Page 76 of See No Evil

The man shook his head vigorously back and forth, eyes wide with the whites showing as he lopped his frantic gaze between him and the firecracker. Legend grabbed him by a fistful of gray hair and forced his lips apart with his other hand. Andre yelled and cried out until his voice was stifled from the firecracker being practically jammed down his throat. Then, Legend grabbed the roll of tape from his pocket and placed it over the sides of his lips, sealing them so he wouldn’t be able to spit the thing out and escape his inevitable fate.

“I don’t want to hear a damn thing you have to say. You’ve said enough, like when you told me to pretend that I liked it. Now it’s yo’ turn to tell me how you likethis.” Legend struck a match as Finesse2tymes’s, ‘Get Even’, gave him the perfect soundtrack at high volume.

Andre attempted to roll over and hide his face, but it was no use. Legend tugged at the thick ropes on his chest and flipped him hard onto his back. The firecracker slid awkwardly in his mouth, almost choking him. He began to try and spit it out, but the tape around the sides of his mouth thwarted his efforts. Legend dropped down on one knee, and with the biggest grin, connected the match’s flame to the sparkler’s wick. He then got up and placed a boulder on Andre’s stomach, forcing the bastard to stay put.

“It’s the fourth of July! My independence day!

Three…

Two…

One…

KABOOM!!!

Legend clapped as the sparklers went crazy. Loud, crackling noises and muffled screams ensued, vying for attention between the base-driven beats of the song. Andre’s body rocked aboutas if he were being electrocuted. When the smoke cleared, the fucker’s body was still jumping, and half of his face was missing.

“You ever been on a hayride, Andre? They’re a heck of a lotta fun! Let me show you how they do it.” He removed the small boulder from the man’s abdomen, set it aside, ran over to the one of the parked backhoe rollers, and started it up. The headlights turned on, bright as shining stars. Andre sluggishly tried to inch out of the way, but his injuries and the tight rope around his frame impeded much movement.

“You like the Fugees, man? READY OR NOT! HERE I COME! YOU CAN’T HIDE! GONNA FIIIIND YOU! AND MAKE! YOU! LOVE! ME!”

Vrooooom! Off he went, rambling towards Andre at full speed. He looked into his prey’s eyes as the fucker watched him approach, then rolled over him. Blood, muscle, and bone were crushed under the tires, flattened on the ground. Hitting reverse, he went over him a couple more times. Full belly laughs ensued.

Legend leisurely parked the equipment, went to his truck, slid on his gloves, and pulled out a number of highly concentrated cleaners he used at work. Then, he spent the next two hours bagging the remains, cleaning the area, wiping down everything he touched, and putting things just so, until the construction area looked good as new.Axel taught me well…Tossing the bags in the truck, he would soon be dispersing the flattened bits of the man in various garbage dumps, and burning the skull and hands.

He got in his truck, and drove away, while the beat of ‘Wanna Be A Baller,’ by Lil Troy, put him in a good mood. He lit a fresh cigar, commemorating the moment, with the sun beating down on his face…

Chapter Twenty-Two

“See? Now thisis what I’m talkin’ about.”

Desiree walked into the gorgeous spa with Melanie and English, and looked around in amazement. Large Greek style columns flanked the entrance, and above, on the domed ceiling, hung a large, sparkling chandelier. She’d had the occasional professional massage before, and been pampered by getting her nails done for more than just a set of acrylics, but never at a place as exclusive as this.

English stepped ahead of her, approaching the lady at the front desk. They appeared to be on a first name basis.

“Heeeey, Betty! So good to see you again! I brought friends!” English leaned over the tan and camel marble front desk, her baby bump covered in the cutest pink and white cherry blossom print dress, laying it on thick. Desiree turned to and fro, excited to get their spa day started.

Melanie stood off to the side in a red and white bodycon dress, sucking hard on a green lollipop, her glossy mouth in a bunch. The woman suddenly turned towards her and burst out laughing. Desiree followed suit. Though she wasn’t sure why they were giggling, it certainly had to do with English.

“Girl, English is so extra,” Melanie stated, then wrinkled her nose, looking her friend up and down as she jabbered with the receptionist. “I love her though. You will, too. Maybe.” Sheerupted in a bout of chuckling once again. She and her brother, Legend, had similar laughs. It warmed Desiree’s soul to hear the sound. “How’s the restaurant coming along?” Melanie sidled up close to her, seeming genuinely interested in the progress.

“Oh, it’s going good! They should be finished in a few months. Thanks again for the menu design. They are so fire, girl. Of course, Legend was most pleased that they were free.”

Melanie shrugged. “I was just happy to do it! Plus, he said he’ll credit my name on the front of it. You don’t see that often.”

“Well, you are his sister, and it’s the least he could do considering he didn’t offer you a dime for your artistic rendering. Shame on him! He hates when people want him to cook for free, family or not, and here he is doing you the same way. He can be so cheap sometimes. I’mma cut you a check, okay?”

“Girl, please! Seriously, it’s fine. I’m so happy for y’all.”

“Thank you, Melanie. You’ve been such a great help to Legend with this venture, and he appreciates you so much, even when he doesn’t say so.”

Her thoughts wandered, replaying a conversation she’d had with Legend that morning about that very thing. He’d explained that he had a three-day trip to Alabama for some barbecue sauce class. He wanted to use the information to create a signature BBQ sauce for their restaurant. She asked if she could come, too, but he insisted he go it alone.

She had a strange feeling about it. Typically he always invited her to such things. But this time, she suspected something wasn’t quite right. Maybe she was overthinking things though.

A woman came over, presenting them with a form to fill out on clear clipboards with gold pens. Desiree found the questions a bit odd—asking if she was on her menstrual cycle, or pregnant, amongst other personal ones.

Maybe there are some health risks with deep tissue back massages in rare instances?Sure, that had to be it. The establishment simply wanted to be certain she was in fine health. She turned the paper back in, and she and Melanie were offered gorgeous flutes filled with champagne, while English had a glass of sparkling white grape juice.

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