Eighteen
Rage
“Gotta love Shadow,” Razor implies when we walk inside the warehouse. Lola is strapped down to a chair, gag in her mouth, and the fucker beside her is hangin’ from the rafter, arms above his head, feet tied together, blood drippin’ from a wound in his gut.
“All in a day’s work, brother,” Shadow replies, standing off to the side. When Shovel called Shadow, he’d already found the two together, Lola with a gun pointed at the gas station attendant, Nick. She was pissed that he didn’t plant any evidence in the warehouse. That’s what happens when you hire a grunt to do a man’s work, plus the only thing they were somehow able to do was fuck with our surveillance feed. They couldn’t enter the warehouse, fuckin’ thankfully.
“Thanks. The cunt say anythin’ worthwhile?” I ask Shadow.
“Sang like a fuckin’ canary. There’s a reason Jolie’s mom never allowed her into their life. Seems Lola here was always a deceitful bitch. Somehow managed to cut her own sister out of their parents’ life. Not that it can be all Lola, gotta have a stitch of evil in the parents somewhere to go along with that crock of shit. Then, when their parents died, before Jolie’s momma could do anythin’ to contest the will—she didn’t want the money, by the way, only a few heirlooms—Lola sold everything, pocketing the cash. The kicker, though, is, she doesn’t have a pot to piss in. All that time Jolie was cleanin’ and workin’ like a slave, Lola was sittin’ on her fat ass, gamblin’ on her tablet. It’s a good thing Jolie took over the books when she did, or The Breezeway would have been gone long ago.” Fuck, this shit sinks to my gut. There’s no damn way I’ll be telling Henry the full details. It’d only send him into a tailspin.
“Seems she likes you, Shadow. Is she gonna like you even more when we feed her to the gators in the swamp?” I say, taking Lola’s gag off, wanting to hear her scream as she takes her last few breaths of air.
“Thinkin’ the gators will be having fun with her and dill rod tonight.” I look at Shovel and Razor, making sure they’re okay with this plan.
“I’m game.” Razor takes out his knives, sharpening one with the other.
“No, you can’t kill me! No!” Lola starts chanting. The guy on the hook is wiggling, trying to escape, then comes the god-awful smell.
“Why do they always have to shit themselves?” Shovel groans.
“Should have brought a Prospect. Now we’re stuck cleanin’ it all up.” I unholster my gun knowin’ I don’t want my hands on either of these pieces of shit. A few wounds, drag them down to the bayou where I keep the gators well fed with all kinds of raw meat. Nothing like keepin’ them comin’ just in case the need arises.
“You ain’t wrong,” Shadow agrees.
“Alright, you don’t have to join this. I know killin’ a woman isn’t what we ever want to do unless circumstances call for it. So, if you wanna leave, it wouldn’t bother me.”
“Nope, just make sure you re-gag her. I’m tired of hearin’ her wailin’ like a banshee.” Shovel takes out his gun. All four of us line ourselves up. Razor put his knives away and opted for a gun, too. Not a single fuckin’ one of us wants to get too close to Lola, the rancid-ass bitch. I do as Shovel says. Nick already knows his fate is sealed, choosin’ to stay still and quiet. Maybe he’s smarter than he looks.
“I get first shot,” I tell them as I shoot Lola in both hands. Shovel aims for a kneecap, Razor in the gut, and Shadow in the shoulder. By the time we’re all done, Lola’s head is lolling to the side and the screaming has finally stopped at least. We go through the motions with Nick, me not caring near as much as making a point, so I let the guys do their work. The rage that once consumed my mind, body, and soul has dulled. Not sure if that’s from finally bein’ at peace or havin’ a good woman by my side who helps lessen the burden.
“Thanks, brothers,” I tell them once Lola and Nick are passed out. Leaving them barely breathing, I’ll be damned surprised if they make it through one agonizing bite of the gator piercing through their skin and flesh, “Always.” Shovel claps my shoulder. Razor nods.
“I might like it here in Louisiana. Maybe I’ll stay a bit longer,” Shadow states. Shovel shakes his head. I’m not too sure he’s thrilled with the idea of losin’ another brother, but I also know he’s got other shit in the works. “You all go back to your women. I’ve got nothin’ better to do, and I’m interested in seein’ how the gators react to fresh meat.”