Page 128 of Jase
“I was hoping you’d say that. Any ideas?”
I finally broke my stare to glance over. “You remember Venice Beach?”
A nearly silent laugh filled the space. “Do I ever. Our first takedown. I’m guessing I’m the bait.”
“Think of it as a wedding gift.”
“You owe me.”
“You got a deal. First thing I need you to do though is call back that phone. Clone our side, I don’t care. We need to see who answers. Maybe it’ll be Vitor. Maybe not. There’s only one way to find out and we’re running out of time.”
“Give me a minute.”
Bringing up the binoculars, I scanned the faces. Just as ringing filled the interior, I saw him. He stopped talking, reaching into his suit’s pocket to bring out a phone.
“Got him,” I whispered. “Stall as long as you can before you approach. Buy me some time.”
“I grabbed my mask, sliding it on as I climbed into the back seat to open the back door, away from the road. A voice came through just as I closed the door behind me. I stayed crouched low, jogging the length of the sidewalk a good half block. No cars were coming down the road as I raced across, keeping inside the dark voids between the rundown businesses. The group was eerily quiet. Only one voice filled the air, and I knew that deep tone anywhere.
I stayed low, taking my time as I got closer. Each step was precise, calculated as I drew both of my guns.
“I know who you are: the loose cannon. How’s brother dearest? I’ve heard he’s a real mess. Does your boss know you’re calling?” Vitor laughed, flashing his profile as he grinned to one of his men. “Is that right? You have some nerve calling me. Must be easy to threaten someone when you’re sitting in an airport parking lot surrounded by agents. Let me guess, you must be in car number three.” He squared his shoulders through the overconfidence. “I know everything. I know Agent Warez and Sullivan are standing at the first two cars. I also know you wouldn’t call me if they were at yours. What’s the matter, Rush Lockhart, scared, or are you upset that the boss is making you run?”
Seconds passed. Vitor pulled back the phone, looking at the screen. I raised my guns, moving in to the two men just to the sides of Vitor as the outside two dropped. As the ones closest to the alley reached for their guns, Rush and I were already dropping them as well.
“You move your hands, I’ll put a bullet through the back of your head.”
I surged forward as Rush’s large frame barreled around the van not feet away. Vitor turned, putting his back to the building as he watched us approach. His hands were still up, and he was still holding to his phone.
“I’m never scared, you son of a bitch.” Rush walked up, slamming his fist into Vitor’s mouth, and then his nose in a cracking thud. “That’s for my brother.”
Blood trickled, sweeping over his lips as his hands shot up. I knocked them away, locking around his throat, and thrusting him into the shadowed wall with enough force to try to put him through it. The hard thud had him gasping to catch his breath.
“You fucked up. Did you think we wouldn’t find you after what you’ve done?”
“You think I’m afraid of you?”
Vitor jerked in my grasp, shaking his shoulders even more as I snatched the phone from his hand, tossing it to Rush.
“Yeah. I think you’re pissing your pants right now. Would you say you own the dark web, V? Do you employ a large amount of people on there?”
“You want a fucking list? There are thousands. You’ll never get away with this.”
I punched my barrel into his mouth, angling it up, wanting nothing more than to witness his brains explode around me. The gag was automatic while I kept the position, making him fight against the reflex he couldn’t control.
“Rush, go ahead and start recording. The dark web is going to see what happens when a boss falls. I want thesethousandsto witness the death of the motherfucker they thought was untouchable.”
“Mmrrmmm. Mmmrrrm”
I leaned in, whispering just outside of his ear. “You don’t get the last word, Vitor. I’d love nothing more than to spend hours hosting my own red room, letting people pay to tear you apart. As it is, I’ve got plans. I can spare a few minutes though to make you go viral in the one place you sold your soul too. Now, when people jack off to the sight of death and blood, it’ll be your video making them cum. Gotta love the irony. Your legacy is going to be forever trapped in the one place you thought you ruled.”
Rush stepped forward, giving me a thumbs up just outside the frame. I pulled my knife, flashing it to the camera before I jerked opened his jacket. I didn’t waste my time cutting through the buttons. I tore the fabric of his shirt open, exposing his stomach and chest.
“Wwwwt.” Vitor gagged again as I pushed the barrel further. He was starting to throw his shoulders harder and yell to break free. I didn’t hesitate. I sliced down his chest in a large sweep, coming back to thrust the blade right to his center of his stomach. Once. Twice. The sound of blood splattered. Gushing quickly followed at the hard tug of the blade as I sawed it towards Vitor’s side. I met his wide eyes, watching as the fear and shock consumed him.
“She’s mine,” I whispered, moving back in, stabbing just under his rib to puncture his lung. “Feel what I did when I thought I lost her. You can’t breathe. You know you’ll die. I thought it was the end for me. It wasn’t, but it is for you. Your business stops with you tonight. It’s over, Vitor, and you didn’t win.” I pulled back, soaking in the expression on his pale face as it grew even more distressed at my words.
Leaning back, I handed my knife to Rush, knowing he needed this just as much as me.
