Page 56 of Forever Zara

The place he’d worked toward for months now.

No one could accuse a Marinos of being fair when he’d been crossed.

He was as fucking cutthroat as the man in front of him.

The difference being, Rider put in the work. He wasn’t a lazy fucker cutting corners. When he went all out to destroy a man, he did it systemically without missing a step.

“You got this all backward.” Rex slurred, sweating liberally.

Rider bet he was feeling like shit right now like he could vomit up his lungs. The poison in his drink was lethal; it didn’t go easy on the body; it ate through the organs like a full-scale buffet.

Rex groaned and rubbed his belly, breathing like he’d been running from wild dogs, wiping oozing sweat from his ruddy face.

“I’m that guy, uncle. The one who explains how I fucked you over. For months, I’ve been fuckin’ you, and you had no idea. How’s it feel? I’m feeling pretty chipper.” He smirked darkly, veins on fire. He could have killed this man in many ways. A bullet to the forehead, a car bomb, a knife in the gut, leaving him bleeding out. Between Lawless and Hawk, they could have given him lengthy ideas for a painful death. Cutting him up into tiny pieces, slicing him from throat to dick until his intestines poured out onto the floor.

But Rider didn’t work that way.

“Rider… what?”

It was when Rex slumped forward that Rider moved forward.

Not to help the man.

Realization became clear for Rex, and panic stole over his face.

“What did you do?”

NINETEEN

“I guess I’m off his Christmas card list now.” - Rider

Sweating profusely.

Every drop of blood drained out of Rex’s complexion. Babbling incoherently, he attempted to lift himself but crumbled like rotten meat.

“I’ll relish the last few breaths you have left. It won’t be long now. How’s it feel to die with nothing, uncle? To know I bested you even when you tried so fuckin’ hard. You know, I might have gone easy on you, laughed off your attempts to get the club back, to outfox my business ventures. Nice try, by the way. A bit amateurish, if you don’t mind me saying so. But saying all that, Imighthave gone easy on you. My Zara’s doing; she’s been a good influence. But bringing theRebelsback, that was the nail in your coffin, uncle. As they say in chess, wrong fuckin’ move. Anything that hurts my old lady is unforgivable in my eyes.”

“Ajax… Ajax won’t. H-help me, boy… we… I’m your family.” stuttered the dying man, clawing at his own throat for breath.

“Mad-dog couldn’t give less of a fuck about you, you piece of shit, and neither do I. He’s been helping me all along.”

The man was dying, but it was finding out his only brother was against him that put hurt on his face. Fucking shame about that.

One minute.

And then two.

Rex was incapable of speaking.

Rider didn’t look away.

He waited until the end.

Death wasn’t pleasant. It wasn’t a joy to watch.

But he watched anyway.

Until Rex’s breaths stopped, and he slumped back, his neck lolling, eyes open.

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