The Joy of Revenge

CHAPTER 67 Kill Shot oney Bee is no other than… Contestant Number Eight, Miss Marla ly, it was over. Honestly, I disliked beauty pageants. Everything was fake. A dazzling duction to showcase an illusion of perfection. For me, true beauty shines from within. glanced at my watch. It was just a little after midnight. As the crowd moved away from the stage, I got a clear view of the judges table. I watched Liam quickly stand up, glancing down at his phone. He ran his fingers through his hair, evidently frustrated, but quickly hid his frustration with a smile as Joy stood up from her chair. Liam suddenly wrapped his arms around Joy and kissed her tenderly on the forehead. I noticed his lips lingered on the top of her head while he kept Joy in his embrace a while longer. Liam was falling in love with Joy. He squeezed her in his arms one last time before finally letting her go. I noticed he appeared, to look distressed, but he continued to smile at loy, even caressing her face while saying his goodbyes. After Joy kissed him on the cheek, Liam quickly left her and answered his phone. When he reached Jack, he tapped the Undersheriff on the arm, gesturing to Jack to follow him. They were late. “Excuse me, Bo, I just need to go to the ladies’,” Cynthia said suddenly, standing up from her chair quite unsteadily. I quickly stood up to assist her, grabbing her hand to keep her from falling. Mission accomplished. After four bottles of champagne, she was drunk enough to manipulate. Good thing the crowd immediately thinned out after the winner of Miss Honey Bee was announced. I decided it was best if I walked her to the ladies’ room. If she fell and broke her hip, it would definitely ruin my plans. “I’ll escort you to the ladies’, my dear,” I said while circling my arm around her waist. She 1/6 HAPTER 67 Kill Shot ed gratefully before resting her head on my chest. “Then I’ll drive you home.”

As I led her to the restroom, the song ‘Lady in Red’ began to play. I smirked, knowing Cristos. was behind it. “I love this song!” Cynthia exclaimed while struggling to walk straight. “How is it possible that I’m drunk and you aren’t? You even drank more than I did.” “Champagne is all bubbles. I usually drink boubon or whisky,” I answered. “Just like my brother.” “Are Dom and you close?” She asked, lifting her head to look at me. “I understand you are half- brothers.” I rubbed my nose against hers. She giggled. “Yes, we are,” I replied. “There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for him.” “I’m envious,” she muttered. “Growing up, I always wished I had a sibling I could count on.” Well, you don’t need a sibling. All you need is a good man in your life,” I remarked, winking at her. She sighed dreamily and rested her head on my chest. As we slowly walked through the pub, I saw Liam and Jack leave, I watched Joy and Cristos joke around in the DJ booth and I noticed Sebastian flirting with the winner of the pageant, Marla Lawrence. Cynthia lifted her head from my chest to see who I was staring at. Good thing it wasn’t Joy and Cristos.

“Ah, I see Dom is talking to one of the part-timers at the diner,” she revealed. No wonder Marla looked familiar. “You probably know her. Dark hair, baggy clothes. Poor girl needs to work because her alcoholic mother is always too drunk to hold a job. The prize money from this pageant will help pay for college. Just don’t let the innocent look fool you. On the weekends, she works as a stripper in Bismarck and deals on the side.” “Deals what?” I asked nonchalantly. If I could remember the black sling bag on Marla’s shoulder, I bet Sebastian could too. I glanced at Sebastian and noticed he was enjoying himself while he worked his magic. But from where I was standing, he didn’t need to do much work. Marla kept flipping her hair, trying to act coy, but her smile was a full-on invitation. I wondered what information little Marla Lawrence had to offer. O

2/6 r CHAPTER 67 Kill Shot ugs, sweetheart. She deals drugs.” Cynthia answered, stopping in front of the ladies”. Just destroy her competition, Cynthia betrayed the organization. The Angels of Darkness were a bunch of spineless nitwits. I opened the door and ushered her inside.. “I’ll wait for you here, sweetheart,” I said, then blew her a kiss. She playfully caught my kiss in her hands before disappearing inside the restroom. I sighed, relieved I could have a few moments alone. Plus, her cheap perfume was nauseating. “Boats are in the water,” Big Man Lou said over the coms. “I repeat, boats are in the water. Leave no one alive.” I fixed my suit and smiled. Everything was going according to plan. It was a fifteen minute drive from the pub to Hillcrest. By the time Liam arrives at the dock, his men will be at the bottom of the lake, his ‘delivery’ in our custody and the boats scat tered all over the lake. empty, Several minutes had gone by when the door of the ladies’ room finally opened. Cynthia looked much better, but she was still obviously drunk. It was time to give her a taste of Bo Xavier. While Cynthia was in the ladies’, I watched Joy. The way she moved in that tight yellow dress of hers made me hard with desire. I pushed Cynthia against the wall, pinning her body with mine and rubbing my my erection against her loins. I gently caressed the side of her neck with my tongue, then I claimed her lips for a searing kiss. When I finally raised my head, we were both gasping for air. She, because of passion; me, because of disgust. While she leaned on the wall and reveled in our kiss, I discreetly wiped her horrid taste from

my mouth. “Come on,” I said, wrapping my arm around her waist. “Let me drive you home. Did you bring your car?” 3/6 CHAPTER 67 Kill Shot “No.” swered sheepishly. “Norma dropped me off. She said I had a better chance of you. rive me home if I left my car at home.” she was right,” I replied. “Is Pete home to take care of you?” “Then I’ll take care of you.” She giggled and rested her head on my arm, allowing me to take charge. I waved goodbye to Cristos who was standing behind the bar speaking to Joy, Lisa, Nicole and Noah. Noah sat beside Joy, looking up and down at her appreciatively, while Nicole, who was seated at the other end, squirmed in her stool. Nicole caught me staring at her through the bar wall mirror and turned around to wave at me. I waved back. Nicole was definitely a spy. She reported to many, but where her loyalties lie remained a mystery, even if she was f ucking Noah. Outside, Sebastian was driving off with Marla Lawrence in the front seat. He rolled down his window and gestured to me with his hands. I nodded my head, understanding what he meant to say without an exchange of words.. After assisting Cynthia in the front seat, I switched coms to communicate with Sam. “We’re on our way,” I said as I walked to the driver’s side of my car. “Copy.” I drove as quickly as I could to Highland Oaks, not wanting my second in command to have other duties while working on Hillcrest. Technically, he was there, but he had one thing to do for me before he could provide cover for our men who were in the lake risking their lives. After parking in front of the beautiful two storey modern styled home of the McDowells, I helped Cynthia

out of the car and walked her to her doorstep. We sauntered on her newly mowed lawn, as she rummaged through her small purse for her keys. “How about I give you a tour of the house?” She asked, finally finding her keys and walking up on the slate gray tiled staircase to her front door. I smiled at her. I was hoping she’d ask me inside. 4/6 CHAPTER 67 Kill Shot “I’d like that, but you’re drunk and it’s late,” I answered, acting like a gentleman. “You can give me a tour later today after we’ve had dinner.” I reached for her hand after she opened the door and raised it to my lips. I rubbed my lips on her palm while I waited for her answer. A promise of tomorrow usually made someone desperately wish for it to be today. I was hoping Cynthia was desperate… and she was. “There’s this painting I want to show you,” she insisted. She pushed the door wide open, turned on the lights and pulled me inside. “I want your honest opinion.” She dropped her purse on the the shiny black table in her foyer and led me to her living room. I surveyed the big space. A lone long white couch with a matching rectangular white wood. coffee table stood atop a fluffy white marble rug covering the light cream colored hardwood floors. A white light installation hung from the tall ceiling above. The living room area was surrounded by tall windows without any drapes. I also noticed there were no CCTV cameras in the house. Sure, there were cameras outside, but none were facing the inside. No CCTV cameras and tall white paned windows all around… the McDowells were very arrogant. A large painting of her sitting on an antique lounge chair wearing a 1920’s flapper dress sat atop the mantle of her modern fireplace at the center of the living room. She pulled me towards the painting and pointed at it. I walked up to the fireplace, touching the white. wooden mantle. “Target acquired,” I heard Sam say softly through my earpiece. I stood in place, hoping she would follow my lead and just stand there beside me, in front of her atrocious painting.

“What do you think?” Cynthia asked excitedly. “I think it’s a keeper,” she said confidently, thinking I would agree with her. But instead of giving her my opinion, I ordered $am to shoot. “Fire,” I said loudly. She quickly turned her head to look at me, her brow furrowed, visibly confused. “I’m sorry, did you just say-” The sudden sound of the window shattering into pieces erupted from behind us, instantly frightening Cynthia. But before she could react, the bullet pierced the right side of her torso. where her liver is supposed to be. 5/6 CHAPTER 67 Kill Shot ct kill shot. she fell into my arms, hyperventilating, her eyes wide, scared, and disoriented. Her mouth opened, but no sound came out… she was struggling to find words to describe what she was. feeling. I pulled out my phone from my pocket and calmly dialed 911. “C-can y-you send an a- ambulance to Highland Oaks? T-the McDowell residence. M-my friend, Cynthia, has been s- shot. P-please hurry,” I said in a quavering voice. I needed to pretend I was terrified. I hung up my phone and stared down at her pale and frightened face. Poor Cynthia. I couldn’t help, but feel smug. Chapter Comments Luna-Mom sneaky little Marla wants to play with the big boys Anna Murray POST Oh come on, I know your busy but please give us more chapters. I’m loving this book. but if we don’t start getting more chapters to read then I’m not going to bother until th….

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