Page 216 of Shadowman
Anywho, I caved in his skull with an award from his shelf, which he’d apparently received for his pro bono work with children.
I know. Rather symbolic.
At last, it was time for the grand finale.The best saved for last, I suppose.
We gained access to the penthouse of Number Four through some connections and a few sexual favors given to his pathetic excuse for security. It was necessary to do it in his home, being that he’d been holed up in hiding for days. The brutal slayings of his cohorts were all over the news.
Four was on edge. Paranoid.
Rightfully so.
We waited until we were sure he was asleep to come out of hiding. Each step closer was a new buzz of thrill. Though I’ll admit, it was bittersweet, knowing this would be the last one.
I rather enjoyed myself over the weeks we were at large; the process of seeking revenge, from start to finish. More than that, though, I enjoyed working alongside my best friend. Helping him do what he needed to regain his control—to feel his true power, and reign vengeance over those who thought they could ruin him and get away with it.
Together, we were unstoppable.
The backdrop of the city that never sleeps splayed out before us as we approached the bed, the sleeping form awaiting us in the middle.
Trevel looked at me, our gazes locking in the dark. And I nodded, giving him the go-ahead.This one was all his…
“What are you doing here??” Trevel whispers to me now, eyes flicking to his pal,Byron, who’s redressing quickly only a foot away.
“I thought you’d be happy to see me.” My head cocks. And now I’m watching them both curiously. “Clearly, you’ve found a way to keep yourself entertained in my absence…”
“Shut up,” he huffs. “I’m not—”
“Are you alright?” Byron Kang asks Trevel, likely noting his shiftiness, and the fact that he’s talking tohimself.
Trevel peeks at me once more, then sniffs. “Yea. Fine. Sorry, I’m just… surprised. I didn’t expect to see them out here.”
Ah, yes. Dr. Love is mere meters from where we’re standing. Talk about an entrée…
Unsuspecting wanker.
I fold my arms over my chest, watching my best friend and his newpalas they watch one another closely. There’s an obvious connection between them. I can feel it myself, which is interesting, being that I rarely feel such things.Goodthings… Electric chemistry that crackles like the lightning strikes above.
Byron glances back in the direction of Dr. Love and his butchering boy-toy. “What do you think they’re doing?”
“Who cares?” I huff. “This is it, kids… Bloodykismet.” Trevel peers at me, and I give him a pointed look. “Now’s your opportunity. Get thatrevengewe love so much.”
He blinks at me before returning to Byron. The way his gaze softens when looking at him is reminiscent of Alice. How he was with her…
Trevel was purely smitten with the girl, and I’m seeing the same sort of behavior now. He’s always had a thing for people who have overcome their brokenness, who have found a way to be strong andfight, despite being served multiple shit sandwiches in this cosmic circus of fuckery humans calllife.
Not quite as broken as him and stronger than he thinks he is.
Regardless of everything we’ve been through together—decades of friendship and being one another’s entire support system—he still doesn’t realize thathecarries my strength within him.
He knows that I’m him…He’s not tapped. But for some reason, he refuses to see the full scope of it.
Trevel FenwickisLeonardo.
The strength it took to overcome his past—hiscurse, as he often sees it—to exact his revenge on the four worthless maggots who raped and brutalized him… Hell, even killing Andres and his stupid friend for what they did to Alice. That was all him.Us, together.
He possesses all the courage of a leader; he just doesn’t want to see it. Because as far as Trevel is concerned, being broken requires fixing that he can’t do himself. Hence, his recent yearning to unburden himself to someone other than a pompous, narcissistic shrink. He wants to be trulyseenby another person. Someone who will take his baggage and carry it alongside him, in a way I never could.
He wants love. He’s desperate for it, in fact.
