Page 32 of Veil of Dust

That should’ve been the end of him, but it wasn’t.

He touched something that’s mine to protect. That’s all it takes.

I hear movement ahead. Slow, dragging steps through water. He doesn’t care how much noise he’s making. He thinks no one followed him.

He’s wrong.

The fog covers everything, making each footfall quiet. I stay low, hidden.

The machete in my hand is old. The blade’s dull in spots, worn from use. I didn’t bring a clean one. He doesn’t deserve it.

I crouch behind a tree and spot him through the brush. He’s standing near a twisted cypress, muttering under his breath. The smell of rot hangs, thick enough to choke.

He shifts his weight, pacing in place, talking to himself as if he’s trying to explain things no one asked him to say out loud.

“No one told me she’d fight back like that,” he says. “Cracked my ribs.”

He spits into the mud and winces. The sound makes my jaw tighten.

“She should’ve been easy. That was the deal.”

He leans forward, adjusts his boot strap, head down.

He has no idea I’m here.

I step out from behind the tree.

He doesn’t notice until I’m right behind him. By then, it’s too late.

“Looking for this?” I say.

He spins around too fast and nearly slips into the water. His eyes go wide.

“Shit! What the—” His hands go to his belt, fumbling for something.

“You left a mess back at her bar,” I say. “Figured you’d want it returned.”

“Wait—look, I didn’t know she was—” His voice jumps an octave, high and fast.

I swing the machete.

He stumbles back and falls into the shallow water with his arms raised. “I didn’t mean to hit her! Alfeo said to just scare her!”

“She scared you.”

“She broke my nose!”

“You got to walk away.”

He crawls backward through the water, boots slipping. “You don’t have to do this!”

“I’m not doing it because I want to,” I say. “I’m doing it because people like you keep forgetting what the line is.”

“I was following orders! Alfeo sent me!”

“Alfeo sends plenty of people,” I say. “I’m the one who follows up.”

I move closer.

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