Violet Grenade(102)

"You deserve anything she does to you," Madam Karina shrieks. "You think I didn't know about your whore? You think I didn't notice she drove you home? You wanted to get caught!"

"Puppy," he pleads. The way his mouth downturns, it's like he's more concerned about hurting Madam Karina than he is my blade. Seeing him this way, vulnerable, I almost regret having to kill The Neck.

"Say it again," I snarl, speaking to Madam Karina but keeping my eyes on Mr. Hodge. "Tell me you'll let us go if I end him."

"Yes, just do it!"

"Domino." Cain's voice breaks through my sniper focus. "Don't."

"Shut up," I snap. "That's not my name."

"Listen to him," Poppet pleads.

"I said shut up!"

Blood pounds at my temples as I crawl toward Mr. Hodge. He tries to retreat, but his back hits the wall.



       
         
       
        

"I'll make it quick," I tell him. "And I'll carry the ghost of you on my arm, always."

Sweat drips between his eyes. I watch it slide down his nose and pool at the corner of his right nostril. His eyes dart toward Madam Karina, and then he makes a break for it. I leap onto his back, the knife arched above my head.

Someone behind me closes in. It's Cain, judging by the heavy footfalls. He doesn't reach me in time, though. Not before I drive the knife into Mr. Hodge's side. It's not enough to kill him. I didn't go deep enough for that. But it does get him on the floor.

He moans like a rhino taken down in a safari hunt. As if I'm the cruel, advantaged hunter with a scope and camouflage. And here he is-one of God's innocent creatures. But the truth is, he helped Madam Karina build this empire. Helped seduce girls into selling their bodies and souls so he could lord over this three-story farmhouse. And let's not forget the way he cupped Poppet's bottom. Think that's the first time he's pulled a stunt like that? Please.

No, I won't mourn his death.

Mr. Hodge flips onto his back and blocks his face with his arms. As if that's what I'm going for.

"Don't take another step," Eric yells.

I turn to find Cain a hand's width away from me. He looks like a knight, come to rescue a damsel in distress. But I'm no damsel, and I'm certainly not stressing. Not over someone like Mr. Hodge. One less dirtbag walking the planet, if you ask me.

Eric points his gun at Cain, but Cain doesn't react. He keeps his gaze on my face, silently imploring me to see reason. To not kill a monster that deserves to die. But it's men like Mr. Hodge who make me sick. They hurt women, leave them, walk out front doors in the dead of night even though their wife and daughter are asleep down the hall. Doesn't he know how they'll grieve the loss of him? Doesn't he care?

Slowly, Gentle Domino slides her hand over mine. Grips that knife along with me like maybe she wants in on this, too. Is tired of being in the back seat at this midnight matinee.

I stumble to my side, shocked. Domino has never risen while I worked before. She may have whispered in my ear, but I could swat away her presence like a gnat.

I shake my hand once, twice, until I regain full control, and then refocus on my task.

Madam Karina clutches Poppet's upper arm, rooting her in place, and tears streak down Poppet's face. I glance at Cain. He's no longer checked out. Now he's present and accounted for, and he's terrified of what I may do. And what about Poppet? Look at that fear. Taste it! Is that what I do? Is that the same look the men I hurt gave me? Yes. Yes, it is. It's different this time, though. It's different, and it's the same. 

Domino's two friends don't want me to do this thing. But I guarantee what they want more than anything is for us-for all of us-to be safe. To be free. And so I will do this for them. Because it's people like them I want surrounding my Domino.

I turn back to Mr. Hodge.

He must see the determination in my eyes. He must.

Mr. Hodge screams, and I crawl on top of him like I'm scaling Mt. Everest. I hold my knife above my head, ready to plunge it like a flag into uncharted land. My fingers twitch as I eye the soft spot below his chin. It's funny, really, that the fastest way to kill this man is in the one place he's largely missing. But in all seriousness, there's enough neck there for me to work with.

Wilson, Domino whispers. Wilson, I was wrong. I am strong enough to handle this.

Nope, I tell her. Go away!

The knife in my hand lifts a fraction higher, and Mr. Hodge fights to get my weight off him. I avoid his flailing and zone in on his jugular. My heart stills. My pulse slows. I am calm in this moment. My name is Wilson, and this is what I do.

I kill.