Page 78 of XO Karma

I cock the gun, and his face reddens, veins practically popping from his forehead. “Spank me!” he bellows, and I chortle.

“Spank you… what?”

“Spank me like a bad boy!” he grits out.

Another giggle erupts out of me. I should not get this much pleasure from holding a gun to someone’s head, but knowing the horrible things he’s done does ease the ache. Besides, all I’m going to leave him with is a lesson and a bit of humiliation.

My eyes find the mantel, and a light bulb flashes in my mind.

“You’re mental,” he huffs as I shove him away, walk over, and pick up his favorite art piece. Returning to his desk, the barrel still aimed his way, I set the piece on top. “Be very careful about what you do next, or the newest head on my mantel will be yours.”

I narrow my eyes. “Didn’t I already warn you about underestimating me?”

“Do you have any clue who you’re dealing with here? Who I am? What I’m capable of?” He spits on me, and in a blink, I drop the barrel, pressing it against his dick, and he freezes. His widened shoulders attempt stoicism, but his eyes are swimming with fear. And fuck if it doesn’t make me feel some type of way to know I’ve terrified this heartless, ruthless man. For a split moment, I find myself understanding Aster. All the horrible things Vetrel has done, I could end it here. In an instant. Prevent him from causing harm to anyone else. Solve Amara’s landlord problems. Sometimes a lesson isn’t enough to get someone to stop. One pull of the trigger. Why can’t I pull the trigger?

I shake away the dangerous thought. Losing that bit of my morality, I’m not sure I could ever recover.

“I’m going to talk, and you’re going to listen,” I say, eyes boring into his that are firing with fury. “And if you don’t,” I whisper, bringing my face closer, “I’ll shoot your dick off.”

“You’re dead,” he snarls, and I pull the trigger, blasting a bullet into his thigh. My ears ring as he screams in agony, and I grab that stupid scarf around his neck, tighten it, and shove it in his mouth.

“Ready to listen yet?” I ask as he whines in pain. “Or shall we blast off the first testicle?” He nods, and I take pride seeing a teardrop fall from his eye as he spits out the scarf. “You will stop squeezing your tenants for money.” I return the barrel to his cock, and his brows furrow. “And if you don’t…” I bring my face inches from his, retrieving the XO Karma lighter from my pocket with my free hand. “I’m going to come back, and first, I’m gonna blow your dick off as promised. Then, I’m gonna shoot you in your legs, tie you to a chair”—I flick my thumb, a flame flickering between us—“light the place on fire, and watch as it, and you, burns to nothing but ashes that no one will miss.” Unbridled power surges through my veins as he trembles with anger before me. “Do you understand?”

Indecision wages behind his eyes. He wants to fight, but he’s wondering if this is the battle or the war. He’s calculating how important it is if he wins or loses.

“I said…” I dig the barrel deep, shoving it against his dick. Who even am I? I feel completely out of control yet invincible all at once. But I don’t stop. “Do you understand me?”

He nods begrudgingly.

“Out. Loud.”

He holds his leg, groaning. “I understand.”

“Oh, goodie.” A wide grin spreads across my face as I click the safety on the gun. “Was that so hard?” I holster the weapon in the back of my skirt’s waistband and retrieve my dagger off the ground. After wiping it against his shirt to clean off the blood, I sheath it. “Now.” I grab my wig and readjust it, then retrieve my boot. “I’m leaving, and you’re going to wait five minutes to call for your little man children to help you. Can you count that high?” I extend one finger after another, wiggling them once all are up.

“Fuck you!” His face is red, veins bulging in his forehead.

“Aw, sorry.” I jut out my lower lip. “But I’d rather choke on acid than be anywhere near your micropenis.”

I stroll over to the desk and snatch the diamond skull, then place it in my handbag. “And I’m going to keep this as a little extra insurance.”

“Don’t you dare.”

“Goodbye, Frederick.” I blow him a kiss as I reach the door. “Karma looks good on you.”

26

ASTER

It’s been hours since Lily and I spoke. According to my watch, it’s only been thirty-three minutes. But it feels like hours.

She said I shouldn’t come, and she was probably right given I would have broken Vetrel’s hand the moment he laid a finger on her.

Of course she can handle herself, but that doesn’t mean I was going to wait in my house for a box to arrive with her head in it. She wants to do this herself, fine, but I’ll be waiting here, leaning against my bike across the street from Vetrel’s, trying to look inconspicuous, in case it all goes to shit.

My phone buzzes, and I pull it out of my pocket, veins rushing hot. Gregory’s name flashes across the screen, the first time in over a year, and it instills a panic in me. After the text a few days ago, I thought he got the message.

The phone sits so long in my hand, the call goes to voicemail. Well, I guess that decides that. Buzzing restarts immediately, heightening my anxiety