Page 67 of Run Little Killer
But it definitely does the trick, because you can practically see the weight lifting off Lennon's shoulders with those words. We believe her when no one else does, and I have a feeling that all she really wants is to be seen.
We talk awhile longer, the conversation slowly shiftingto thereason she chose to come back to Englewood with a bounty on her head. It’d be a real damn shame if Lennon came all this way, risking so much, and didn’t get what she wants. She’s mine–ours– and our girl gets whatever the fuck she wants. If it’s revenge she’s after, we’ll help her get it, no matter how many people we have to dismember and burn along the way.
28
LENNON
The moon hangs high in the sky, full and bright, casting everything in a pale silver glow. The crisp breeze rustles the leaves on the branches and beneath our feet as we stand beneath the cover of the trees across from Shawn and Natalie's house.
Such a beautiful night for revenge. Still, silent, and begging for violence.
It's almost ironic how idyllic their little neighborhood is. Green shutters hang beside each window, ceramic planters with orange and red mums line the covered porch. There's even a porch swing, for fucks sake, the perfect facade giving no hint as to the monsters that live inside.Or the ones about to enter.
Rhett and Nix stand on either side of me, black bandanas tied around their faces. They even offered me one, but I want Shawn and Natalie to see every last inch of my face when I strike. I want them to know why.
It felt so freeing to finally tell my story without the questions or having to constantly defend myself. Because I didn't provoke Shawn, I didn't ask for him to come onto meor drug me. And I don't know what's crazier, how easily they believed me, or how they'd already killed for me without knowing the full story.
"Ready, little killer?" Nix asks.
My skin tingles with feral excitement, nerve endings short-circuiting as unhinged adrenaline floods my system. "So damn ready."
"Thatta girl," he murmurs, pulling a knife from the sheath on his belt and flipping it around as he nods towards the house "Go tip the scales of justice. Send them to hell with that pretty smile on your face."
I look up at Nix, his eyes menacing and dark. Then I flick my gaze to Rhett, his blue eyes icy and calm. They’re two twisted reflections in the same fucked up mirror.
"Let's do this," I say with certainty, stepping out from the shadows.
"Lead the way, darlin'," Rhett says as he and Nix follow close behind.
I can just barely make out the glow of a TV through the semi-sheer curtains in the front window of the otherwise dark house. Rhett and Nix split, moving along the sides of the house with a practiced stealth that stirs a restless ache deep inside.
My feet carry me up the front sidewalk, pulse pounding in my ears with each step. I suck in a breath and raise my hand to the doorbell, chimes ringing out as I depress the button.
I swear to god I stop breathing, the whole world coming to a standstill as I wait for someone to answer. Seconds seem to stretch into hours before I hear the snick of lock and the door cracks open, all the color draining from Shawn's face as if he's staring down a ghost. But I'm not here to haunt him, I’m here to fuckingdestroyhim.
"What the fuck are you doing here?" he grumbles, darting a glance behind him.
"Is that any way to greet an old friend?" I admonish, a feral grin splitting my lips as I tilt my head in question.
"Howare you here, Lennon?" he asks, a tiny flicker of fear shining in his eyes as he looks past me, trying to figure out where I came from.
He won’t find anything. We parked behind an abandoned house a few blocks away, careful not to draw any extra attention. Both bikes are fully gassed up and packed, ready for us to make our getaway.
"Shawn!" Natalie shouts in alarm before I can answer him, the shrill sound of her voice grating on my nerves.
He abruptly turns and rushes into the house, yelling out for her. I take that as my invitation to follow him inside, kicking the door closed and trailing him into the dining room.
That’s where we find Nix, one hand restraining Natalie’s hands behind her back, the other holding the serrated edge of his bowie knife against her throat.
"Let her go asshole," Shawn snarls, hand dipping into his pocket. "I'm calling the cops."
"Not so fast," Rhett cuts in, stepping out of the shadows and cocking back his arm. Shawn's head whips to the side with a sickening crack as Rhett punches him square in the jaw, the force sending him sailing sideways to the floor, his phone clattering against the tile. Rhett stomps down on the screen, glass crunching beneath his boot as he twists his foot.
"Look," Shawn gasps, sitting up. He spits out a glob of blood, swiping a hand over his chin before continuing. "I don't know who the fuck you guys are, or what delusional story this crazy whore told you, but–"
A high pitched noise cuts him off, the shrill sound slicing through the air. It's not until my throat starts to burn in protest that I realize it's coming from me, a scream borne of fury I can no longer contain. My chest heaves as I try to catch my breath, black spots dancing across my vision as I swing my gaze around the room.
Heat licks up my spine as I realize everyone is staring at me. My nails dig into my palms hard enough to draw blood, curling into fists at my sides as I yell, "I'M NOT FUCKING CRAZY!"
