“What do you want to know?” John asked, going from standing to sitting as if he couldn’t handle what was taking place right before his eyes. The blade in my hand was heavy as guilt pressed hard down on my chest. How could I have been so conflicted in that very moment? This was the moment I had waited for my entire life.
“I think we both know the answer to that question. I want answers, I want to know who killed my mother, and I don’t want to go in a fucking circle trying to get them.” My voice was animalistic as my eyes bled into John’s eyes. I could practically see the beads of sweat forming on his face.
That’s right, fucker. I have your one and only weakness in my grasp.
“Dad, just tell him you didn’t do it.” Bree’s voice croaked as she spoke. John’s gaze slid from mine to hers, and then back to mine again. I didn’t have time for this, nor did I have the patience.
Bending down, I gripped her by the arm pulling her up to her feet. She was weak and didn’t even resist my touch. Had she lost hope?
“Things are about to get really fucking bloody if you don’t tell me what I want to fucking hear.”
His meaty hand rubbed over his bald head and then down his face as worry formed in his eyes.
“I killed her. I killed your mom. My partner and I were working for the FBI at the time, and I killed her. It’s not like we fucking wanted to kill her.” I heard his words, but at the same time, I didn’t. My body felt as if it were floating as if it was far, far away. Something in my mind clicked and I released my hold on Bree.
“You didn’t want to?” I rambled, wanting nothing more than to put the bullet in his head right that second.
“Your family had killed tons of our men. Our job was to go in and snuff you out. We needed to put an end to the family. Your mother wouldn’t help us, and it left her as a loose string in the mix of things. You know what they say about lose…” I didn’t even give him a moment of time before I jumped on him. My fist went flying into his jaw and I saw red. My mother was not a loose string.
“A loose string? A loose string to what? You trying to kill people who did nothing wrong?” I was screaming now, my rage mounting with every hit to his face.
Turning his face to me, he smiled. His white teeth showed through the mess of blood. It was in his smile I found the need to finish the job. He deserved to die. A death for a death.
Suddenly, it was as if everything went in slow motion. I could hear Bree’s screams as I reached into my pocket and pulled out the gun. His eyes grew wide with fear as he tried to pull away, but there was no hope for him. Placing the barrel against his forehead, I pulled the trigger. No remorse shattered within me, not even as I watched his brains splatter on the floor behind him, or the fact I had just killed the father of the woman I loved…
Instead, I sat there above him, watching the life leave his body. Bree’s cries turned to lunatic screams as she scrambled across the floor. Her small hands pawed at his shirt as she pleaded with him to wake up, to be alive. But even I knew there wasn’t any hope in what she was doing. He had to die, even if it killed me. Even if it killed me to hurt her—nothing spoke louder to me than my need for blood.
“Daddy….” I heard her cry, tears streaking through the dirt on her face, and I didn’t even care. I didn’t care about anything.
“Get up,” I said sternly. Her head shook, and I knew something bad was about to happen. I knew I was about to break, to hurt her, again.
“How the fuck could you do this?” She turned to me, angry and sad. I learned long ago showing emotions like she was made us weak. I understood I had just shot and killed her father, but this was life. When you messed with my people, took people from me, then I was forced to do something about it.
“A life for a life. We’re even. Now get up and let’s fucking leave before his goonies come up here.” I didn’t have to be told he had other men working with him. I knew it. I was smart in that aspect.
She shuffled to her feet, tears still falling from her eyes. “You think I’m going to fucking go anywhere with you? Leave me the fuck alone. I should call the cops on you right now.”
I almost laughed as I watched her gaze swing around the room as if she were looking for something. When did she become so strong? “Not a good idea, Piccolo,” I warned, pointing the gun at her. Were we enemies now? Would I have to kill her, too?
“Do it. Shoot me. I bet you can’t. I bet you’re too big of a fucking coward. God knows, I know it. My father knew it, too. That’s why he killed your mother…” I had seen red before she finished speaking.