Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 82842 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82842 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
When Marc started to come to, I walked over and grabbed Shotgun’s deer skinning rack—a device he’d only used on our most malevolent adversaries. I remembered Frankie tell me that Marc was an avid hunter, so I had no doubt he’d seen the piece of equipment before. I placed it right in front of him, then grabbed a fist full of his hair, pulling his head back as his eyes fluttered open. As soon as he saw the skinning rack, his eyes widened with fear.
“I’m sure, being an avid hunter like you are, you know there are several ways you can use a skinning rack like this. Some like to hang their kill on the gamble using rope or zip-ties, but there are others who prefer to use the Achille’s tendon. Damn. I bet that hurts like a sonofabitch, don’t you?”
I thought about all the shit this man had put Frankie and her boys through. I’d known he’d hurt her, but until now, I hadn’t realized how bad it had really been. She seemed so strong, so put together. I never dreamed it was as bad as it really was. It proved that some really do have the power to overcome their past. It made me wonder why I hadn’t been able to do the same. I’d let my mind haunt me and prevent me from having any kind of relationship with a woman. I was done with that bullshit. I might’ve had my father’s blood in me, but I was not my father. I figured if I could change, maybe—just maybe, Marc could do some changing of his own. He’d just have to have the right motivation.
“You can’t do this.”
“Oh, but I can.” I took out my knife and used it to cut open his shirt. I ran the tip of the blade down the middle of his chest as I told him, “I can mount you on this rack and gut you like a fucking deer, and there’s not a damn thing you could do to stop me.”
“What do you want from me?”
“I want you to be a decent fucking human being. I want you to be a father to your boys, not a fucking dictator. Show them what it is to be a father who earns their love and respect instead of demanding it. I want you to leave Frankie alone. Let her live her life without any more of your bullshit, but I’m not sure you’re actually capable of doing that.” I pressed the blade against his chest, drawing blood as I inched it down his sternum. “A man like you doesn’t know how to be decent.”
“I do...I can,” he stammered. “Just let me go, and I’ll prove it.”
“I don’t know. I’m not convinced just yet.”
“I’ll do anything you ask. Just don’t do this.”
I removed the blade from his chest as I told him, “Only a real sonofabitch preys on someone weaker than themselves. I should just end you right now. It’s what you deserve, but I’m going to give you one shot to fix things. You fuck up, even once, and you’ll find yourself back in this room. Only next time, you’ll be mounted on the deer skinner. You got that?”
“Yeah. I got it.”
“And don’t even think about going to the cops about our little visit.” I walked over and grabbed the file Menace had brought me. I’d asked him to look into Marc to see if he could find anything I could use against him. I was just hoping for a little dirt to keep him quiet about our exchange. I never dreamed he’d find what he did. I carried the file over to Marc and pulled out the scan he’d done on the asshole’s computer server. “If you do, I’ll make sure they find out about your fixation with kiddie porn. You sick motherfucker. How can you look at all this bullshit?”
“That’s not mine!” he lied. “I’d never...”
“Save it. I’ve got the proof right here. Also got proof of all your tax evasion bullshit.” I held up the report Menace made on his finances. “Not surprised that you’d be so fucking stupid. A few years behind bars might do you some good.”
“No, I’ll fix this. I swear it. Just give me a chance.”
“You’ve got one and only one.” I looked him dead in the eye as I snarled, “One fuck up and...”
“I know. I know. I won’t fuck up,” he cried. “I swear.”
“We’ll see.”
I’d said all I had to say, so I reared back my fist and slammed it into his jaw, knocking him out once again. I called Shotgun in, and we loaded him back up into the SUV and carried him back to the coffee shop. The asshole was still out when we got him back in his car and locked the doors. Before we left him there, Shotgun turned to me and asked, “You sure the club isn’t gonna get any blowback from this?”