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“Beside you,” I sing.
He aims toward the trunk of his car, but I quickly duck. When I pop back up, he’s ready to shoot, though the agony makes him shaky.
I pull my trigger, hitting his hand. He drops his gun as he cries out. The knowledge of his impending death has turned Juan Carlos into a sniveling wreck. This version of him holds none of the class and violence that earned him the spot as top advisor.
My aim doesn’t deviate. I keep my gun trained on the blighted man as I step in front of him. HIs nostrils flare as he clutches his empty hand to his chest.
“You should have died in your apartment,” Juan tells me, struggling to control his pained breathing.
“I know, but I’ve never been good at just rolling over and taking it,” I reply with a shrug. “I’ve been planning this moment since I was thirteen. Senior helped you play right into my hand.”
“You knew?” he asks, disbelieving.
“I didn’t know you’d go after my guys first. But I knew when he called you to kill me, you’d leave the compound. And that’s what I’ve been waiting for since Senior went to jail.” I tip his head up with my gun, repeating the words he once said to me. “Now, hold still and take it, Juan. You know you want it.”
I smile mockingly at him as I pull the trigger. Blood weeps from the small puncture in his forehead, splitting at the top of his nose to run down his cheeks like crimson tears.
I calmly walk across the driveway toward Lory and Riot. They study me, each searching for different reactions, though they want to know the same answers.
Am I okay?
Did I get my revenge?
The truth is, I’ve long healed from the physical damage. It was a lifetime ago. The mental trauma has helped shape me into the monster I am today.
It was the bitter anger that I needed to release.
I don’t get a chance to relay this, to answer their silent questions.
Kane finally comes out, gun raised like the shootout might not be over.
“Is it over?”
I give him a strained smile. “Yes.”
“What the fuck was this?” he asks, glaring at all of us as he tucks his gun in the holster at his waist.
“They were here to kill us,” Riley replies.
“Why?” Kane snaps.
I sigh. Even if I didn’t want to tell him who I am, this would have forced my hand. There’s no way around it.
“Because of me.”
He jerks his gaze around the crimson-stained driveway. “All of them?”
“Uhh, yeah,” Lory drawls, rubbing his hand over the back of his neck.
“What are you caught up in?” Kane whispers to me.
I grimace at the concern in his tone. “It’s a long story, but I’ll give you the short version inside.”
He nods, glancing around once more. “Have you checked—”
“They’re all dead,” Riot interrupts.
“We need to call—”
