Page 2 of Vicious Like Me

“Oh, yeah. You remember exactly who my little sister is. Don’t you?” Kneeling down to his level, I caress my gun against Lenny’s bloodied cheek. He’s trembling so hard now, the shackles are rattling. “Tell me, Lenny, have you ever imagined what it would feel like to be fucked with the barrel of a gun?”

A sob rips from his throat.

“Some people say that there’s a thrill so intoxicating about it that normal sex can never be the same. The fear ramps you up to another level.”

Fat tears and snot leak all over Lenny’s face. He slams his eyes shut, furiously shaking his head back and forth. He has no idea that I would never rape anyone. Not even those who helped Franko abuse my poor little sister.

They don’t deserve that mercy, but I’ll never forget the fear I could see etched into the scratchy scrawl of my sister’s handwriting as she recounted the numerous heinous acts Franko and his buddies had subjected her to. I’ll torture the shit out of every one of them, but I can’t—and won’t—step over that line. I refuse to.

“One more chance. I won’t ask again. What’s the PIN?” I tap the gun against Lenny’s temple. He screams, fear oozing out of him in hysterical wails.

“Three-four-six-seven!” he shouts. “My pin is three, four, six, seven.”

“Good boy.” I smirk, powering the phone on and tapping the numbers on the screen. “Now, was that so hard?”

The phone lights up as it’s unlocked, and I’m granted access. Lenny continues to cry as I take my time looking through his files. Then I see it: a calendar icon that gives me access to Franko’s schedule. “For how private and secretive he is, ‘The Director’ seems to be a moron,” I emphasize Franko’s stage name and chuckle. “If I had a personal assistant who went missing, you can bet your bottom dollar that I’d be moving things around.”

I spot the exact opening I’ve been looking for. Fuck, this is too good to be true. Franko has a whole fancy-ass restaurant booked for the 13th. The Gilded Cage. Something about the name is pinging some bells in my head, but I can’t quite place it. All I know for sure is that this place is always booked out in advance.

“It seems he’s even more successful than I originally thought if he can afford to close down such a high-end restaurant,” I murmur, more to myself. Tugging my phone from my pocket, I snap a few photos of his screen before powering it off. The last thing I need is someone tracking our location. Now, I need to find a way to verify Franko’s plans for that evening. If his schedule changes, I’m back to square one.

“H-he’s too lazy to change things,” Lenny says from his spot on the floor. “The Director probably assumes that since there wasn’t any tampering with my phone, that he’s safe.”

I arch a curious brow. Why the hell is he telling me this? As if hearing my thoughts, he answers my unsaid question. “Please. I don’t want to die here today.”

My mind recalls Fiona’s journal entries she left behind, conjuring images to life. Memories, not mine, but vivid all the same. Lenny might not have laid a finger on my sister, but he watched. He filmed it. He enjoyed himself as others split her open and tore her soul apart. Then, he uploaded the video to the black web for The Director’s subscribers to enjoy. He didn’t do a single fucking thing to help her.

No, Lenny will not survive the night.

“Unfortunately, there isn’t much I can do for you, Lenny.” I tap my chin as if in thought. “Did you know a belly shot is extremely painful? If treated right away, you might have a chance of survival. But I doubt anyone will come for you even after you’re dead.”

“Please,” he whimpers.

“I’m doing the world a favor, you know. You’ll never rape another soul again. And you’ll never get the opportunity to just sit there and watch.”

I let the words sink in before I raise my gun and aim. Lenny screams before the bullet even pierces his stomach. Thank fuck I didn’t bring my 45; shooting him this close means he probably would have died instantly. I step close to his writhing body and crouch down, making sure not to step in his pooling blood.

“Please,” he tries again, gasping. “Help me!”

“No, I’d rather not.” I let the manic smile return to my face, hoping it’s the last thing Lenny sees. “I’m willing to show you the same kindness you showed my sister.”

True fear flickers across his face, blending together with the pain. It’s a beautiful sight.

“If you’re lucky, you’ll die in a few agonizing seconds. However, to be perfectly honest, it could take several minutes for you to bleed out—painfully. But don’t worry, Lenny, I’ll be right here. Watching.”

Chapter two

Jericho

Ireadjust the expensive blood-red cufflinks on my dress shirt before inspecting my appearance in the mirror. The designer suit projects an image of a sophisticated, wealthy businessman, concealing the killer within.

Exactly how I’m supposed to appear when meeting with the head of the Moretti family. Anyone watching would see me as a typical wealthy businessman aiming to collaborate with Alessandro Moretti. Not one of his favorite hitmen.

While I technically outsource my services to people willing to pay my hefty fee through the dark web, my favorite client is Alessandro. He gets me. Even within the dangerous Italian Mafia, the Moretti family is held in high regard for their established rules, loyalty, and ethical principles. Something I can respect.

Alessandro recognizes that I’m the best of the best, and there’s a reason he comes to me first when he needs someone taken care of discreetly. My track record allows me the luxury of selecting my targets. Sure, I don’t go after women and children, but it’s more than that. Alessandro is the only one who knows my secret. I only take cases that involve the world’s dirtiest scum. And I don’t accept jobs that target the innocent. The Cleaner is not just a moniker; it’s who I am.

Glancing at my watch, I check the time before descending the stairs in my two-story house. Efficient time handling is one of many habits from my military days. It’s why I have a spotless reputation. I’m a huge fan of discipline and organization. Every detail is meticulously planned and executed. And I sure as hell have contingency plans for my contingency plans if shit hits the fan.