Page 36 of Painfully Merry

With a huff, she grabs her phone. “I hate you both. This is supposed to be my revenge.”

“Don’t worry, Sabby, I’m only gonna knock him out and throw him into the trunk. You can do whatever you want with him after.”

“Lock the doors.”

I don’t like leaving her behind, but if Chaos says leave her, it’s probably for the best. Knowing what will happen upstairs, I don’t want her to witness any of that. I grab a bag from Chaos, and we quietly ride the elevator. His fingers haven’t stopped tapping. He’s so far in the zone I’m afraid to say anything to him. When the elevator stops on the penthouse floor, he looks at me.

“We have to work fast, and if he locks himself in any room, it only adds time to what we don’t have.” He pulls a syringe out of his bag, handing it to me. “You jab him with this when you get a clear chance.”

I nod, gripping the syringe tight. If I can do it to Sabrina, I can do it to this prick. I watch Chaos pick the lock. He turns to me, fixing me with an emotionless look. Turning the doorknob, the door clicks open. My chest throbs painfully. I can’t believe I’m doing this. Kevin better not be armed.

We get a straight view of the living room and kitchen as we enter. The sight is impressive. I’ll give him that, as well as the floor-to-ceiling windows and the CN Tower. I’m a little jealous, I’ll admit. Chaos motions for me to head right down the hall. He’s here; I can feel it.

I drag in a deep breath before turning the handle to the first room. Pushing the door wide, I step into an office. It is a rather boring office if I must say. All he has in here is a desk and a chair. Not even a bookshelf; he has nothing else in here. What’s the point of having an office? It's safe to say he isn’t hiding in here.

I step into the next room, but it’s empty. Why live here if you aren’t going to have your rooms filled? What a joke! He embezzled all that money and sunk it into this place, and that’s it? Or is there a new scheme planned that no one knows about?

I need to find Chaos. I don’t like this plan anymore.

There’s only one room where they can be, the main bedroom. I haven’t heard a sound, and if Chaos catches you, you are never quiet about it. The bedroom is dark, and my hand instinctively squeezes the syringe when I don’t see Chaos. The hairs on the back of my neck stand up when I near the bathroom. I swear if I open this door and Chaos is down, I won’t be able to hold back. I know Sabrina wants her answers, but Chaos is my best friend, and I’ll do anything for him.

Time seemed to slow the longer I took. Closing my eyes, I place my hand on the knob, turning it slightly.

“No, don’t.” Chaos words rang loud.

My hand freezes on the knob. “Why? What’s going on?”

“The prick has a gun, and I brought a knife. You can tell the predicament that I’m under.”

Fuck. “Why don’t you get the gun? I’m not following what you want me to do.”

“Parker? Is that you?” Kevin questioned.

“No, it’s fuckin’ Santa Claus. Put the gun away and come out here.”

“Are you armed?”

“Dude, I crunch numbers for a living. What am I gonna do, throw a calculator at you?”

Scuffling and a few grunts come from behind the door. “Step away, we're coming out, try anything, and I’ll shoot him.”

I slide against the wall, hoping what I’m going to do doesn’t get Chaos shot in the head. With my thumb and finger, I pop the syringe cap off. The bathroom door creaks open, and the bedroom floods with light.

Chaos steps out with his hands raised, side-eyeing me. Once Kevin’s arm comes into view, I ram the needle into his forearm. He howls with anger. He turns the gun to me, but his arm falters as his body grows weak. Chaos elbows him in the face, grabbing the gun as Kevin hits the ground.

“Fuckin’ prick. Hold a gun to my head.” He hauls off, kicking Kevin in the stomach.

I pulled him back. “We need to leave, and you can kick the shit out of him later, I promise.”

“Yeah, okay. No word from Sabbins?”

“Nothing yet. That doesn’t mean they aren’t on the way.”

Chaos grabs one of Kevin’s ankles. “That’s true, and I don’t want her down there for much longer.”

I grab Kevin’s other ankle. “Same. The sooner he’s locked up, the better I’ll feel.” We drag him across his bedroom, and I hope to God he gets some carpet burn on his face. Small groans spill from his mouth when we take the corner too sharp and hit his head on the door jamb.

“Sorry, not sorry, dickhead.” I pull a mocking face at Kevin.

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