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Story: The Inquisitor

With my gun tucked inside my jacket. I was prepared for the worst. I didn’t want the FBI to know what I was doing here. It would complicate my business endeavors. I had a history with Red Venom, and it needed to be resolved today. Then I could hand him over. Before Kiera, I wanted him dead. That had been my only goal. But now I didn’t want any more deaths on my hands. I’d be satisfied if he rotted in a jail cell.

Voices echoed down the hallway, and I walked toward it. I found Red Venom and Mitch Kramer looking at something on a long table.

They turned when they sensed me. Red Venom studied me and made one step forward. He wore a black button-down shirt with black pants and red shoes, looking like someone from hell. Mitch Kramer wore a white button-down shirt with khaki slacks, looking like a filthy politician about to be punished in hell.

“You must be Black Mamba—a venomous snake,” Red Venom said.

“That’s right. Its vicious venom is suitable for those who get in his way.” I smiled.

Red Venom laughed, looking at Mitch. “I like this guy.”

“That’s what we do best. Those who wrong us shall pay for their sins.”Mitch looked at me for a while and a smirk appeared. “I remember now. You were at the auction. I hope the two beautiful women are serving you well.I hear you have a proposal. We are men in the business of making money. Let’s hear it.”

I had dreamed of this day where I stood in the same room as my enemy, showing him how he would die for taking the life of an innocent man. The rage that had once consumed me didn’t exist right now.

Why?

Though I hated Red Venom, vengeance was no longer the dominant emotion. Love had overcome everything.

As I stood face to face with my father’s killer, I realized something profound. The main reason I wanted to destroy Red Venom was to stop The Trogyn from expanding their network—and not because of my personal vendetta. That admission freed my heart from the chains of the past.

I didn’t know how heavy the burden of vengeance had been until now.

Mitch looked at me suspiciously. “Where’s Yolanda?”

“She’s not feeling well. The pregnancy is making her tired.”

“She’s pregnant?” Red Venom asked Mitch, who didn’t reply.

Mitch cocked an eyebrow. “What’s your actual business here?”

“I’m interested in the production of your red shoes.” I walked up to the table behind them, and rage spiked.

There were moments in life that tested my faith in humanity. This was one of them.I reined inmy anger so the recorder in my jacket could register the conversation with clarity.

“Who pissed you off to have their skin on your table?” I asked.

Human skin was sprawled on the table like pieces of fabric ready to be made into accessories. I wanted to puke. This abhorrent display shouldn’t have shocked me, but it did.

How could they stand there unaffected by this appalling crime?They treated humans like animals.

“Enemies.” Red Venom grinned. “You cross me, you die. I mixed their blood in with the red dye. It’s a fabulous creation, isn’t it?”

A door slammed from the back.

“Dad, the new shipment just arrived—” Bruno stopped in his steps and stared at me.

Son of my enemy.

Recognition surfaced on Bruno’s face, and his lips thinned.“You don’t belong here.” He dropped the box he was carrying onto a nearby table.

From the corner of my eye, Red Venom pulled out a gun and shot at me. I dodged but wasn’t fast enough, so the bullet hit my arm. It didn’t penetrate because of the high-tech suit made with Kevlar embedded in it. It had cost a fortune, but was well worth it.

I fired back and dashed over toward Bruno. Red Venom fired another shot.The bullet hit Bruno in the chest, and he collapsed to the floor, bleeding.

“Get down!” Armed men burst through the door, and the real FBI agents poured in.

Arrow had alerted the FBI, and the timing couldn’t have been more perfect.