Page 4 of Unleashed

“Monk! Not waiting all day for your ass. If you don’t want to fucking leave, I’m sure we can keep you locked up in this joint.”

I look toward Burbank, who’s glaring at me from the door. He can wait five more seconds. I turn back toward Raid and pull him in for hug.

“You be safe out there,” he says, giving me a pound on my back. I’d say the same for him in here, though I know he’ll hold his own just fine. “Patience,” he whispers as he pulls back. I tip my chin again and then turn. Patience is a virtue. But I sure as hell am not virtuous.

“You girls done sayin’ your goodbyes?” Burbank shoots me a look. “Time to give each other a big fucking kiss, because you won’t be seeing each other again for a very long time.” Fucker’s gonna be a hard-ass all the way up until the very end.

His comment gets ignored as I step out of the cell and give Raid one last tip of my head. He has years left on his sentence. Years left on a crime he didn’t even commit. Me. I was guilty of mine. Although, being that it was my first offense, it was a pretty damn steep sentence to be given five years with no chance of gettin’ out on good behavior. But being that Hunter’s father is buddy buddy with the judge who presided over my case, it wasn’t a big fucking shocker. Knew they were going to throw the book at me, and they did.

“That brain of yours is churning awfully fast. You nervous about being on the outside, Twinkle Toes?” Burbank is gonna end up with a busted lip if he doesn’t quit. The man knows just how to push my fucking buttons. I crack my jaw, so I don’t crack his nose and get myself locked up again. I’ve got shit I have to take care of on the outside and it can’t fucking wait. “You better be on your best fucking behavior, Monk, or you’ll be back in here with me.”

I heed his warning, but I can guarantee he won’t be seeing me again on the inside. Because this time, I have no intention of getting caught. You learn a few things behind bars. And one valuable lesson is how to get rid of the fucking body so nothing can be traced back to you.

“I mean it.” His eyes narrow in. That deep voice of his thick with warning. “You keep your nose clean and mind your own business.”

I nod. I’m sure this is the same shit he tells all the inmates upon their release. His bon voyage pep talk. Only, he’s wasting his breath on me. I’m not letting that stupid little shit Hunter get away with what he did. He and his father both are going to pay. And no one can stop me.

Burbank leads me into the processing room and has the officer on duty retrieve my personal effects. The crate that’s brought out contains a new set of clothes, my wallet, and mycell phone. Guess they knew I wasn’t going to fit into the clothes I came in with. I’ve quadrupled in size. Think I may have even grown a few inches too. Although, my newfound height is probably on account of me not slouching and hanging my head low anymore. Now, I hold my head fucking high—not intimidated by a damn thing. Not fucking ashamed or afraid.

“Change in there.” Banks gestures toward a door on my left. “Get yourself all pretty for society, Twinkle Toes, and then I’ll take you out to your ride.” I shoot him a warning look. If he calls me that one more fucking time, he’s going to regret it. His stance widens and our glares are at a standoff. I contemplate my choices. Strike him down and stay, which is exactly what he wants me to do, or…take my shit and change so I can finally get my vengeance. I opt for the latter, stepping inside the room. If I had to do another five years behind bars knowing that fucking spawn is still breathing on the outside, I’d go insane.

I flip on the light, shocked to find a mirror hanging on the wall. Someone could shatter the thing and use a slice as a weapon. For the first time in five years, I get a glimpse of my reflection. My fists clenching at my sides. The monster staring back at me is unrecognizable. Buzzed head inked with reminders of my purpose. Black eyes that no longer show any form of a soul. A jagged scar that runs across my face—a reminder of penance owed. My neck is wide, covered in more ink. The veins at my forehead and temple protruding. And my body is now a weapon, ready to attack.

It won’t be long now. I’ve plotted and schemed. I’ve spent night after night, day after day, planning it out. Running over every detail of how I intend to kill him. The trap I’m going to set. The shocked look in his eyes when he finds me lurking in the shadows. His screams won’t be heard. His pleas for mercy will go ignored. And once death takes its hold, his body will burn to ash and the one who tormented that scared kid for all those yearswill blow away like dust in the wind. And his father… He’ll be arrested for murdering his son, serving life without parole. It’s payment for raising a fucking bully.

As soon as I walk out of the room, Burbank’s eyes scan me over, but he keeps his comments to himself. Good fucking thing because my nerves are balancing on a razor’s edge. For as much as I want to be on the other side to get my vengeance, there are men in here I’m going to miss. Men who have become like family.

He leads me to the doors and out of the prison where there’s a patrol car waiting for me. I turn to him with a cocked brow. “Fancy ride. You didn’t call for a limo?”

Banks smirks. “Bentley’s a good cop. You can trust him.” He turns his back to the car, lowering his voice. “Listen to me, Monk. You need anything, you call. My number’s programmed in your phone under Dick.” My lips quirk up at that. “But I mean it. Don’t do anything stupid. Next time, they may throw away the key.”

I don’t think what I’m about to do is stupid at all. Personally, I think it’s fucking genius. And if I get caught, so fucking be it. There’s nothing left for me on the outside. Mom’s buried and gone, and all my friends are behind bars. Either way, I can live with the outcome. Life without parole or the death sentence, makes no difference to me.

“Adios, Twinkle Toes.”

I grit my teeth, my eyes narrowing in on his rugged mug. He thinks he’s fucking hilarious.

“You may want to sleep with one eye open, Banks; you’re liable to be paid a visit.”

“I dare you, Monk.” He winks. “You’ll get to see what happens when there’s no one around to stop me from doing what I really want to do to your ass.”

A shiver runs down my spine. And that would be my cue to leave. I tip my chin and turn. It’s time to go.

CHAPTER 2

Monk

Three months later…

Aloud clack of thunder hits, and I smile. It’s the perfect night for a murder. Just like a thriller novel. The monster lurks in the dark, a storm brewing inside his head while the rain comes pouring down. A cold chill seeps into his bones as he lies in wait. And the victim is going about his life, not giving thought to anything other than the fact that his fancy shoes are going to get wet, and his hair will be a mess when he steps outside. He has no clue that he’s about to meet his doom. Only, it’s not going to happen that quickly. He’s not getting off that easily.

I’ve opted for delayed gratification, wanting Hunter to serve his time first. Killing him tonight wouldn’t be justice. For years I lived in fear, sick to my stomach, feeling worthless and inhuman. Night after night, I suffered from nightmares. Crying in bed because there was nothing I could do to stop it. No one I could turn to for help without putting my mom’s life in jeopardy.Having to see the sadness in her eyes every time she looked at me. Her only son a gruesome ogre, hideous and weak.

It was supposed to end in high school. College was going to be my freedom, but instead, I was still living in hell. The stares. The comments. The repulsion on everyone’s faces when I walked into class. I had to start taking my courses online after the first semester, becoming a recluse for fear of walking across campus and getting something thrown at me. Once again, I was lonely and miserable, with nothing but my computer to keep me company.

When the threatening emails started to come in, Hunter demanding I write his college essays for him, I snapped. That’s when I became the best hacker in the world. Imploding his system with viruses, shutting down his email accounts, learning how to siphon money from his bank account. But then…I slipped up and was caught. The cops showed up at my door and the next thing I knew, I was sentenced to five years, courtesy of Hunter’s fucking father.

So, killing him tonight would be too merciful and Hunter Sorent doesn’t deserve an ounce of mercy.