Page 71 of Veiled Vengeance

Taking in a breath, I calm my pounding heart and examine my now-aching fists. They’re covered in the same amount of blood that covers Anthony’s face.

So much red.

“I’m okay,” I reassure everyone. “I’m okay.”

Asher sets me back on my feet while Zane and Rio stand guard over Anthony. His eyes are so swollen that I’m sure he can barely see the room anymore. Bruises are scattered all over his face. He groans and his head droops forward.

“What do you want to do next?” Rio inquires.

I give him a confused look. “What do you mean?”

Zane answers me. “It’s your choice what we do with him. We can turn him over to the police, or . . .”

“Or?”

Asher rests his hands on my shoulder in support. “Or you can end it all yourself. Right here, right now.”

Zane hands over his gun, placing it in my hands. I stare down at the complex, small machine.

Am I ready to live with someone’s death on my hands?

The simple answer is yes, I am more than ready and willing to take on the burden. Although, for someone like Anthony, it’s more like a public service.

I wrap my hand around the cool metal of the grip, feeling the weight of the whole thing in my palm. Looking up, I nod to Zane and Rio. They push Anthony onto the floor on his knees.

“Are you really going to kill me, Flower?” Anthony’s question is slurred, and he spits out a glob of blood at my feet.

“Yes,” I state coldly. “You have too many people in office under your thumb. You’d either escape prison, or you’d live it up on the inside. So, I am more than happy to take on the responsibility of being your judge, jury, and executioner.”

Anthony scoffs while my men remain stoic and firm.

“Anthony Cole, you are a murderer, a rapist, and a human trafficker. You have purchased hundreds of women and girls, including myself.”

He remains kneeling and begins to chuckle.

Grabbing his hair at the top of his head, I pull back so he’s looking up at me. “Laugh it up all you want; you’re not leaving this room alive.”

His smile is wide and bloody. “You don’t have the balls.”

Leveling the barrel so it points right between his eyes, I breathe. “Try me.” I place my finger over the trigger and squeeze. The gun goes off, and brain matter exits the back of Anthony’shead. Zane and Rio release their hold on Anthony as he slumps forward and falls onto the carpet.

Am I supposed to feel different right now? Am I supposed to feel guilty? All I feel is relief.

It’s over.

All the fight drains from my body at once. Asher removes the gun from my hand and sets it on the desk, and my three men surround me, helping me stand up right when I’m ready to collapse and sleep for the next decade.

“You did good, Angel. You did good.”

CHAPTER 30

CARMEN

“¡Ay dios mio!You’re worse than Rio, Zane, and Asher combined!” Elena and her nurse fuss over me. “You shouldn’t even be trying to sit up.”

“Calm your tits.Estoy bien.” I sigh and rest my head back against the crunchy sanitary pillows.

I’m supposed to be recovering, but how the hell am I supposed to be comfortable when this hospital bed feels like I’m lying on the sidewalk?

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