His eyes close and a lewd smile curves up his lips. “Thea is our little princess. We took care with her, because we didn’t want her to break too soon.”
An animalistic roar comes from behind Trey and the next moment he’s down on the ground with an enraged Emo on top of him. I hold my hand up to Trouble and Judge, warding them off, and let him get a few good punches in. My eyes flicker to my mother. She’s fallen on her side, sobbing as she watches her son-slash-husband get beaten.
Trey’s barely conscious by the time I pull Emo off him. Emo’s hands are covered in blood, some of which is from Trey’s face and some from the key he kept in his hand as he was pummeling him.
Trouble takes over holding Emo back until he’s calmed down. I pick Trey up so he’s on his knees again. Grabbing the front of his shirt, I rear back and put every single bit of fucking strength I have behind the punch I deliver to his face. It’s not nearly as satisfying as slowly killing the bastard, but it’ll do. After propping him back on his knees again, I take a step back and nod to the others.
Judge walks around until he’s to my left, about ten feet away from the couple. Trouble does the same on my right, making sure he’s not in a direct line across from Judge. Emo, who’s practically foaming at the mouth, mirrors my position behind them, but slightly to the side.
I pull out my gun from the holster on my side as my brothers do the same. Raising my arm, I aim at Trey first, the others following suite.
“May Lucifer welcome you with open arms,” Judge begins the dictum reserved for all Finishings.
“And deliver you to the darkest pits of Hell,” comes Emo’s growled words.
“To live out an eternity for the evil deeds you’ve bestowed,” I deliver my part, my voice filled with menace.
“Shall you not rest in peace.”
As the last word leaves Trouble’s mouth, four shots are fired. Before Trey’s body hits the ground, the same shots are delivered in the same locations to my mother. Between the eyes, the heart, base of the neck, and the groin.
My mother’s lifeless eyes are wide as her body falls on top of Trey’s. I holster my gun and walk over to them. I don’t spare them a glance as I kick their bodies into the two graves. Silently, we all shovel dirt over them.
Once we’re done, I toss my shovel to the side and wipe sweat from my brow with my arm. Something that feels like peace settles over me. The door to my past is finally closed.
“You good, brother?” Judge asks.
I look over at him. “More than good.”
My hands move to the small lump in my pants pocket. It may seem kind of twisted for me to kill two people the same day I plan to ask the woman I love to marry me, but to me it’s the perfect time.
What better way is there to shut the door on a past that was dark and painful by celebrating a future that’ll be bright and beautiful?
Eden and Thea are my future. One I plan to cherish, protect, and love for the rest of my days.
JW
Several Months Later…
I STAND AT THE FRONT OF THE church with my hands clasped together in front of me. Sweat beads my forehead and anxious nerves have me constantly shifting my weight from one foot to the other. Every person in Malus is crowded inside the church. Soft whispers and rustling of clothe
s can be heard throughout the room. I keep my eyes pinned on the back, waiting impatiently.
“Will you stand the fuck still? You’re starting to make me nervous.”
I shoot daggers at Judge. “I’m not nervous,” I bit out.
“Then why in the hell do you look like you’re getting ready to haul ass out of here?”
Ignoring his question, I grumble, “What in the hell is taking so long?”
“They’re women,” Trouble answers. “They always take a long time to get ready for shit like this.”
I look down at my watch and frown when I notice the time. Eden, Remi, and Millie should have been here ten minutes ago. What in the hell is going on? Has something happened to them? Did she change her mind? Did they get into a wreck on their way to the church? Are they lying in a mangled car on the side of the road? There’s no one in town who could come across them because they’re all fucking here.
“Check your phone, Trouble, to see if Remi’s messaged you.”
Before he has a chance to pull out his phone, music starts through the speakers and Thea appears at the end of the aisle. I let out a relieved sigh.