Unfortunately, he still has a tight hold on Jazz. I’m confident in my aim, but too many things can go wrong if I fired with her standing so close to him. It’s not a risk I’m willing to take. I just hope the guys have successfully cleared the decks. The last thing I need is for someone else to come in here and add to my problem.
“I am nothing like you, old man.”
“Really?” The arm that’s holding Jazz moves until his hand is right over her breast. My trigger finger gets itchy when he squeezes it, taunting me. “We have the same taste in women.”
I have to consciously avoid looking at Jazz’s face right now because I don’t think I can handle seeing the fear I know she must be feeling. “I’m not going to say it again, Dad. Let her go.”
“Or what?” he scoffs. “I don’t think you have the balls to shoot me.”
I aim the gun to the right and pull the trigger. Jazz screams when the mirror above the dresser shatters. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Charles crawling on the floor, slowly inching toward them. I quickly glance his way and find him looking right back at me, silently trying to communicate his intentions. I don’t trust that bastard as far as I can throw him, but I do believe his hatred for my father is strong enough to let this play out. I know I need to keep my father distracted long enough for that to happen, though.
“You don’t think so?” A muscle in his cheek jumps as I goad him. “Why not? Because you’ve been such an exemplary father all these years?”
“You ungrateful little shit. I should’ve had someone kill you, just like I did with your bitch of a mother.” My father’s mouth forms into a malicious grin when he sees my lack of shock. “Ah, I can see that comes as no surprise to you. Maybe you are smarter than I’ve given you credit for. Does your sister know?”
“Know what an evil bastard you are?” I ask. “Yes. Does she know the details of what you and Callahan have done? She’s abou
t to find out. I’m sure it’ll be all over every news channel soon enough.”
His eyes narrow. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means exactly what I said. By the time you get off this boat, Ainsley—and the rest of the world—will know all your dirty deeds. The trafficking, the embezzlement, the cartel connections, bribery, and blackmail. All of it.” When his eyes widen, I continue. “You see, dear father, the FBI has been on to you two for a long time. And it just so happens that your jilted lover, Madeline, gave them the missing piece of the puzzle they needed to bust your ass. Your warehouse is being raided as we speak.”
His eyes flash with rage, right before he points the gun at Charles and shoots him in the head. Blood splatters as Charles’ lifeless body immediately falls to the floor. My father then swings the gun back to me, but Jazz uses the distraction to shove out of his hold before he gets the chance to pull the trigger. As his weapon drops to the floor, Jazz takes the opportunity to duck into a closet. With her out of the line of fire, I can now focus solely on taking this motherfucker down.
My father’s nostrils flare, and his eyes are crazed as he lunges for me. I don’t give him a chance to touch me, though. I aim the barrel of my gun and fire. My first shot hits him in the leg, causing him to fall to his knees. He doubles over when my second shot hits him in the shoulder.
“You shot me!” He scrambles for the gun he dropped when Jazz pushed him, but he’s having trouble moving his arm.
I step forward and kick the gun away. “And I’ll do it again if you don’t give up. I’d rather let the feds deal with you so I can enjoy the thought of you rotting away getting raped in prison for the rest of your miserable life, but I’m not afraid to blow your brains out if you force my hand. Either way, you’re no longer a problem.”
“You’d murder your father for a piece of pussy?” he screams.
I scoff. “No. I’d kill you because you’re a sadistic fuck who doesn’t deserve to breathe. The world is a better place without you.”
“When did you become such a goddamn vigilante?” My father’s face pales and sweat beads his brow as the blood loss starts to affect him.
“Right around the time I found out you were responsible for my mother’s death. But to be fair, I didn’t like you very much before then.”
“I wish you were never born, you little punk.”
“And I wish you were the one who died that day instead of her.”
I see the moment he decides to go for it. I suppose he thinks he has nothing to lose, which I can’t exactly say I disagree. I fire my last shot the second my dad reaches for his gun. The bullet lands in the center of his forehead, the light instantly fading from the same hazel eyes I see in the mirror every morning. I feel strangely unaffected by the fact that I just killed my father as I tuck my gun in the back of my jeans and head straight for the closet where Jazz is seeking shelter.
“Jazz.”
“Oh my God, are you okay?” Jazz frantically runs her hands over my face, inspecting me for damage.
“I’m fine.” I lightly brush the bruise on her jaw. Her eyes are bloodshot from crying, and she’s shaking, but she appears mostly okay. “Are you? Did he touch you?”
She shakes her head. “No. He didn’t get the chance before you came. Is it... is he...”
I nod. “Dead. Both of them.”
Jazz wraps her arms around my neck and pulls me into her, sobbing into my chest. I hold on tightly, never wanting to let go. I sink to the floor and pull her into my lap, giving her time to process everything.
“So, it’s over? It’s really over?” She sniffles.