Chapter 39 #2
“I want answers now. If I don’t get what I want, George is sitting outside your fathers pizza joint, Steven.
” He says to the pissed off looking man, then turns to the scared one, “And Frank is sitting outside of your mother’s book store, Joey.
I’d hate to see anything happen to your parents because their sons are royal fuck ups.
” He slams his fist into Joey’s face, then turns to swing on Steven as well.
Once he starts, he doesn’t stop. Karson and I stand behind and watch him single handedly beat the shit out of both men.
“Alright, alright!” Joey is the first to speak. Nick stops, and takes a step back.
“Shut the fuck up, Joey.” Steven seethes.
“We went and did what you asked. When we got there, Preston was laying out on the back porch, practically dead. I performed CPR and brought him back, then when the house was gone completely, we brought him to Sam.” Joey confesses and I watch as Nick shakes his head.
“Now why the fuck would you go and do that? I said make sure it burns, then leave!” He shouts.
Neither of the men say anything, and I watch as Nick puts the pieces together himself.
“You’ve been working for him, too.” He states. Steven and Joey look at the floor at their feet in shame. Steven’s fight ceases as he accepts his fate.
“How did he find her?” Nick asks, and it’s clear that Joey has nothing else to say. “It doesn’t matter now, she’s safe. And Preston is here too, somewhere.” He waves his hand around in a circle and the two men look at one another before resuming their stares at the floor.
“The two of you fooled me into trusting you. You’re both weak, pathetic excuses for men.
Your parents would be ashamed of the both of you, if they knew what you did.
I’ll spare them the shame of having to look at you ever again.
” Without missing a beat, he pulls his gun off of his hip, and fires a round into both of their skulls, killing them immediately.
Blood sprays onto the concrete behind them, and pools on the floor at their feet as it pours from their wounds.
Nick wipes his forehead, and turns back toward Karson and I.
His shoulders sag and I can see the disappointment in his eyes, but he did the right thing.
“I’ll help you clean up.” Karson states and I nod. Remaining silent, I give them my back and make my way back through the tunnel. Taking my time, I peer through each door’s window–seeing what, or who is inside. Coming up to the third door on the right, I step to the window and look inside.
Jackpot.
Smiling to myself, I reach down and slide the metal lock open.
Pushing the door open, I step into the cold, dark room and look down.
Preston lays on the concrete floor, still knocked unconscious.
I was going to get back up to Parker’s room and wait for her to wake, but now that I’m in here, looking at the person responsible for hurting the love of my life–and robbing my world of any joy and sanity the last two days–I decide to wait.
Closing the door slowly, my eyes never leaving the waste of skin on the floor, I cross my ankles then fold my arms over my chest and wait.
He stirs after about fifteen minutes, groaning and attempting to roll to his side.
His eyes crack open and his soulless blues find me.
Once his fog starts to lift he blinks, and he lets out a laugh when he focuses on me
“That useless piece of shit couldn't even finish the job I paid him for? I want a refund.” He mocks as he attempts to sit up.
“Oh no please.” I say, pushing off of the wall and moving toward him.
“Don’t get up on my account.” My fist launches into the side of Preston’s face, knocking him back down to the floor.
Blood flies from his nose and mouth, and he lets out a twisted chuckle.
Taking a minute to gather his bearings, he attempts to get up and I deliver another blow to the side of his head.
It bounces off the floor with the blow and a satisfying crack echoes in the small cell-like room.
Hovering over him, my breathing becomes erratic and my blood begins to boil as I watch him try to gather his bearings.
This piece of shit doesn’t deserve to breathe the stale, copper scented air in this tunnel.
He took what’s mine, fucking mine. He hurt her, ran across the country with her, and tried to have me killed.
I should end this evil bastard right here and now.
I feel my control about to snap as he rights himself and sits up then looks at me, a twisted grin on his face and his pupils dilate.
“She was never yours.” He growls through labored breathing.
“She was always mine. She will always be mine, Maverick.” he spits at my feet.
My eyes land where his saliva does and I huff an amused laugh through my nose.
Looking back to him, he licks some of the blood from his bottom lip, smug triumph written all of his face.
My arm flies to his throat and I squeeze.
Lifting him off of his feet, I bring him off the ground so that he’s eye level with me.
Can’t have him miss the point I’m about to make.
His eyes begin to bulge from the sockets as I continue to squeeze and walk him backwards toward the wall.
“That’s where you're wrong, Preston.” I growl and slam him into the concrete wall behind him. The air rushes out of his lungs and his eyes close on instinct. Squeezing again on his neck to force his eyes open, he finally looks at me.
“She was always MINE. Even when she was with you, she was MINE. She was placed on this earth to be MINE. I would have always found her, in any lifetime, in any universe. Parker is MINE, and YOU…” I trail off when I see his eyes begin to go vacant.
I slap the side of his face with my free hand.
“Hey fuck stick, pay attention. YOU were in the way. Not only were you in the way, you fucking hurt whats MINE.” He tries to speak but I squeeze harder, effectively forcing him to abandon his attempt at talking, and gasp for air instead.
When he's almost passed out, I loosen my grip and he coughs.
“You gonna…kill me…big guy?” He grins. I mull over his words for a moment.
“No, death would be too kind.” His smile drops and I slam his head into the wall. His body goes limp and I drop him like a sack of potatoes to the floor. Staring down at him, I crack my neck then make my way out of the room. I need to calm down and get back to Parker before she wakes.
Closing the door to the cell, I bump into Nick who’s wiping blood from his hands. He looks to me then through the cell window. “Seems we had similar plans.” He says flatly and I nod.
“He’s unconscious. For now.” I tell him, then give him my back.
As I begin to climb the stairs, I hear the cell door open then close with a slam.
Preston’s in for a long couple of days. I almost feel sorry for the bastard, because as much as I want to torture and destroy him, he robbed Nick and Parker of years together as a family.
If he’s not dead by the end of the night, I’ll be surprised.