Chapter 11 Cinerator #2
The Grave Prowlers stayed clear of that shit. We didn’t run guns or drugs because it was an oversaturated market in California. But creating a cash flow people needed? Always in demand. That was why we had the printing press.
“I’m going to knock on the door. See who answers.”
“Let’s go.”
We walked right up, banged on the door loud enough to wake the dead twice, but no one answered.
“What about the back?”
“Worth a shot. Maybe he’s having a smoke in the backyard.”
Sarcasm. It seemed Ethan was fluent.
The gate wasn’t locked, so we entered, walking around the house to the back door. It stood wide, and the stench coming from it nearly stole my breath from my lungs. A sickening odor of decomposition immediately put me on alert.
I pulled my gun from the holster and aimed toward the door. “Cover me while I peek inside.”
Ethan nodded, looking around the yard and the large shed on the property.
I walked up the deck steps and peered into the house.
Sure enough, a body lay there. Male. Covered in blood.
A sack over his head. He was tied to a kitchen chair that toppled over at some point.
The corpse couldn’t have been there for more than half a day.
The smell wasn’t creeping beyond the property lines yet, but it would soon.
“Body,” I confirmed. “Hard to say who, but male.”
Ethan cursed. “We need to call it in.”
“Not until we’re sure that’s Max.”
Ethan opened his mouth to reply when we saw the shed door open, and someone walked out—a guy with shaggy blond hair, cheap tattoos, and bloody hands.
“Max!”
The guy’s head whipped toward us. He recognized Ethan and dropped the bag of lime in his hands. Fresh out of prison and already killing. Gwen was definitely in danger.
Max bolted for the fence and started climbing it when Ethan shouted at him to stop. Literally caught red-handed, Max wasn’t going to listen. He vaulted over the top of the fence.
Ethan rushed after him at the same time as I did.
The body in the house wasn’t our problem.
My boots hit the ground on the other side of the fence, and I ran after the fucker who hurt my woman, pumping my arms faster to catch up to Max.
Ethan passed me, a snarl on his face. He wanted vengeance for his sister, and there wasn’t any way he was giving that up.
I had to admit Gwen’s brother was earning my respect.
The chase led us beyond the street we started on, across the block, and down another road.
I didn’t realize how close we were to the woods until Max disappeared into the trees ahead.
Ethan went in after him, and I followed.
Branches slapped at my arms and face, but I didn’t stop, pounding my boots into the ground and crunching leaves beneath the tread.
After several minutes, I heard rushing water, surprised to find we weren’t far from the river. In front of me, a gap in the trees opened to an unobstructed view. I halted to a stop in front of it when I noticed how high it had gotten, nearly reaching the top of the embankment.
Max hopped onto a log that stuck out into the water and slowly moved away from us. Maybe he thought he could jump and escape.
I lifted my gun. “Don’t move.”
He took another step, and I fired, hitting the bark as Max froze. “Don’t know who the fuck you are, but we don’t have a problem. You could walk away.”
Ethan scoffed. “Like I’d let you.”
“You just met your worst nightmare, motherfucker. Gwen is my ol’ lady. You’re gonna be her gift. Wrapped up, punished, and delivered in ashes.”
“I’ll jump first.” He took another step and wobbled on the log.
Apparently, Ethan wasn’t in the mood to talk. He was much closer than I was, and I blinked in shock when he dove for Max. They collided in the air, Ethan’s fist connecting with Max’s jaw before they tumbled into the river.
Shit!
I holstered my weapon and rushed toward the water, leaning over the embankment as I waited for one or both to surface.
My luck was shit because my cell slipped out of my cut and sank into the rushing water.
My hand shot out to catch it, but I missed.
Agitated, I had to let it go because all three of us in the river was a terrible idea.
Ethan surfaced first, followed by Max. I had to run to catch up to them since the current was pulling them downriver. Ethan grappled with Max in the water and managed to shove him toward the shore. I reached out and grabbed him, hauling his ass out of the water.
Ethan panted as I helped him out next.
We turned to Max, who held up his hands. “Fuck. Don’t kill me.”
“Oh, I’ve got a fate worse than death for you. It’s going to be a long night.” I didn’t say the words aloud, but Max would die after I got my pound of flesh.
Ethan slapped me on the back. “That grin is diabolical.” He wrung water from his clothes, then patted himself down. “Shit. I lost my phone.”
“You too?” I couldn’t help cracking a dry smile.
“Christ. You lost yours?”
“When I bent down to search for you dumbasses.”
He chuckled. “Don’t play the Lotto today.”
No shit.
Max must have thought we were distracted enough to let him escape. He really was pathetic. Drug dealer? No way. He didn’t have the skills or cunning. Max was just some lowlife with a few extra dollars in his pocket, but nobody with power or influence.
I doubted anyone would miss this piece of shit. He took a life anyway. With the body in his house, the police would assume he was on the run. It worked for my plan.
Max didn’t get more than a few feet when I caught him, kicking him in his ass with my boot. He crumpled to the ground, cradling his left arm since he landed hard on it.
“I need a phone. Gotta call G.D.”
Ethan lifted a brow in silent question.
“My pres. We’re taking Max to the clubhouse.”
It didn’t matter that I said that shit in front of Max. He wouldn’t be leaving the grounds. I wondered if he suspected I was Death, and he wouldn’t last longer than the night.
Before he faced cremation at dawn, he would feel pain, know suffering, and beg for mercy. There would be none.