Page 51 of Rowe

“Where’s my granddaughter?” asked Rossi.

“She’s dead. Thanks to you and chaining me to that concrete slab, she was killed during the hurricane. So, in essence, you killed her,” said Mara.

“You’re lying,” he said with a strange expression. It was a cross between regret and fear, but Mara couldn’t put a solid finger on it to be sure.

“I don’t lie. She was in her daycare, and it was swept away because I couldn’t get to her. You were so consumed with killing me, you lost what you really wanted.”

“Then you’ll pay for that as well,” said Rossi taking a step forward.

“You still don’t get it, city boy,” smirked Beaux. “You ain’t leavin’ here with Mara and in fact, you ain’t leavin’ here period.”

Rossi laughed, turning as if on cue his men to laugh with him. They allowed strained, forced laughter to float across the field but no one was finding humor in this at all. The whole area was fucking haunted, and they wanted no part of it.

“I’m glad you think that’s funny,” said Gator coming around the corner of the store. At his feet were Alvin, Mabel, and Penelope. Rossi actually took three steps backward. “Alvin sure wants to get a taste of those leather shoes of yours.”

“Who the fuck are you?” he growled.

“I’m no one you want know,” said Gator. “But you know of me and my family.”

Rossi stared at him, shaking his head. He didn’t know this man, nor did he recognize his face.

“Mr. Rossi, do you know who owns everything for as far as the eye can see?” asked Mara. He didn’t respond, waiting for her to finish. “It’s an amazing group of people, an amazing family. A group of families, really.”

“Families?” he asked in a low voice. In his mind, family meant his kind of family. He owned the business here. No one else.

“That’s right. Families. Shall I give you some names? Dougall. Robicheaux. Redhawk. Wolfkill. Jordan. Should I go on?”

With each name said, Rossi’s face paled. He knew of them. His father knew them. Even is grandfather. The men behind him began to whisper, some already retreating to their vehicles.

“Stay where you are or so help me, God, I will fucking shoot you myself.” Rossi’s face was burning with anger and fear.

“No offense, sir, but you don’t possess enough bullets to kill all of us. You might get a few, but not all. And if you don’t kill us, they damn sure will. You’re outnumbered, Mr. Rossi,” said Theo.

“How you figure? I see three men and a fucking woman!”

One by one the men revealed themselves, then some coming as small groups. They came from the store, from behind the store, from within the trees, on the boats. Six men revealed themselves from the bayou in black scuba gear. Rossi was surrounded.

Rowe stood on the porch now but took a step forward.

“You tried to kill my woman,” he said in a possessive anger. “For that alone, I am going to kill you.”

“Shoot them!” yelled Rossi.

The men who had emerged from the water, trees, and building all stood with strange looking weapons pointed at the men. Not one of them was willing to test their luck against this group of people. Not one.

“Didn’t you hear me? You fucking useless pieces of shit! Shoot them!” Theo turned and pointed his weapon at Rossi’s head, but Rowe stepped closer. Rossi gasped at the man’s audacity. Rowe smirked.

“He’s mine. No offense.” Theo stared at him for a moment and then nodded.

“Does that save me from being eaten by those things?” he asked pointing to the reptiles.

“Maybe,” smirked Rowe. “Depends on how hungry they are today.”

“Time for us to go inside, honey,” said Beaux taking Mara’s hand and pulling her back inside the store.

“But I want to watch!” she said.

“No. No, you don’t.”