“In this world you have to do what it takes to get what you want and keep it.” His voice is so soft, just like when he used to sit me on his knee and tell me a story.
“You’re right.” I say, looking down at my hands.
I rub my fingertips together and then sweep them over my palms, massaging Cassie’s blood into my skin until it’s dried and pasted into my fingerprints and pores.
My hands are sticky with it as I stroke them down my face, the residue of the petrol stings at the cuts. Running them down my neck and then my sides, I reach behind me to the weapon I tucked into my belt earlier. My shirttails conceal it and just as I’m about to grasp it, Jack steps closer.
“I wouldn’t do that.” He flicks the lighter on right next to me.
“After all he’s done, do you think he’s going to keep you?” I know antagonising him is a really stupid idea, but I’m buying time. “He’ll dispose of you like he tried to with Kit. Like he’s going to with me.”
Then it occurs to me, “Why did you pitch us against one another? Why send me after Sinclair Security?”
It doesn’t make sense. Why would he want them so close?
“Francis was already prying, so I gave him what he wanted. I gave him your father, he was so busy chasing after a juvenile animosity, that he overlooked everything else.”
“What? No, I saw all the movements with my own eyes. He did it.”
“You see, even now…” He laughs dryly. “Do you know why I never let him take over?”
He’s goading me into something. I don’t know what, because all I have known of my father since I was eight-years-old, is callousness and pain.
“He can’t handle the pressure. He can’t do what it takes to keep the legacy going. He is weak.” His words are spat like mucus out of his mouth.
We agree on something.
“And he isn’t?” I jerk my head at Jack.
I’ll kill him yet.
“Maybe, but he’s eager to please and that’s half the trick to getting what you want.”
The smell of gasoline intensifies as one of the other guys rounds the limo. He stands beside me tipping a black jerry can over the roof.
My heart that had found some normalcy in its fast percussion, squeezes, sputters and speeds up at least another three or four beats.
“It’s over now.” Looking at me he signals at Jack with his hand.
Getting closer to the limo, I’m about to say fuck it and go for it solo when the shrill sound of skidding tyres breaks the silence.
The guy beside me looks away long enough to allow me to reach for the gun behind my back. He just looks at me before I drop him with a shot to the knee and a jab to the nose.
His eyes roll to the back of his head in a confused daze. Blood streaming from his nose as he collapses on his side.
For just the smallest fraction of a second, I can breathe. All this turmoil and tension that has been building inside me, explodes with only that little tussle.
Spinning on my heels I aim for the first head, shoulder, chest, any cunting body part I can get to.
I just need to get us out of here. I don’t even know if she’s still alive.
I don’t want to die.
Those fucking words gut me. Her words.
I swore I’d protect her. I vowed to her and myself that I wouldn’t let any of this shit touch her.
I’ve failed her.