I take my personal phone from my pants pocket to check e-mail. I’m dressed in my normal BDUs with another loose T-shirt to cover my gun. The e-mails waiting are mostly junk with the exception of a possible client. The woman’s name is Shirley and she references one of my first clients. I shoot back an answer asking when and where we can meet.The car approaches the Sunnyslope area, and I give Philip Terry’s address. I also decide being driven around isn’t all bad. I’m in the middle of a hot game of Tower Defense on my cell when a message slides across the top of the screen that I have incoming e-mail. It’s my prospective client, and I reply that four o’clock works perfectly in my schedule today. We pull into Terry’s parking lot, and I open my door as soon as Philip parks the car. He takes his chauffeuring services seriously because he hustles around and gives me a glare after he lifts his dark shades.I shrug and walk to the door, which Philip beats me to and opens before I can. “You a
“That’s a joke, right?” Philip asks.“No. It’s not a fucking joke. I can’t think of any better way to get food poisoning and ruin a perfectly bad day than to have a mega-burrito from Manabertos.” I swear if Philip doesn’t pull in, I’m jumping out.He swings the car into the parking lot and I tell him to go around to the drive-thru.“I heard a rumor that all the cats go missing in this neighborhood.”“I heard the same rumor about dogs,” I deadpan back.He pulls up to the window. “And you’re still eating one of those things?”“You plan on stopping me?”He orders a mega-burrito and two large sodas. “Be sure to get lots of napkins,” I tell him because the burritos leak out a gallon of runny fat and God knows what else.Philip thrums his fingers on the steering wheel. “We’re not eating in the car. We can go to the park or something. I’ll never get the smell out if you open the bag in here.”“Do I need to remind you that it’s over one ten out there?”He turns, lifts his sunglasses, and give
Once more I’m jerked up by my hair, this time adding pressure beneath my elbow until I’m standing. My teeth chatter, which I’m guessing is because I’ve gone into shock. I’m brought out of it quickly when Kennedy cruelly twists one of my nipples.This isn’t happening. I think of Moon. His voice. His smile. His laugh. I ignore what Kennedy is doing as he twists the other one. He doesn’t take it any further than that. He thankfully wraps a towel around me and dries me off with quick proficiency. There’s a knock at the door and a set of yellow scrubs are thrust into Kennedy’s hand when he opens it.“I’ll cut the tape from your arms and legs. If you fight, you can go out there naked. Do you understand?”I lower my head and play the subdued little girl. “Yes,” I mumble as I seethe.He cuts the tape from my ankles first. It’s really hard not to kick him in the face while he’s down and pulling off the tape. I bide my time swearing to kill him if given the opportunity. He stands, turns me arou
I have no idea how much time goes by. I’m caught in a world of death. Estephon’s voice finally breaks into my thoughts.“Señor Moon. How do you like my film? Your lovely lady enjoyed it, no? She will die next. This will make a good addition to my collection, no?” His voice has been repulsively pleasant to this point. Now it hardens and he bites out commands. “You have two choices on how your puta dies. You will deliver the money within the hour to the address I sent earlier. You and your men will leave the state tonight. The next video will be of your lovely senorita. I will have her cleaned up so she looks nice for the party, no? You choose how she dies. That is all I will give you—a bullet or the knife. And because I am a generous man, you may say goodbye.”The phone is thrust against my ear. I take a breath and control myself. “Moon…” I’m trying not to hyperventilate.The sweet sound of his voice flows through me. “I love you, baby. I’m sorry.”He’s not coming for me. “I love you,”
Seven months laterWe’re driving up to a mountain cabin that Moon purchased near Flagstaff. It’s our getaway, and we both need a break for a few days. Gomez isn’t with us and I get to play Moon’s bodyguard. Gomez doesn’t like that much, but we don’t care. He’s left in charge of the main house.I’m now a working member of Moon’s organization. The lines I’ve crossed can never be undone. I’ve accepted that. I have never regretted killing Kennedy. Bodies have a way of disappearing in Arizona. His is only one of many, including Estephon’s.Philip was buried in Mexico in the village where Maria, Moon’s mother, grew up. A Catholic priest presided. Al burned in an airplane accident, and his body was buried at a private funeral that I wasn’t invited to. I have no idea how Moon pulled off a plane crash with the pilot and Al dead. I never asked. Maybe he has someone on the payroll inside the NTSB. Like the identity of undercover cops—it’s need to know and I’m good with that.I’m no longer an act
After we arrive at the house, we walk in holding hands. He spins me around so I’m facing him the second the door closes. The man loves his wall sex. I also notice that he no longer looks tired.I’m laughing. At least I don’t have on my boots. I kick my pumps off as Moon slides my shirt over my head and tosses it on the floor. “If you push me through the glass, I’ll never forgive you,” I say as I breathe into his mouth because he’s already kissing me. Our front door is partial glass and I’m worried we might break it.“I thought we could try the couch,” he replies and leads me in that direction. The couch is comfortable, but the fact that he wants couch sex surprises me. At least until Moon bends me over the back, locks my fingers into the cushions, and pulls my leggings and underwear down my legs so my ass is displayed. His fingers dig into my waist and his cock slides home. Couch sex has just replaced wall sex as far as spectacular goes. This position does it for me. I was jacked for
Alex I shake the sweat from my face and try to dislodge the pictures coursing through my mind. I woke up this morning with them clicking one after the other. Hours later, I’m giving my penance full reign. With each strike of my fist, the next picture generates like an old slideshow. My mother peering at me in chastisement. Moon’s father shaking his head when I told him I would make my own way. Another strike of my fist and another grunt from my victim. Moon’s mother smiling at me in tenderness and then screaming as she was raped and murdered. My sister crying when I sent her away. Madison’s face when she put three bullets into a piece of scum and became one of us. My next jab is well-calculated and his ribs give way. I receive a scream this time, and it conjures the perfect image of my father’s head delivered in a box. Not just the image, though. Oh no—the smell, the flesh dripping from his skull, and the liquid evidence of what remained of the man who raised me. That image is the w
AlexI shower again, put on a fresh suit and add black dress shoes after placing everything else into the incinerator. I text Blevins and Juan telling them to return to the warehouse. They disappeared earlier at my order without blinking. Their job is to monitor our property in this section of town. When it comes to handing out justice, the fewer witnesses the better. I unlock the door that leads into the larger section of the building and give a nod to Rack. He walks over with the shirtsleeves of his white dress shirt rolled up and helps me move the body into the trunk. His shirt is plastered to his skin because he’s sweating so much, and I know we’re both ready for the cool interior of the Caddy.“You get what you need?” he asks after slamming the trunk.“Yea, it isn’t good. Danita,” is all I need to say and he understands. “Be sure the team is alert,” I add.“Always, boss.”He gets in the driver’s seat and I take passenger. When Rack calls me “boss” I usually smile. He’s ex-Special