He screamed at the top of his lungs, “Ow, ow, ow, ow!” When he turned around and glared at her, he asked, “What was that for?”
“Because I wanted to,” she said, with a big smile, “and because you deserved it.” And, with that, she turned, executed a prime back kick, as only self-defense moves could have shown her, right into Dracon’s nose, blood gushing immediately. She headed out again. As she got to the door, she saw Quinn, having a private conversation with Ryland.
Dracon’s eyes were still watering, and his nose was still bleeding.
When Quinn joined her at the door, she glared at him suspiciously. “You’re not allowed to kill him, you know?”
“I won’t have to,” he said. “His days are numbered already.”
“What do you mean?” she asked, turning to look at her former boyfriend, quivering in a pile of his own blood on the floor.
“These guys have been cleaning up steadily,” Ryland answered instead. “Nobody’s left alive.”
She stared at him in shock. “I mean, I don’t want you guys—or me—in trouble for killing this piece of shit. And I don’t believe in killing for no reason,” she said, “but honestly it couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.”
Both men laughed.
Quinn slipped an arm around her shoulders, tucked her up close, and said, “I’m proud of you.”
“I’m not so proud of me,” she said. Feeling her heart lighten just even hearing his words, she looked up at him. “And why would you be?”
“Because punching and kicking him was something you needed to do for yourself. And I get that. But today you showed up for Bullard, and you participated in this entire scenario just now for Bullard initially, but that was something else you needed to do for you. It gave you your control back.”
“It doesn’t make me feel good about myself,” she said. “I shouldn’t have resorted to the violence, like he did to me.”
“Everybody needs time to heal. Everybody has to look at why they did things and what they did for their own reasons. As long as you understand why you were with him and then that you were smart enough to walk away when you had a chance,” he muttered, “I wouldn’t worry about the rest of it too badly. I personally think bullies need a taste of their own medicine. Too many victims don’t stand up to them, just let them get away with this mess. So you need to cut yourself some slack. You got away from him. You stayed away from him. And unfortunately that’s more than most women can say.”
“It’s still disgusting that I was ever with him in the first place,” she muttered.
“So now what? You’ve got to be perfect? That’s not a standard you can achieve, so why set yourself up for failure? Plus now, having gone through this horrid situation with Dracon, I can guarantee you that you will recognize it instantly again. You won’t fall for this twice. You got to recognize who and what you are. Now and back then. So my understanding is you were a bit of a mess at the time.”
“I was,” she said. “More than a bit of a mess.”
“And why was that?”
“The university scenario. I’m sure Bullard told you about that.”
“Right. The court case was against them, wasn’t it?”
“Yes, and I found that even more distressing.”
“And yet you wouldn’t let Bullard be there?”
“Bullard, no, definitely couldn’t let him be there.”
“Why is that?”
“Because he was threatening to kill him,” she said quietly. “And you know Bullard as well as I do. He would have arranged it, no problem.”
“He might have,” Quinn said quietly. “You’re right. Bullard might have. Because the professor hurt you.”
*
Outside, the three of them stepped into the vehicle, and Quinn tried the phone number Dracon had. Quinn held up his cell on Speaker, as it rang continuously, and then, all of a sudden, the ringing stopped, and someone said, “Quinn, is that you?”
“It sure is. What are you up to?” He frowned at Ryland. But Ryland shook his head. Neither recognized the voice.
“Oh, I’ve been waiting for your call,” the stranger said at the other end. “And now I can finally let that little piece of shit off the hook.”
“You’ll let Dracon off the hook?”
“Well, in one way or another.” And laughter could be heard clearly over the phone.
“What are you up to?” Quinn asked. “I get that you’ve been watching the place.”
“Oh, I have, indeed. And how lovely to know that you’ve brought my little favorite with you.”
Quinn turned and looked at Izzie. “Well, she’s with me,” he said, “but I don’t think she wants anything to do with you.”
“Well, if that idiot hadn’t let her go a long time ago,” he said, “things would have come to a crunch a lot earlier. But, as it is, it all worked out for the best.”
“So why don’t we talk about it?” Quinn said.
“Nothing to talk about, except you want me to gloat a little bit. But that could be good too.”
“Well, I get that you were paid to do this, but I still don’t know who is above you or who was actively involved.”
“What makes you think anybody was above me?”
“Your little pet told us.”
“Of course he did,” he said, and his tone turned ugly. “That little weasel.”
“So you’re not the top of the hierarchy. You’re just yet another paid minion,” Quinn said. “So it’s really a matter of finding who is above you.”
“Nobody’s fucking above me,” he snapped.
“Yeah, I don’t think I believe you,” he said, turning and looking around. “You’re the one who set up the security cameras in the hallway, huh?”
“Yep, I heard you went there today, so I was expecting you to be back again soon.”
“Yeah, back here for you,” he said. “I can’t say I’m at all thrilled with Dracon. He’s pretty cheap labor.”
“And dead soon, just keep watching.”
Quinn turned and looked up at the apartment building. All of a sudden, he heard a crash of glass and a screaming shriek, as a body was thrown out the window, only to land with a heavy thunk in the alley on the other side. He reached out and grabbed a hold of Izzie, as she jolted at the noise. Ryland had already left the vehicle.
“I presume that was the lovely message you left behind for Dracon?” Quinn asked the guy on the other end of the phone.
“Yeah, like I said, just glad to have that one over with. That piece of shit couldn’t even do a simple job, like keep a handcuffed woman in his bed! I would like to know how she got out of that.”
“Really? Well, why don’t we meet and talk about it.”
At that, more high-pitched laughter came over the phone. “Well, that won’t work,” he said. “You think I’ll get anywhere close to you? You’re on a vengeance path, and it sure as hell won’t be me who gives you any more answers.”
“So why answer the phone call?”