Page 25 of Black Waters

I coughed while Mr. Thompson laughed some more. “Did I hear you right? Did you stroll up here, by yourself, onto my property, claiming to be here for revenge?”

Looking left then right to see which bodyguard was going to punch me next, I tightened my stomach muscles. “You heard me correctly.”

I didn’t have to cough as long after the next sucker punch, since I’d been ready this time.

“Mind explaining what this revenge is about?” Mr. Thompson asked.

I’d been stewing on it for days, so it rolled right off my tongue like venom. “Marina.”

The silhouette stood up straight at the name. “Who?”

With rain pouring off me, I growled through my rage. “You know exactly who I am speaking of.”

Next thing I knew, Mr. Thompson was in my face, not caring about getting wet, and with my shirt in his grasp—the way he’d had Crash’s that night of the alley. “What about her?”

He was extremely intimidating and extremely pissed off, but I didn’t care. “She’s my mother!” I screamed at the top of my lungs. “And I’m here for REVENGE FOR WHAT YOU DID TO HER!”

The only thing I could hear were raindrops hitting the ground and our exasperated breaths. No one moved. No one said a word.

If you can imagine what it would feel like to be in the presence of the man responsible for your mother’s unbelievable and horrendous torture, imagine what it would feel like to realize… he is your father.