Page 124 of Blackwood

Laing fires without hesitation. Scarface’s kneecap. The snap echoes, followed by another round of screaming.

“Call her a bitch again,” he says, voice low and deadly calm. He nods toward the guy that I love tapped. “We’ve got a spare. You’re not exactly necessary.”

“Aww, thanks honey.” I smile sweetly and blow him a kiss.

Behind me, I hear Lex mutter under his breath. Something about a dragon dick. I don’t turn around. I step closer, cock my head, and speak again.

“So. Let’s try this one more time, shall we? Where is Krolek?”

The one with the hole in his shoulder coughs, voice ragged. “You kill us now, fine. But if we talk? Krolek… he kills us worse.”

“Well yeah,” I say casually, circling them like a shark. “You may be right.”

I strut over and drop into his lap like he’s some dirty little throne. Straddling him. Owning the moment. I feel his whole body freeze under me—whether it’s fear or arousal, who gives a shit.

I lean in, voice dropping. “Chances are, Krolek’s still hiding somewhere safe in Poland.” I wave my gun in the air like I’m about to give a TED Talk. “But last I checked?” My eyes lock on his. “You’re not in Poland.”

Then without a blink, I shift the barrel right toward Scarface’s temple.

BANG.

My lap buddy screams like a little bitch.

“Now, you might want to give me what I want,” I say, wiping some of the blood off my cheek with the back of my hand.

Laing mutters behind me, “Fuck, Iz…”

His eyes dart to me, confused. Probably trying to figure out if I’m going to shoot him or strip him.

Good. Let him spiral.

“See, our little arrangement doesn’t have to be all bad.” I stand up slow like I’m dragging the threat across his skin with every movement. I walk over to Nate, but my gaze doesn’t leave Lex.

He’s leaning against the wall, arms crossed, that deadly body all relaxed and lethal. And when our eyes lock? Icy-blues and that damn smile. He’s loving this.

Fucking psycho.

Takes one to raise… well, to know one.

“So,” I say, tearing my eyes away and turning back to our guest of honor, “I have an idea instead.”

I gesture casually to Nate, who’s been quiet up until now. “You see this man here?”

The guy with the bleeding shoulder lifts his head slightly.

“He’s really good at making people disappear.” I pause. “Not like your buddies here.” I nod to the corpses. “No, I mean safe. Tucked away. New identity, new life. Far from Krolek. Rich. Happy. Healthy. A whole new beginning.”

I say it soft and slow, like a lullaby laced with poison. And I can see it, he’s eating it up. The desperation. The delusion. The part of him that wants to believe there’s still a way out.

He glances at the bodies beside him and licks his lips like they’ve gone dry. “What… what do you have in mind?”

Got him.

I tilt my head and smile. “Tex you’re up.”

Tex steps forward, boots hitting the concrete slow and heavy. No rush. Just that calm, deliberate weight of a man who’s about to ruin someone’s week.

Our guest stiffens. I glance at him as Tex stops just in front of him.