After tossing his head on top of his chest, I wipe my hands on my jeans then fish into my hoodie pocket and pull out a cigarette. Rolling the tension out of my neck, I light the stick and inhale deeply. Tobacco fills my lungs, instantly calming me.
I inhale death in order to erase the urge to create it.
“Rio booked a flight to Greece,” Jay informs me. He’s been jumping all over the country since Addie escaped, and just like Rick, what’s in his bank account isn’t enough to manufacture a new alias which means he’s easily traceable. And if I can find him, so can Claire.
He’s on borrowed time regardless of who gets to him first. Personally, I’d like to be the one to stick my knife through his throat, but a particular little mouse is keeping me from doing so.
She hasn’t said it aloud, but she doesn’t want Rio dead. What pisses me off more is that I can’t entirely blame her. She formed a trauma bond with him, and as much as that irritates the hell out of me, I’m also glad she had someone kinda-sorta looking out for her in that house.
Doesn’t negate the fact that she was there because of him. He may have helped her escape and cleaned up her wounds, but he still helped destroy her first. Just because you take the time to pick up the pieces after shattering a dish doesn’t mean that it’s not your fucking fault that it broke.
So, therefore, he should die.
Exhaling a thick plume of smoke, I take out a small container of lighter fluid from my pocket next.
“Continue to keep an eye out for other intelligence tracking him, especially from Claire. Send out one of my mercenaries to trail him, too. I’m sure he has a massive hit out on him, and they will need to be taken care of,” I order Jay. “Only I will be the one to put a bullet in his brain.”
“Roger,” he murmurs, and the sound of keys clicking arises, causing my eye to twitch in irritation. So. Fucking. Obnoxious.
“Have fun on your… adventure.”
I grunt, the earpiece clicking to indicate the call ended. Then, I uncap the lighter fluid and drench Rick’s body and severed head in it.
Taking one more deep pull first, I flick the cigarette onto his corpse, stepping back as it bursts into flames.
“The ride to Hell is going to be a tough one, Rickety Dick. Have fun on your adventure.”
Chapter 30
The Diamond
One Month Later
“Does Francesca happen to have short blonde hair?” Daya asks, storming into the living room with her laptop in hand.
“No,” I answer, sweat dripping into my eyes. Sibby drops her hand, which was curled into a fist and ready to drive right into my face.
I rub my eyes, feeling the heat pressing in now that I’m no longer distracted with the screaming banshee that likes to use me for a punching bag.
“Well, she does now.”
My eyes light up, forgetting all about how hot and exhausted I am.
“You found her?”
“You’re goddamn right, I did. Fucking freak accident too. Cam from an old diner tagged her in a small town in South Carolina about eight hours ago. She was walking to the restroom and a waitress collided with her. Her sunglasses went flying, and bam—”
The second the words come out of Daya’s mouth. Sibby’s fist is flying into my stomach.
I tip over, the oxygen ripped from my lungs as pain explodes throughout my abdomen.
My eyes bug from my head, and only a wheeze escapes.
“What the hell, Sibby?” Daya barks.
“We weren’t done sparring,” Sibby shrugs. “Never fool yourself into thinking you’re safe, even if you do smell like pretty flowers. Did you forget I murder people?”
I cough, hunched over as I turn my head and glower at the evil witch.