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D’s finished kicking the shit out of me and started toward Tasha.
I push myself up. Slowly at first, starting shakily on my knee, then I rise exhaustedly to my feet. Pretty sure I’ve got a couple broken ribs and I’m probably concussed. I’m bleeding as much as D was earlier.
But I’m not giving up. This was a fight ’til the end, and it’s not the end yet.
Tasha’s fumbled for one of the guns in my holster, aiming it at D.
Just by the way she holds it I can tell Tasha’s never shot a gun before.
Big D couldn’t be less intimidated. He laughs some more as he walks toward her. “T, put that shit down. You should be kissing my ass you’re still breathing. You should be happy I haven’t busted a cap in your ass yet.”
At first, I’m unsure if Tasha sees me, but then her gaze flits slightly beyond Big D before she refocuses on him. She seems to understand.
Don’t shoot. I’m handling him.
With my jaw clenched and fury beating through me, I break out into a sprint. Big D doesn’t notice until I’m leaping at him. I spear into him in a tackle that’s rough and designed to knock the wind out of him.
Two titan-sized men sailing through the air.
We land with a loud crash. I’m on him. I’m pummeling him. My fists slam into his face, bashing it in.
His eye socket shatters. His nose is smashed into jelly. Teeth go flying. Blood squirts everywhere. All over him and all over me.
I black out beating the shit out of him. He loses consciousness and I don’t notice. I keep going.
Just like Cragen. I battered him to death too. Beat him so bad his face was unrecognizable by the time I was through.
“Louis!” Tasha yells.
Her voice is the only thing that pulls me out of the black hole of rage and savagery I’ve fallen down. My breaths come out of me in deep, ragged exhales, and I’m dazed coming out of my trance.
“Tasha…”
She’s still holding my NAME OF GUN, though she carries a different air. More like the Tasha I know and less like the terrified Tasha I’d seen earlier around Big D. Her tears have dried and she’s no longer shaking.
“I want to do it. I want to end him.”
I look back down at him. He’s alive, but just barely. His face battered and bruised, he groans as lays on the ground.
“Tasha,” I croak. “I’ve got guys who’ll be coming. They’ll finish him off and dispose of him.”
She shakes her head. “D’s made my life hell since I was fourteen. He took advantage of me and sold me to his friends. He’s threatened to hurt Zara, Tiffany, and Ramon for years just to get me to do what he wanted. Today, he was going to kill me because he believed I was outside his control. Louis, I want to do it. It’s my fucking right.”
I stand up and move to her side, giving her clear aim.
Tasha’s been secretive about her past, but if what she’s said is true—Big D put her through hell. Why shouldn’t she get to pay him back by doing the same?
“You need help?” I ask.
She holds out her arms, both hands wrapped around the grip. I readjust her fingers and explain the trigger, safety, and front sight, among other things.
“It’s good to go,” I say. “All you have to do is pull the trigger. We’re alone for miles. Nobody will hear. Do it when you’re ready.”
With a deep breath inhaled, Tasha nods. She looks down at Big D and then she does it. She pulls the trigger and ends Big D.
TWENTY
Tasha
