Page 90 of Scandalous Contract

I put a bullet in his chest. He was going to bleed out anyway. It was better to die quickly than suffer. I strode toward the hallway, stopping just short of venturing into it. I peeked out, looking left, then right, searching for the first intruder.

I didn’t see him or Scott. But I knew what direction Scott had gone in, and I was pretty sure he was heading for the back door. I stepped into the hallway, gun raised, listening for any sound of movement.

I heard it just ahead of me and to my right. I peered around the corner to see Scott slamming against the back door, trying to get it open. It wouldn’t budge. The second intruder must’ve put something against it before entering the house through a window.Smart.

I raised my weapon and aimed at Scott’s head. A shot rang out, kicking up wood near my foot.Mother. Fucking. Bull. Shit. I turned and fired at the shadowy figure that was ducking off into a bedroom.

My bullet struck the doorway. I was tired of that motherfucker. I turned to find Scott’s bitch ass racing into another room of this maze of a house. I followed him. It shouldn’t be this damn hard to kill one man.

He ducked into the next room and slammed the door shut behind him. I fired off a shot right before it closed. His cry of pain let me know he was hit. I heard the lock click as I raced toward the room.

I didn’t slow down. I slammed into the door with my shoulder. The whole thing shook, the hinges groaned. I was about to ram into the door again when I heard footsteps behind me. I didn’t hesitate. I ducked and spun around, firing two rounds.

A bullet grazed my ear as the gunman dropped his weapon, hand bleeding, a finger on the floor. I fired again, striking him in the stomach. He fell to the ground. Ear stinging, I turned back and rammed my shoulder into the door again.

It rattled louder this time, loosened but still holding. Another shoulder ram into the door sent it crashing in. I stumbled forward, falling on top of the door. I quickly rolled to the side and raised my weapon, eyes scanning the room. It was empty, and the window was open.

Fuck!I got up, dusting myself off, and walked over to the window.Shit!He was gone. He would’ve tried to leave in his vehicle. I turned and raced through the house, down the hall, and out the front door.

I stood on the porch, listening, waiting to see if I spotted any movement. The light inside the car was on. The door was open. But Scott was long gone on foot. I clenched my teeth, pissed the hell off. I strode back into the house, walking over the front door that was now on the floor.

When I reached the first intruder, I found him clutching his stomach. I approached and stood over him, gun pointed at his head. Why? I didn’t know. I was out of bullets. Even so, I wanted to put some fear in the bastard.

Because of him, I’d lost my target. Because of him, I had to wait even longer to get back to Stefanie. Because of him, a threat to my family was still on the loose.

"Who sent you after Scott?" I demanded.

He looked dazed as the moonlight drifted through the dirty windows, illuminating his pale face in the dark house. He mumbled something I couldn’t decipher. I kicked his shoulder. He groaned in pain.

“Speak clearly,” I insisted.

He whispered, "Aaron Clark... sent me... to kill his... mistake."

I stared at him, disgusted. Aaron Senior was willing to cover up and even kill for one son, but he treated the other like trash. I almost felt sorry for Scott. But the fact that my PI told me Scott tried to hire him to investigate me meant I had no choice but to kill the bastard.

I couldn’t let Scott live. I also couldn’t allow this hired gun to live. Out of bullets, I had no choice but to get my hands dirty. I went to my knees next to him and placed my hand over his nose and mouth, pressing down.

He struggled against me but was too weak to fight much. He’d already lost a lot of blood. This was actually a mercy killing. It was better for him to die now than burn alive when I burned this place down.

I couldn’t have Scott returning here. I needed him to try to hole up at the other places my PI told me about. That would narrow my search. The gunman had tears flowing down the side of his face as his body convulsed.

I looked away. I hated this. But he’d been dead the moment he entered this home.No loose ends.I had to finish this well so that no one came after Stefanie, India, or my family later. For them, I held firm.

Eventually, he stopped moving. I checked his pulse. Nothing. He was gone. I found myself wondering if he had a family, a wife, and kids. I quickly ended that thought process. Focusing on that would drive me crazy.

Plus, he hadn’t worried about my family when he’d fired at me. One of us had to die. That’s just how it was. I picked up both guns from the floor and stood up. It was time to pick up my bullet casings, then burn this place to the ground.

I’d hoped to end things tonight. I’d hoped to send Stefanie a letter tomorrow, asking if I could take her out to dinner. Unfortunately, that would have to wait. The dinner part. Not the letter. I was definitely sending her a letter.

I thought of what I’d say to her in the letter as I strode back to my car and got my container of gasoline. I smiled as I poured gas around the property, thinking of how she’d respond to some of the things I wanted to say to her.

And as the house burned, I pictured Stefanie’s cheeks heating in embarrassment as she read about all the nasty things I wanted to do to her. And now I was on hard.Fuck!I was tired of jacking off. I vowed right then and there never to let Scott escape me again.

The next time I saw him, I would kill him.