For the Taking

“Why do you want to take out this shipment?”

“His supply is running low. One of Peace’s big money projects is drugs. He makes more than triple the value. The product itself is worthless. He doesn’t allow anyone else to sell on his streets. It’s a lame-ass high, and if anyone complains, they end up in a dumpster or river.”

“You’re doing this to piss him off.”

“I’m doing it to create a hole in his wealth. Once his supply dries up, someone else will be there to pick up the market, and he has to split the income with another party. Peace has to start making deals, and believe me, it’s one area he fucking fails at.”

“So why not go and blow up the product, and then pay him a little visit with me?” she asked. She stood up, putting her hands on his chest.

“Do you have a death wish?”

“He had me chained up, beaten. As you can see from the evidence on my face and this trusty little friend.” She held up her arm, which was still in a cast. “He was going to rape me, kill me, and toss my body away as if it meant nothing. He messed with the wrong woman.”

“Only because I was there to keep you alive, twice.”

“Exactly. The guy he wronged and the girl he wanted. Don’t you want to really mess with him? Taking out his men and supplies are all well and good, but you’re not really getting revenge. All you’re doing is playing ghost and making him guess who he’s pissed off. Why not take it to him? Let him see who he is dealing with.”

“The purpose being?” he asked.

“Simple, a man who knows who he is dealing with, makes mistakes. He’ll become desperate as you out take things he cares about one by one. Then, when he’s made an error, you can face him, have your moment, and then finally put to bed the demons that hurt you.”

Riley stroked her arms.

His touch set her on fire.

“And what do you get out of this?”

“I get to see him die.”

“And if you die in the process?”

“I know you’ll take him out. I trust you.”

“You don’t even know me.”

“And yet, you’ve saved me, twice as you’ve kindly put it, and fucked me a lot. Not to mention I let you have my ass. That’s a pretty big step for me.” She smiled, trying to make light of their situation. “Come on, Riley. Don’t tell me you’re not tempted?”

“It’s not how I play.”

“The way you’re playing it now, it’s not going to give you what you want.”

“How do you know this will work?”

“You think I didn’t pick up a few things living on the streets and how this whole revenge dish works? I know how it works, and I’ve watched people do shit like this. It’s why I didn’t want to get muddled up in Peace’s world. It never ends well.”

“It won’t end well now. There is no walking away from this.”

“The moment he sent guys after me, twice, I knew there was no walking away. It’s why I don’t have a problem fighting him now. If he wants to take me out, then he can, but I’m not going to go down screaming like a girl. I will go down fighting, and I’ll do so on your side.” She pointed at his chest. “What do you say?”

He looked at her. “You won’t impress him dressed like that.”

“Then make me slutty or whatever it is you think is going to work.” She put her hands on her hips.

She wore the marks of Riley’s fuck fest. She nearly thought of it as lovemaking, but it was far from love.

“I know what to do,” he said. “You cannot do anything stupid. No lashing out. No doing anything but following my lead.”

“Do I get a gun?”

“No.”

“Come on.”

“I don’t know how well you can control a gun, Meghan. I’m not going to rush you to the hospital because you shot yourself or killed yourself. We do this my way. In the meantime, I want you to have this.”

“What is it?”

“A pocketknife. In case of emergencies. It won’t kill an attacker, but if they get too close, always have this on hand, and that way, you’ll always be protected in some way. I don’t want you to die on my watch.”

“Yes, sir.” She glared at him, but deep down, she was a little excited, taking the knife as well. She would face that asshole David Peace, and then she’d help Riley every single step of the way. She didn’t like bullies or assholes or monsters. David was all three and more. Soon, he’d get what was coming to him, and she hoped to be there when he died.

****

Getting to the supply had been a lot easier than Riley anticipated. David hadn’t doubled up the team to make sure they came in safe and sound. He truly believed he’d be able to get his product in using trained boys.