“Can you shut the fuck up for once?” he said. “Maybe she’s thinking. Maybe she’s plotting your demise. Maybe she just doesn’t want to engage in a conversation with you.”
Zayn stared at him.
Only, she went there.
“I’ve had a rough week,” she stated. “I’ve had to see one of my Marines killed right in front of me. I wore his brains,” she said softly. “I got the pleasure of seeing a young woman die because the killer took a shot at us and missed. Then, I walked into Caspian’s girlfriend’s home to see her raped, mutilated, and destroyed. I'm sorry, I’m not up for fun banter,” she stated.“I still have to rebury my mother and father when I get back because he disturbed their graves and left them for me.”
Oh, Jesus.
That did what it needed to do.
Only, she wasn’t done.
“You don’t have to worry about me being on my game, Zayn. I’m more than ready to burn the fucking world to the ground all around me. Don’t take me being silent as having nothing in the tank. Instead of sarcasm, I’m fueled by pure, unadulterated rage and hate.”
That said it all.
From behind the wheel, Maura looked up at Zayn in the mirror to warn him to back the fuck off. She was with Gene on this one.
Someone needed to shut up.
Only, she didn’t have to do anything. It was clear that the man got it.
Gently, he picked up her hand and spoke to her.
“I know all about what went down. I just don’t know how to deal with this version of you. Your spiciness is my gauge as to if this is going to be okay or it’s going to Hell. I’m sorry for your pain this week. I wish there was some way I could make it better. If you can’t do this, I’ll handle it for you. We know you’re carrying a lot and are about to break.”
She looked over.
“The problem is I want to handle it, Zayn. The problem is I want nothing more than to go scorched earth all over his ass. I’m so vengeful now, I knew what was coming. I had his deceased parents' remains dug up before I had confirmation he even took mine. I had them shipped to a warehouse to destroy in front of him to break what was left of his rotting, dead soul.”
Oh, boy.
Zayn could see he’d been wrong. Also, he was pissed that someone did that to his friend.
Only, before he could say anything, she continued, proving that she wasn’t done.
Not.
Even.
Close.
“That’s where I want to confront him. No matter what we do, I want him alive,” she stated. “That’s condition one for me. Condition two is I need to be the one who ends him because there is no court for him. He’s set this up to destroy my career and legacy if it goes to court. He dies. Period.”
Jagger reached back and patted her leg.
“For what it’s worth, we all understand. We lost Luke, Roxy, and countless friends. We’ve been there. We understand that rage.”
Only, she knew the truth.
Her badge was a boundary from allowing her to go there. This time, that was broken. With that gold badge still with Jet, she was off the leash.
Now posed the question.
Would she be able to pick it up again after she took out the trash?
She wasn’t sure.
