Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 83519 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 418(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83519 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 418(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
The porch light glints off the knife in the man’s hand, and it seems to be his weapon of choice. I can give him credit for sticking to what he knows even though a gun would get his revenge much quicker.
“Hi, Sylvie,” the man says, the sound of her name so sinister it makes me wonder how she never suspected him of being a monster.
“Will,” she says, the tremble in her voice making her fear known.
I inch closer, making no noise as I approach. If she were to look over his shoulder, she’d see me, but her focus is on the weapon in his hand.
“I came to give you a gift.” Varon has a necklace dangling from his free hand as I pull my gun from my waistband.
I don’t know the significance of that stupid fucking piece of jewelry, but it has the power to nearly bring Sylvie to her knees.
Sentimental shit is dangerous. People will do anything to keep it close. It’s why I don’t own anything I can’t leave behind. It gives people power over you, and that’s something I’ve avoided my entire life.
“No. Please no,” she whispers, her voice taking on a broken note.
“You recognize it, don’t you?” Varon taunts. The locket at the end sways back and forth, but the knife in his other hand remains steady.
“My dad was livid when my cousin brought her home. I was very young, but I can still hear them arguing about taking a woman so close to where we lived. Dad was certain that it would bring the cops to our door. She had the power to bring down the entire organization.”
I have no idea why I’m still watching all of this go down. Maybe it’s the tears on her cheeks, or the sureness in his voice despite Spade standing only a few feet behind Sylvie. The man has to know this isn’t going to go well for him. He isn’t just going to be able to walk away from Sylvie if he hurts her like he was able to do with Greta. There’s a very real chance the man will die tonight, and maybe that’s what he’s seeking. Maybe he’s ready for it all to be over for him.
“Lucky for us no one even filed a missing person report on her.” Sylvie is shaking her head as if the man is telling the truth but she just can’t believe it. “It was a gift, right? Something she always wore and never took off? My cousin told me she fought for it when it was pulled from her neck.”
“Will,” she says, the pleading in her tone making my skin crawl.
“Do you think she’d still love you today if she knew you gave up so easily on her?”
She begins to sob, her hand shaking as if she’s willing to risk her life to reach out and grab the thing out of his hand.
I don’t know this woman from one I’d walk past on the street, but her stupidity is about to get her killed. I know Spade would’ve already shot the man had he thought for a second he could do it and not hit his woman.
I step up on to the porch, pressing my gun to his head. “Give me a fucking reason.”
Will doesn’t spin around to face me, but he doesn’t lower the knife either. It’s clear he’s fucking deranged, his mind only able to focus on Sylvie standing in front of him.
“Drop the fucking knife,” I demand.
Varon smiles, the sight of it making me wonder just how fucked in the head he is, but then Sylvie is shoved to the side and Spade is plowing through the door.
The knife goes flying, and it’s as if with Sylvie out of his direct line of sight, Varon can finally focus on what’s actually going on.
He tries to run, tries to fight us off, but it’s impossible. Spade is like an attack dog and won’t even let the man take a breath as he’s flung off the porch, breaking it.
As if the night comes alive, men with guns at the ready appear from the darkness. Before I can put a bullet in Varon’s head, his hands are locked behind his back with zip ties and he’s being led away. I feel no sense of closure as he’s roughly shoved into the back of an SUV.
I want to argue with them, remind them that he’s mine to deal with because I just can’t seem to let this case go, but the sound of sirens quickly approaching make my decision for me.
“Hey,” Spade snaps as I start to fade back into the shadows.
He watches my face for a moment before he holds his hand out. I look down at the thing, knowing what he wants but unwilling to just give it to him as he demands it.