“I could just go outside right now and take care of that quick,” he said, pushing away from the door and coming farther into the room. “Smile my handsome smile, get her to roll down the window, and the minute she does I could just reach inside and snap her neck.” As he spoke he held out his hands like they were really reaching for her. “It would be over in two seconds.”
Without any kind of warning I swung the duffle up and around, catching him in the side of the face. He stumbled and fell into the closet door, which buckled so he fell into the closet, knocking several hangers off the rack.
“Keep your hands off my Target,” I ground out, dropping the bag.
He righted himself quickly and looked at me with flashing, angry eyes. Then he smiled a cruel smile and turned for the door.
He was going after her.
I launched myself at him and leaped onto his back. He fell forward onto his knees and I took the chance to punch him in the kidney. His breath made a whooshing sound and then he hit the floor. As he hit, he rolled so he was on his back, facing me. I was straddling him from when I jumped onto his back and so I drew my fist back to punch him again.
He caught my fist in his hand and squeezed… He squeezed so hard I thought my bones might break. How much strength did this guy possess?
I wasn’t willing to find out. So I kneed him.
I climbed off him and stood as he rolled into the fetal position, cupping himself.
“Don’t you know there’s a guy code about never nailing another guy in his family jewels?” Charming said with a strained voice.
“There is no guy code where I come from.” I spat. Then I leaned down in his face. “And if you threaten me or my Target again, you’ll find out what other dirty tricks I learned from the streets.”
He sprung up, hitting my shoulders, and I fell back but caught my balance. He stood in the center of the room with a red face and a heaving chest. I calmly grabbed the duffle bag and slung it over my shoulder.
“Don’t be here when I get back.”
“You better kill that girl this weekend,” Charming said, his voice unnaturally calm and low. I stopped in the doorway to hear what he would say next. “Because if she comes back, you’re going to wish she hadn’t. I’ll go after her and use every single one of my ninety years’ experience to make sure she suffers. And then I’ll come for you.”
He’s been killing people for ninety years?
That would explain his sense of entitlement, but not his lack of patience. I glanced over my shoulder, pretending his words didn’t bother me at all.
“I thought old people were supposed to be wise. You aren’t very wise at all because making an enemy out of me is the stupidest thing you could ever do.”
Then I walked away, down the hall and toward the stairs. From behind me he called out. “This weekend. Finish the job or I will.”
This time I didn’t look back. I was afraid if I did he’d see genuine fear on my face.
Chapter Thirty-Two
“Ominous - threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments.”
Piper
My favorite song was playing on the radio when Dex pulled into the driveway of his townhouse. As Snow Patrol’s “Chasing Cars”played, I mouthed the words. After a few minutes of us just sitting in the driveway, the car idling, I realized he wasn’t moving. I turned my head and looked at him. He was watching me. I felt my cheeks heat under his gaze.
“What?” I asked.
“You like this song?” He smiled.
“No. I just mouth the words to songs I really hate,” I said sarcastically but with a smile on my face.
“I do that all the time too.” He grinned. “Why is it the worst lyrics always get stuck in your head?”
I laughed. “I don’t listen to songs I don’t like.”
“Huh. Now there’s an idea.”
I shook my head.
