Page 76 of Retribution
I stab him in the neck, hitting the carotid artery and blood sprays all over my shirt. In under a minute he’s dead. Danielsobs loudly, and I’m not sure if it’s for his dead brother or fear for his own life. Knowing this family, it’s probably for himself.
“And then there was one,” I taunt him with a giggle.
“You’re insane and evil. You enjoy this. That says everything. The Prophet is right. The devil sent you. And you will burn for eternity.”
Tilting my head, I stare at him, my lips lifting into obvious amusement.
“I do enjoy the warmer climate.”
He shakes his head in disagreement.
“No. It’s a constant burning fire. It’s not warm like the sun. It’ll be brutal.”
I roll my eyes because we grew up in the same family. Nothing he can say about God or the fiery pits of hell could be new information, and I don’t care. If God, assuming he’s real, wants to condemn me to an eternity in hell for saving sixty children then so be it.
“Where is he, Daniel?”
He shakes his head, his voice sounds apologetic but I know better.
“I can’t betray the Prophet.”
Tears stream down his cheeks, and it kind of stuns me. I’ve frequently wondered how many of the men in this family truly believe the teachings and as I stare at Daniel, I know, he’s a believer.
“It’s your choice.” I say, knowing I won’t convince him that this is all bullshit.
“They already told you he’s in the forest. They get water from your pond. I can’t tell you more than that. It is a crime against God to give you his location. I’ve already said too much.”
My hand shakes as I lift the cross and hesitate.
“It’s okay, Killer. We got enough. End him like only you can.”
Killian’s voice is warm, soothing me from the inside out.
I slash his throat from the left to the right as his blood squirts all over me.
Suddenly the emotion from everything overwhelms me. I fall to my knees as a sob erupts painfully from my throat. This is not the person I wanted to be, but they made me this way.
Chapter Forty
KILLIAN
Iwalk over and scoop her into my arms. Holding her close to my chest, I make my way to the front door. On our exit, I pass the security team charged with guarding the place for the night. Carter runs up ahead of us and opens the back door of the SUV, and I carefully slide in with Heather on my lap.
“Are we going to the pond?”
I kiss her on the forehead, holding her close, trying to avoid getting blood on the upholstery.
“Not tonight, baby. We are going to get you cleaned up and into bed. You need rest. Tomorrow we will start looking for him.”
She doesn’t express her disappointment, but I’m sure it’s there.
Knox gets in the driver's seat and Carter slides in beside me.
Gazing at Heather's face, my chest squeezes painfully. Her eyes have a faraway, lost look to them. The normal vibrant hue is a paler shade of blue now.
“Baby. Are you okay?”
Heather blinks several times as if she’s clearing her vision and raises her eyes to mine.
