Page 12 of Scorpion
I’m so lost in thought that I almost don’t notice that the car behind us has taken every turn that we have. Though, now that I’m clued in, I pay a little more attention. When they follow us off the main road, I consider tapping on Scorpion’s arm to let him know that something’s up, but he’s already on the case. Our route changes, and I no longer recognize where we’re going.
For the next ten minutes, we take turns and go in circles around town. It becomes increasingly obvious that this car is tailing us. Whoever it is isn’t even trying to hide the fact that they’re following us.
Just like the phone calls at work, I know in my heart that the person following us is Dan, even though I can’t tell exactly what kind of car the person is driving. There’s no one else that it could be. And, even though I’m scared out of my mind, being pressed against Scorpion makes me feel like everything is going to be okay. I don’t know how it’s going to work out, but it has to.
Scorpion said that it would.
Eventually, Scorpion gives up trying to lose Dan in town and gets on the highway, speeding away from Rio Lunas. Dan’s car follows us, staying close as we drive further and further away. I hold on tight, hating that the longer this goes on, the less sure I am that two of us are going to be safe. We’re on a motorcycle, and Dan’s in a car. It wouldn’t be hard for him to take both of us out.
Scorpion seems to be prepared for this, though. Every time Dan gets close, he speeds up. Then, he expertly drops his speed so he can turn off a dirt road. His bike seems to fare much better here than Dan’s car.
Eventually, we come to a stop at a house that I would normally assume is abandoned. Scorpion tucks us away in a spot that Dan’s car won’t be able to reach. There’s a huge concrete wall between us and the road, and even though I can hear his vehicle on the dirt driveway, I feel safe here with Scorpion.
Scorpion kills the engine, and I clamber off. He shucks his off helmet and pulls a gun from his waistband. Then, he fixes me with a stare that makes me freeze in place.
“Stay here,” he says firmly. Then, he grabs something from the corner – a metal pipe – and thrusts it into my hands. “I’m going to take care of this, but I’ll feel better if you have something to protect yourself with.”
Then, before I can say anything, he takes off. I stay where I am for a moment, trying to quell the fear that continues to grow. When I’m able to move, I shuffle to the corner where Scorpion grabbed the pipe and press my back against it. Then, I take a deep breath and hope with all my heart that Scorpion will be okay.
Chapter 9
Scorpion
I run to the front of the safe-house, grateful that Dan’s shitty car apparently couldn’t handle the road up here. My gun is heavy in my hand, my finger resting by the trigger. I’m ready to shoot at a moment’s notice.
When Dan’s car comes to a stop, his front door flies open and he throws himself out. His eyes lock on me, and his hand goes to his belt. I know exactly what he’s reaching for, so I pull the trigger of my own weapon, aiming for his leg.
Dan goes down with a scream, and a sick part of me is glad that it hurts like hell. He thrashes around, holding onto the place where the bullet has lodged itself in his thigh. For a moment, I just watch his pathetic ass scream, his face twisted up in agony.
After a few seconds, I rush over to him, kicking him onto his back and reaching down to remove the gun from his belt. Then, I toss it far away, effectively making this coward a non-threat. Not that he ever was one to begin with. I doubt the fucker has ever even shot that gun. It wouldn’t surprise me if he went out and bought it today.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” I ask, standing over him with my gun pointed right at his head.
I don’t plan on killing him, not really, at least not yet. I want him to suffer, to feel the same fear and pain that he forcedon Lilah. I can see a hint of it in his eyes, but it’s not enough. He’s still too comfortable.
I shove my heel against his hand, grinding it down hard and pulling out another scream. Snarling down at him, I lean closer, gun still pointed between his eyes. In a low voice, I say, “You better start talking, you cowardly bastard.”
“Isn’t it fucking obvious?” Dan says, his voice shaking like the pathetic man that he is.
I apply more pressure to the hand covering his wound as I say, “How about we try this again? Why the hell were you tailing us? And why the fuck did you pop out of your fucking car with a gun? You were really going to shoot both of us? There’s something seriously fucking wrong with you.”
“She deserves better than you,” he spits. “Someone with a real job. Someone who doesn’t moonlight committing crime.”
“Last I checked, I’m the only one of us that has a real job,” I say, putting my foot on his chest and pressing down, pulling a wheeze from his lungs. “Didn’t you quit yours today? And as far as crimes go, I’m not killing people for no reason. You, however, got out of your car reaching for your gun. What was your plan there? You were going to kill me and take Lilah for yourself?”
I give him a second to answer, to confirm if what I’m saying is true. Instead, he glares up at me, his mouth shining with spit, sweat collecting on his face. It’s like he’s trying to kill me with his eyes, but unfortunately for him, looks don’t kill. They only serve to piss me the fuck off.
“You really think she’d go for that?” I continue, knowing the only thing my words do is get under his skin.
I might be enjoying playing with him. Sue me. He made it his mission to make my girl’s life a living hell. I’m just giving him what he deserves.
I watch as Dan’s fingers inch toward the gun. It’s too far away, so far away that his effort is laughable. Then, jutting his chin out like he has the upper hand here, he says, “She already had her chance. She doesn’t want me. Fine. But she had her fucking chance.”
“Exactly, and she said no,” I say, putting more weight on him.
“That’s going to be the last mistake she ever makes,” he says savagely, trying to extract himself from beneath my boot. “Because I’m going to kill you and that fucking bitch.”
Without hesitation, I fire my gun. The bullet lodges itself in Dan’s frontal lobe, and blood starts to trickle out of the hole. He makes several gurgling noises, his body twitching as the life drains from it. I watch, sneering at his corpse, feeling no sympathy for him.
