Page 99 of The Beast's Broken Angel

“Remember what I said about staying safe,” he murmured, and I could hear the smile in his voice despite the circumstances.

“Same goes for you,” I replied softly. “Don't do anything stupid just to prove a point.”

“Wouldn't dream of it,” Adrian lied, and we both knew it.

The warehouse district spread below us like a map of violence waiting to unfold, and somewhere in that maze of concrete and steel, Harrison was about to learn exactly what happened when you betrayed the Calloway family.

I settled into position with medical supplies and tactical communications, watching through thermal imaging as Adrian moved through shadows with lethal grace.

The old Noah would have prayed for peaceful resolution.

The new Noah found himself hoping Adrian made it hurt.

21

BEAUTIFUL DESTRUCTION

ADRIAN

Ihad set my lads around the Camden warehouse like I was playing fucking chess with human pieces. Every move calculated to turn Harrison's little trap into his tomb. Twenty years that bastard had been taking the piss, and tonight, I am going to watch the life drain from his eyes real slow.

The warehouse district at night was my kind of playground. Concrete and steel where screams bounced off walls and no cunt gave a shit about gunshots. Perfect place to paint the walls red and leave bodies for the rats.

“Got the place locked down tight, boss,” Dominic's voice had crackled through my earpiece. Stubborn prick had insisted on coming despite Noah patching him up. Should have told him to fuck off, but I needed every killer I could get. “Harrison's coming in from the east, just like we thought. Proper military setup this lot. Not some street thugs with rusty blades.”

I was watching the heat signatures move through my scope like little glowing targets. Harrison had brought serious firepower, but the stupid cunt didn't know what happened whenyou threatened a Calloway on our turf. We didn't just kill you. We made art out of your screams.

My eyes flicked to where Noah was positioned with Viktor watching his back.

“Harrison's convoy just rolled up,” came through the comm. “Three motors, heavy escort. Twelve shooters plus his personal bodyguards. Two minutes till they're in the kill zone.”

“All teams, light them up,” I commanded, and Camden turned into hell.

It was beautiful, watching my boys work. Like a fucking ballet made of bullets and blood. Harrison's security never stood a chance against lads who had learned to kill in Belfast and Baghdad. Professional soldiers against street thugs who had grown up stabbing each other for fun.

Gunfire echoed through the district like music, muzzle flashes lighting up the night like deadly fireworks. Through my scope I watched Dominic's team cut through Harrison's muscle like they were made of paper. Bodies dropping, blood spraying, proper fucking chaos.

“Secondary targets down,” Dominic reported, blood splattered across his face like war paint. “Eight confirmed kills. Rest are running like the cowards they were. Harrison's trapped in the middle vehicle, sitting pretty for us.”

The concrete was painted red by then, expensive tactical gear soaked through with blood under the orange lights.

I moved in personally for the main event. Tradition demanded I handle significant betrayals myself. The warehouse looked like a slaughterhouse, walls pockmarked with bullet holes and painted with arterial spray that would take bleach and prayer to clean off.

Harrison still had his composure when Dominic dragged him to the chair. Silver hair barely mussed, expensive suit still pristine despite being surrounded by the corpses of his boys.Looking disappointed rather than terrified, like he had lost a bet rather than was about to lose his life.

Made me want to cut his face off just to see if he'd keep that calm expression.

“Your little show's unnecessary, Adrian,” Harrison said, adjusting his cuffs despite the zip ties round his wrists. “Business disagreements should be handled through negotiation, not this barbaric display.”

Still playing the legitimate businessman even with his security team bleeding out around us. Made my fingers itch for the knife.

“Business disagreement?” I laughed, the sound bouncing off concrete walls still warm with fresh blood. “That what we're calling twenty years of stealing from my family then?”

I circled him like a shark, savoring every second I had been waiting for since I was a kid. Got my key lieutenants watching, witnesses needed for what came next. This wasn't just an execution. It was a fucking statement.

Harrison watched me circle, that infuriating calm still plastered across his face. “Adrian, surely we can discuss this like civilized men. There's been a misunderstanding?—”

“Misunderstanding?” I stopped directly in front of him, close enough to see the sweat beading at his temples despite his composed act. “That's what you're going with?”