Jacob wasn’t going to live.
“What do you suggest?”
“Send some of them to prison. They’ll get shit inside. We can make sure of it,” Caleb said. “I know you want a killing spree, but that kind of heat brings in the cops. We can pay off some, but with this much shit, we can’t. It’ll come back to you.”
Elijah thought about Cherry. No one had given her such a consideration.
“I’ll think about it.”
“If you pile up dead bodies, it doesn’t matter how many friends you have, Elijah. The cops will come to you. Where will Cherry be then? What about Mindy?”
“I told you I’d think about it. This fucker, he’s dead.”
Ending the call, Elijah grabbed the hunting knife and plunged it into Jacob’s neck. He had no remorse for the killing, nor did he care as Jacob gargled around the blood.
“Are you okay, boss?” John asked.
“Men who rape young girls bother me, John.”
“Cherry’s not young anymore. She would hate for you to put yourself in danger.”
“She’s never going to know, and no one is going to be telling her shit about what happened today.” Elijah removed his pants and moved toward the shower at the end of the warehouse.
“You want the body disposed of?” John asked.
“Yes. I want him gone.” He quickly washed as John made the call to the cleaner. When all the blood was off his body, Elijah dried quickly, dressing in a new suit as the cleaner came inside.
“Fuck me, Elijah. This is brutal.”
“Can you take care of it or not?”
“Yes. It’ll cost.”
“I don’t give a shit about the cost. Clean it up and I’ll double your fee.”
He left the warehouse to walk outside. The cleaner’s van had a picture of a rodent on the sign.
John followed him out.
“What do you have to say?” Elijah asked.
“This little war you’ve got going, is this going to turn back to Marcel?”
“What?”
“You’re after every person who hurt Cherry. Marcel is also on that list. He gave you her as a gift, but before that he hurt her. She had bruising and was threatened with a gun.”
“Marcel will stay out of it. I’m not after him right now. I’m only after the men who hurt her before he handed her to me.”
“Maybe you should make a call to let him know you’re not going for payback. Word like this will get around. They’ll wonder if you’re coming back to them. It could make them react, make them nervous.”
“Good,” Elijah said. “It’s time Marcel knew his fucking place. He may supply the fucking drugs, but this city is mine. It’s time he realized I can fuck with him. I know he’s making plans to try to overrun me. Until I’m completely sure I’ve got my investment set up elsewhere, Marcel will stay where I want him. I’ve already given him a call. I’ve not come this far by messing with people. Don’t underestimate me.” He walked toward the car. “Get a lift from the cleaner. I’ve got to pay a visit to someone,” Elijah said.
John shook his head. “This is going to get you into trouble.”
“It’s not. This one I’m going to handle easily.”
Once on the road, Caleb put the call through to Henry.
“Are you still on his tail?”
“Yes. Practice ended early, and the bastard is looking a little too smug for my liking. Before I put any kids through school, I’m going to have all the teachers fucking investigated.”
Elijah couldn’t argue with him. He’d investigated all of the teachers at Mindy’s school.
“Keep on him. I’ll be there soon.”
He ended the call, putting his foot on the gas. An hour passed before he pulled up alongside Henry.
Climbing out of his car, he opened Henry’s passenger seat.
“He in there?”
“Yes. Caleb’s called me. I’m not going to fucking prison, Elijah. This little rage you’ve got going on needs to be wheeled in.”
“I’m more than fine,” Elijah said. “A little scaring will go a long way.” He headed toward the door to the gym teacher.
Chapter Six
Cherry rolled out the pastry while Mindy filled each little pot with the chicken filling. “This smells so good.”
“It does.” Cherry liked teaching her how to cook. They had settled on chicken pot pies for the dinner with a peach cobbler to finish up.
“Right, they’re filled.”
Taking a knife, she cut out each little circle and showed Mindy what to do with it.
“Damn, look at that,” Mindy said, turning up the television.