“You shouldn’t be subjected to any harm, but if you are, don’t panic. Move your body, so that you can feel that piece of steel digging in your back. If they want to hurt you, they will have to untie you. When they do, as soon as your hands are free, you reach behind you and pull out that M9 and don’t think twice. Aim at their heads and pull the fucking trigger. I know you can do it. You have already proven you’re a good, fast shot. Before their bodies have time to hit the floor, you call me and tell me it’s over then you run. I will meet you, just like we planned. I’m counting on it not happening. Charlie’s interest in you is the only reason I’m doing this. He wouldn’t tolerate anyone hurting you. But, just in case, you remember: Your life is the only one that is important. Don’t let them touch you, Dallas. You kill them. Kill them all.”
“Phone.” One of the goons announced, handing the cell phone to the man sitting beside me.
“Yeah. Yes, sir. As you wish. I’ll see you then.” The goon snapped the phone shut and handed it back, never taking his eyes off of me. I stared at the T.V. screen, trying to ignore him. “Now, why would the man who hired me to kill you want to see you one last time?” the guy asked, tapping his finger on his chin. “Is it because he just wanted to pay me to capture you so he could kill you himself? Or is it because he wanted to use me to make the kidnapping, then kill me, and kill you himself? Do you know the answer?” I closed my eyes, my tears flowing down my face, as the man realized he had been played. How could Charlie have been so stupid? He was not an amateur. He should have known better. “Why do I feel like you were in on this little set up?” I kept my eyes closed, refusing to look at the betrayed man. “I see, well,” the man said, standing up from the bed. I opened my eyes, watching him as he walked across the room, popping his knuckles and stretching his neck. “The joke is on y’all. You’re gonna die today, Dallas Knox, and I’m gonna take my five hundred grand and forget the other half was ever offered.” He walked back over to in front of me and leaned down, putting his face very close to mine, as he held onto the arms of my chair. “I am gonna pour water over your face, until you drown, then I’m gonna cut your tongue out, like I should have done when I had the chance.” The man removed the ski mask revealing the face I feared was beneath it. Crazy stood there, the tattoos that crawled up his neck to his jaw were in plain sight, and a dreadful reminder of the last time I had seen him. I stared at him, my eyes wide with shock and brimming with tears, my nostrils flaring as my breathing accelerated, and my mouth releasing the slightest whimper as it dropped open in horror. “Dennis!” the man snapped, causing me to jump in surprise. I looked over his shoulder as the man removed his mask and I remembered him as the one who had broken into Luke’s house, suffered at the hands of Luke’s iron fist, and grew excited and hard at the thought of touching me while he assisted in my assault at the hands of Frankie. “You recognize these faces?” Crazy asked, motioning between himself and Dennis. “If you don’t, we’re about to refresh your memory. We’re gonna relive that scene in your barn, but this time I will be in charge. We gonna tie you up, wet you down, fuck you dry, then kill you. And baby,” he said, his dark eyes filled with hate and evil as he ran a finger down my cheek. “There won’t be anyone to save you this time.” I began sobbing, begging for them to stop. I pulled against my restraints, screaming in the man’s face, prompting him to throw his hand over my mouth in an attempt to shut me up. “Jeff, get the gag!” Crazy yelled, and I stilled on his words. My sobbing stopped and my screams ceased, my flawless acting skills no longer needed as the name I had been waiting to hear was spoken. I looked into the eyes of Crazy, the look of victory in my own eyes registering on his face as I smiled underneath the weight of his hand. I watched as he stood and turned, reluctantly pulling his eyes from mine to land on that set of ocean-blues I loved so much.