly gaining entry.
As I quietly walk through the house with my gun in hand, I can’t help but admire the house. It is stunning with bright white tile flooring and neutral colors to make the space seem bigger. When I get to the end of the hallway, I see a man sitting on the couch watching TV. He is alone, and even from this angle he is stunning. It’s going to be fun making him scream. I was counting on the coffee table being of use, and I think it will do perfectly.
I take a second to admire his build before pressing the gun to the back of his head. “It took you so long to get to me, I thought you had changed your mind,” he says without turning.
Fuck. I don’t like that. I don’t show that it bothers me though. “Stand up,” I say simply. He obeys, and I instantly regret my decision when he stands and faces me. Knox Butler is gorgeous and tall. He stands at around six foot four at least. He is absolutely ripped and could easily break my ass in half. I am thick, yes, but I am also short as fuck. He could throw me without even breaking a sweat.
“You are far more intimidating than you look. I’ll give you that,” he says with a devilish smirk. I can tell he doesn’t smile for fun. That isnota look of joy.
“You talk a lot of shit for a dead man,” I say. “Are you going to try and fight like the last one?”
“That depends,” he says. “Are you confident you can get the job done?”
“Job?” I ask. “All of you are the same… Thinking you are more important than you are.”
“Who sent you?” he asks. “I might not actually kill you if you tell me.”
“Right,” I laugh. “Is that what you think this is? A hit?”
“Is it not?” he asks. He starts to take a step towards me, so I fire a round into the chair beside him. He doesn’t even flinch, but he stops moving.
“Ten years,” I say. “Ten years you have been free while she’s been dead. Do you ever think of her, Knox? Do you ever wonder what things could be like?”
“Ah. Little birdy has come out to play,” he says. “You’re here because of Macey.”
“Good job, dumbass. Undress,” I say.
“I’m going to have to pass on that,” he says. “Tell me, Birdy. How much do you trust the information you were given?”
“Enough to know you deserve every second of what I am going to do to you,” I say. “Undress.”
“Or what?” he asks. “Are you going to shoot me, Birdy?”
“Stop calling me that,” I say through gritted teeth.
“I’m going to have so much fun with you,” he says as a grin spreads across his face. Suddenly, arms wrap around me, and the gun is yanked away. I don’t fight because I knew the moment he acknowledged knowing I was here that I was fucked. He can’t do anything that hasn’t already been done to me. If today is the day I die, so be it. “Meet my brothers, Birdy. Were they targets too?”
“They are now,” I growl.
“Tie her arms and lay her on the ottoman,” Knox says.
My bag is tossed on the couch as another man goes over to open it. He looks a lot like Knox, but he doesn’t look grumpy. “If you’re going to kill me, there is no need to draw it out,” I say flatly as the man behind me ties my arms behind my back with rope.
“Aww. But we want to play with our new toy,” the man behind me says as the second man comes over.
“Who are you?” I ask.
“Tripp,” he says with a smile. “He’s Rook.”
“Great. Can we get to the point here!” I ask.
“Scared, Birdy?” Knox asks as he steps in front of me. He is close enough so that when I bring my knee up and connect with his groin, he groans and stumbles back.
“Stop calling me that,” I snap.
