Page 79 of Reaper's Rival

“I said I was helping you get out of this, and I meant it.” Drake looked at Daniels. “How many more hits you got left?”

Daniels sucked on the cigarette, pulling up to a brick house in the suburbs. I guess this was the place. Why was I suddenly nervous?

“This one we are keeping alive but sending a message and the one next week is it,” Daniels answered.

“Wait a sec, you are telling me I only have to kill one more person?” I didn’t believe it and knew there would be a catch.

Daniels smirked at me. “Depends how creative you get at sending a message tonight.”

“I don’t do torture. Or slow deaths. You know that.” I had always made a point for my kills to be quick and painless. Daniels was the sick twist that liked to string things out. I don’t know how many times I had ended the person’s suffering while he sat back watching them slowly die.

“Well, think of something. Because this woman needs to not only drop the defense but be scared that if she doesn’t, we will come back to finish the job.” Daniels cracked the door open and got out.

I went to do the same when a hand landed on my shoulder.

“Abby, is there any other way?” Drake was asking me a question I would often ask myself. But there was only one answer.

“No.” I got out of the car.

I followed Daniels up the front steps. Terror didn’t even flood me as Daniels smashed the glass to the front door and twisted the knob.

“I usually find that this is the best time to have guns up,” I said to Drake, pulling my gun from my holster.

“Don’t you wear a mask or something?” Drake’s concerned words made me smile.

“Normally there is no one left breathing. In this case, I think Blake wants us to show our faces so she knows who to be scared of.” I stepped over the broken glass, slightly unsteady on my heels.

Daniels rounded the corner of the living room, and the woman was sitting on the couch watching TV. She was up within a second, running, but a spray of a few bullets on the floor caused her to stop.

She stood frozen in the doorway to the kitchen.

“Time to be creative, Abby,” Daniels grunted.

I lowered my gun and shot the woman once in both legs. She dropped to her knees, swearing and crying in pain.

Daniels looked at me, not impressed. “Really? That’s your idea of creative?”

“Being shot hurts like a bitch. Plus she will have to be on crutches for ages. I think I made my point.”

“What do you want?” she cried. “If it’s money, just take it!” she said in between wailing out in pain.

“What happens now?” Drake said, looking at me.

“Don’t know. They are normally dead by now.” I shrugged my shoulders and watched as Daniels started giving her the details of Blake’s case. She was agreeing to everything he said, and it seemed to be going down well.

Looks like tonight would be uneventful. Maybe it wouldn’t add to my nightmares.

That was till I heard it. Screaming, and it wasn’t coming from the woman. Turning in a flash, I knew this night was going to hell.

Two boys stood at the bottom of the stairs. More witnesses. These kids couldn’t be bought.

Even though I had my gun raised at them, I wouldn’t be firing.

“Boys, why don’t you come in here and join your mom?” Daniels got up from kneeling to speak to the woman.

I knew that sick and twisted smile on his face.

“So do you have a favorite, Bev?” Daniels said once the boys were shaking and on the ground next to their mom.

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