Page 19

Chapter 8
Poison
Screens and dead cries
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We stand here confusedand conflicted as phones begin to chime, beeps and rings alerting the owner of the cell phones. I watch most of them glance at each other confused, probably curious as to why their devices are all ringing at the same time. Until horror hits their faces, some covering their mouths, some screaming and shaking with terror.
“What the fuck are you doing?” I charge at Victor, but the fucker who was holding down Mal comes forward, digging the barrel into my head.
“Ronan.” Anita gasps, coming toward the man with her dagger. I hold out my hand quickly, stopping her from doing something that can result in her death or all of ours.
I side eye Victor with a light chuckle. “You better hope you find a way to escape because you’re dead.”
“Don’t threaten my men, Alvarez. It’s so uncivilized.” He wags a finger at me like I am a bad dog.Oh, man, I’m going to ruin him so fucking much.
“Take a look.” He arches a brow, directing me to the screen. He switches it on, and my heart tumbles to the floor. My stomach churns, causing the bile to rush to my throat. I lower the gun, watching the screen in dismay.
No.
“Fuck,” Mal says in a shaky breath.
“Oh my god,” Anita cracks with a whisper.
“See, Ronan. Or should I say Poison?” Victor growls through clenched teeth, hooding his black eyes at me. “Remember the first man you killed?”
I don’t look at him, only at the screen with young kids, probably no older than ten, and the oldest I can see is most likely fifteen. All tied up with cloth around their mouths, arms, and feet. Tears staining their faces, fear emanating off them. Some are crying through the bondage on their lips. The pain stabs me in the heart as I narrow my eyes at the younger one crying for his dad. He’s bawling to fucking tears and there's nothing that I can do. Nothing. I want to break the screen, then smash it on Victor's disgusting head.
Victor continues obnoxiously. “See. Before you killed him, Henley overheard the conversation before you clicked the end call and killed Tractor. He was a lazy idiot, so you helped me there, anyway.” He waves his hands, and I clench my teeth, fighting everything in me to not break them.
“He said the name ‘Poison.’” He shakes his head slowly. “I never would’ve expected it to beyou.But here we are. Nearly a decade later. If that’s not the definition of revenge, then I don’t know what the hell is.” Victor cackles while taking a sip of his drink, like he’s on a vacation drinking a piña colada. That only infuriates me even more. “So, I had to do something, and Fred was just collateral. All the shit at his safe house was only a diversion to keep you clear of my true plan. Since you have been offing my men, intervening with my hostages, invading my compounds, and playing with my money, I’ll teach you what happens when you fuck with me,” he drawls, throwing a sinister look. “Revenge fucked with your mind so much, you didn't see that I was always two steps ahead.”
He taps another button. A video pops up, a figure in a black hoodie with a blacked-out face and a distorted voice. It seems the video shows downstairs.
Your worst nightmare has come to fold. Your children have been taken hostage. If you want to see them again, you will do as I say. Disobedience will result in death through both parties. Do you wish to live? You’ll listen. If you want your child? You’ll listen.
By 8 p.m. sharp tomorrow, you will wire ten-million each to an account that is strapped to your child. Record the numbers immediately.
The kids pop up on each of their phones. I can’t see it, but it’s obvious from the way their voices become frantic. Some parents begging and some tapping away on their devices to jot it down.
If I do not have the money by this time, your kid will die.
The screen shuts off.
My chest is burning as if my heart has sliced itself and bled out everywhere. The look on those kids' faces...