Page 142 of Possession

It’s why the bloody wedding was a shit show. There is no precision, accuracy, or finesse.

It was messy. I usually don’t like messy, but I took advantage of it that day.

It’s why I got away with killing Damian. No one will ever know.

Other than Landyn.

I’ve not once regretted that decision.

And I’m about to do it again.

The guards picked up Nic Decker north of L.A. He was hiding like a rat who only has the balls to come out at night. The guards told me they found him passed out with a hooker who was so doped up, she didn’t even know they dragged his sorry ass out of his low-budget motel. The last we heard, he has no source of income since the Marinos cut him off and he’s been begging for cash from his parents.

They won’t have to fund his pathetic life much longer.

Nicolás Decker is about to pay for touching my wife.

“You got a head start.” My dress shoes click on the concrete of the garage floor as I circle the man who’s about to die. It’s the only sound other than the hum of the air conditioner and Nic’s labored breaths.

It seems I’m not the only one who hates Nic. That’s what you get when you’re an asshole to those who rank below you on the cartel totem pole.

“We were told to bring him back. No one said we couldn’t touch him.”

I stop in front of Nic who’s in bad shape. He’s naked from the waist up, still wearing a pair of pants that are worn, filthy, and tattered. He’s duct taped to a chair, and it’s no coincidence it’s situated right over the drain in the floor. His arms bound behind him and ankles taped to the legs. His face is bloody, eyes are swollen, and he smells like shit.

Literally, since he’s been pissing himself and probably worse.

I turn to the guards. “I appreciate you finding him. I’ll take it from here.”

They look to each other and frown before turning their disappointment back on me. “Really? Damian used to sit back and watch while we did the rest.”

I shake my head but don’t confirm what I’m about to do. “Nic and I need to have a conversation.”

“You’re not going to kill him?”

I don’t answer. “Go back to the gate. Like I said, I can handle it.”

They look like I ate their birthday cake but do as I say. They weren’t the ones on duty the night Nic pushed his way through security, into the house, and attacked my wife.

Those assholes were fired last week. I heard they were both arrested the next day on outstanding warrants.

Imagine that.

The side door to the garage slams behind me.

I’m alone with Nic.

Really alone.

No cameras. No wires. And no taps.

I know it since I’m solely responsible for the wires and coordinated the Marino surveillance myself.

“What are you going to do to me?” Nic rasps.

“I missed the fun stuff, even though it’s not my style.” I take a step back and enjoy the view in front of me. The bright fluorescents don’t do him any favors. He looks like death, which isn’t surprising since he’s really close to it right now. “I’m not happy about that. I was looking forward to getting my hands dirty for once.”

It seems to take all his energy to pull his head up and pry one eye open to look at me.

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