Page 2 of A Wild Darkness

“Fuck you! I told you the truth,” he spits out. “Now, let me go!”

I shake my head. “I’m afraid we can’t do that.”

“I swear, I told you everything. Who the fuck are you guys? What else do you want from me?”

“We already told you who we are,” River grumbles, as he peeks through the slit in the plastic curtain of the abandoned building, looking toward the street.

I lean down to get close to Hank’s face. “We’re the fuckers who’re going to make sure you never hurt another person again.”

Hank’s eyes widen when the realization finally hits him that he’s not leaving this place alive. “I have money! How much do you want? I can get it for you.”

I laugh. “Nah, we’re good. See, my cousin and I own a very successful company. Thompson Innovations? I’m sure you’ve heard of it. So, money isn’t why we put fuckers like you down.”

“Then what do you want from me?” he repeats again in panic. “The girl was a mistake. I swear I won’t do it again.”

“What is it, Hank? You don’t want to hang out with us?” River says. “We’re sort of bonding. You’re telling us about how you raped and killed an innocent woman, and we’re explaining what we do to people like you,” River continues.

I knock my gun next to his ear, the tapping reverberating in the room. “All right, enough with the small talk. Time for some retribution.”

“No! Help!” he screams.

“No one can hear you.”

River then moves to cover Hank’s mouth with tape so he can’t scream any louder.

Tears roll down his skin, crimson where I hit him earlier, his pleas muffled.

“Let’s get this over with.”

River nods in agreement. “Lux is expecting me back at the manor to help her pack for our trip to France. So the faster we can do this, the better.”

River’s expression is impatient as he bounces slightly in place. I never thought my cousin would settle down with anyone, but after rescuing the police lieutenant’s daughter recently, he’s been obsessed.

“I remember. You’ve only told me a million times.” I roll my eyes.

When I spotted Hank this morning on my way into the city, I knew I recognized him as one of the guys on our running list filled with names of predators who’ve somehow escaped the system. Thank god I had a pair of TI’s smart glasses in my car, because I was able to slide them on and identify him right away.

“It’s not my fault he fell into my lap. I couldn’t let him go once I found out he was on our list. You know that.”

Most of them probably come to the Pacific Northwest to hide since the vast forests here give them the space and privacy to do it.

Little do they know, we live here ourselves.

“Trust me, I get it. I’d have done the same thing.”

I turn my attention to Hank. “Well, we wouldn’t want to keep his girlfriend waiting.”

Then I aim the barrel of the gun to the side of his head.

And with one quick shot, he’s gone.

A rush of adrenaline shoots up my spine, spilling into my limbs as the intoxicating thrill of the kill washes through me. And with that, knowing I’m the one who is putting an end to his life reinforces why I do what I do.

My eyes close slowly, and I breathe in a deep, heavy breath. “Fuck, that feels good.”

“There’s really nothing like it,” River agrees before taking out his phone.

“Great.” I slide the gun back into my waistband and take out a pack of cigarettes. After lighting one up, I hop onto the counter only a few feet behind Hank’s dead body.