“Your actions caused my brother to lose his daughter.”
“Your actions caused the same for me. I’d say that makes us even.”
Bastard. “There’s only one problem with that. I’m not interested in being ‘even’. I have something else I’d like more.”
“What’s that?”
“I want to be completely rid of all of you. Matthew and Colin here assure me that, with you dead, this is done and I will get just that.”
“I could assure you the same. Besides, what’s to stop them from going back on their word? Obviously they can’t be trusted, or I would not be in the position I am.”
“Nothing… except this tape, and a recording I have of them making the deal. They really want to be rid of you. Right, boys?”
“Absolutely,” says Colin while Matthew just nods. That’s enough confirmation for me; Sabre getting them on video is just one more thing I have for security.
“Ah, I get it. It wouldn’t do for my father to see what his nephews did to his only remaining son, right? I’m impressed, boys. I did the same thing when I killed your father.”
“You son of a bitch!” Matthew growls.
“Oh relax, you would have eventually done the same thing.”
“Fuck this,” I say. “I got better shit to do and I’m tired of breathing the same air as you.”
“What would Beth think about you ending her father’s life?” asks Redmond. “I could tell you something that’d make you think twice about your deal…”
I don’t let him finish. I’ve had enough of games. I shoot Redmond’s gut three times in quick succession. He drops to the floor.
I spit on him. “That’s for Annabelle and for the hell you put Beth through. This last one is just because I think you smell,” I tell him.
Then, I empty my gun into his chest.
I turn to Latch. “You get it?” The deal was for Beast and Latch to tape it while making sure I wasn’t in the footage. That way, this couldn’t be linked back to me, should something happen. Beast needed to see that revenge was achieved for his daughter.
“Got it, boss.”
“Let’s get the fuck out of here.” I turn to Colin and Matthew. “I’m heading to Kentucky to start over. The crew that takes over here and mine, wherever we end up, are clear from you. Your shit does not enter into my territory, ever. If it does, your grandfather will know just what happened to his son.”
“We’re clear,” answers Matthew. “Redmond’s body will be loaded onto his private jet, which will crash into the Appalachian Mountains after having engine trouble. No one will know what took place here today.”
I walk off. I really can’t handle being in the same room with them anymore. I’m done.
Two Weeks Later
“Beth, mi cielo. I don’t want to leave you, but I can’t stay here. You’re everywhere. You’re in my bed, in my club… my dreams. Hell baby, I even feel you on my bike. I can’t breathe here. It’s too much. I want to join you. I feel like I’m dead already. I’ve thought about it, but something stops me each time. Hell if I know, querida. Something inside me says you don’t want that from me, so I’m going on. I know you wouldn’t want me to blame myself for your death, but I do. The guilt chokes me. Fuck. It’s because of me that all I could do was put another empty tombstone beside your sister’s. I’m sorry for that the most, querida. God, there’s so much I’m sorry for.” I sigh, looking over top of the tombstone. “I don’t want to be here. I couldn’t leave without saying goodbye. I just couldn’t.”
I release a large breath, rub my hands together, then start again.
“I killed your father. I made a pact with Colin and Matthew. God, mi cielo, I hated doing that. I still feel like I let you down, but I’m fucking tired. There’s been so much blood… your blood. It had to end. Without you, none of it matters anymore. None of it. Part of me wonders how you’d feel knowing I took your dad’s life. Did you even know Redmond was your dad? Were you keeping secrets from me? I can’t keep going like this. So… I’m leaving.” My hand goes to her locket, still hanging around my neck. I hold it and close my eyes. It’s almost as if I can feel her with me, like I can smell her. Jesus, I’m going insane. “I’ll always love you, mi cielo. Always.” With that, I rise, placing the daisies I brought on top of the tombstone, then walk away. I know I’ll see her tonight in my dreams.
I’ll never let her go. I can’t.