Page 96 of Cruel Revenge

“And you seem like the kind of man who values your life to some degree.” I shift the gun to my other hand and pull out my knife, stabbing it into his thigh, grinning when he screams. “That will heal too, but I doubt that it’s going to be easy. I seem to have cut through a muscle or two.”

He grits his teeth, the muscles in his neck straining as he looks at the knife like he’s torn between leaving it in or ripping it out.

I make the decision for him, pulling out the knife and laughing when blood spurts out. “That’s going to be more complicated for the doctors to fix. If I were you, I’d tell me what I want to know.”

“You’re not going to let me live either way.”

“You’re right about that.” I wipe the bloody blade on his pants. “Would you let someone live if they tried to kill you?”

He clamps his hands down on his thigh. “If you’re going to kill me, there’s no reason to answer fuck all.”

“See, I think there is.” I lean forward, dragging the blade down his forearm, leaving a deep cut. “If you tell me what I want to know, I promise I’ll make your death quick. You’ll barely even know it’s happening.”

He presses his lips together in a tighter line and shakes his head.

Apparently, whoever sent him paid him enough money to earn his loyalty. To some degree, at least.

But everybody has a price, and I’m going to find out his.

Instead of dealing with him now, I pull out my phone, calling Joshua. “You know, this little business partnership you have is starting to become a real problem for me. I can’t have people showing up at my door all the time and looking to start shit with me.”

Joshua sighs. “And why do you assume I have anything to do with it?”

“My life was peaceful before you came into it. People left me alone. And I didn’t have to look over my shoulder every second of every day. Now that you’re here, it seems like a full-time job.”

“I still don’t see how people wanting to kill you is my fault.” He makes a noise in the back of his throat, and the distinct jingling of his car keys comes from the background of his call. “Where are you? I’m coming to deal with this.”

“Too late.”

I end the call and turn back to the man in front of me.

His eyes narrow, and his nostrils flare.

I drag the side of the blade down his face, his skin opening and blood oozing as I go.

“You know, it’s been a long time since I cut someone’s face off, but I think, for you, I would be more than willing to make an exception. I’ll even make it extra fun for us by doing it a piece at a time. Maybe start with your forehead. It’s going to hurt. You’ll probably pass out from the pain.”

His eyes widen, his body drawing away from me.

He doesn’t say anything, but it doesn’t matter.

I can smell the fear seeping from his pores the closer I get to him.

He knows I mean it. He knows I will.

It’s finally becoming clear to him that it is up to him how painlessly he dies. Because he will die, and he knows it just as well as I do.

But I gave him a choice.

And now he needs to decide…

How he wants to die.

How brave he’s willing to be.

How much loyalty money can really buy.

I keep dragging the knife down his face. “But don’t worry. I wouldn’t want you to miss out on anything. So, I’ll stop eachtime you pass out and wait for you to wake up. It’s more fun that way. We could really enjoy our time together.”

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