Page 85 of Retribution
Cobra glanced over for a moment, then a grim smile flickered across his face. “I’m the fuckin’ angel of retribution.”
Taylor’s shoulders slumped, his face grew ashen, and his chin tucked down to his chest. “I think you have me mixed up with someone else. I don’t know you, and I’m not involved in anything illegal. You have the wrong person.”
Cobra gripped the steering wheel until his whitened knuckles ached. “Last I heard, rape’s illegal.”
“Rape?” His head snapped up then he shook it vigorously. “Yeah, you got the wrong guy. I never raped a woman. I never had to.”
The damn fucker had the audacity to chuckle. Rage burned in Cobra’s chest, spreading, growing hotter. He held the steering wheel even tighter, feeling like he could break it in two beneath his hands.
“You’ve got to be talking about someone else … I don’t know you.” The asshole’s strained voice sliced through Cobra’s anger, pushing his emotions back down deep inside, where they belonged.
“Dakota Krueger has a different take on what you did to her.” Cobra’s words were even and calm.
“Dakota? Did she tell youthat? She lied to you, man. I don’t know why, but she’s always spread fucking lies about me. We were just kids doing kid shit together, nothing serious or anything, and she’s always held it against me that I ended up dating another girl.” Taylor struggled to pivot toward Cobra. “You know how it is, right? It was just kid stuff. I bet you messed around with a lot of women too.”
“Don’t fuckin’ act like you know me. I never raped a woman. You did, and you’re gonna pay for it. You can’t do that shit and fuck up Dakota’s life like you did and just walk away. I won’t fuckin’ let you.”
Beads of sweat popped on Taylor’s forehead, and it gave Cobra an immense amount of satisfaction. Before the night was over, the fucker would be drenched.
“Did Dakota pay you? I can give you more money. I make a lot at my job and—”
“Shut the fuck up!” Cobra punched the side of Taylor’s face. “Dakota doesn’t even know I’m here. We’re done talking.”
The jerk’s head hung down, and they drove the rest of the way in silence. Cobra pulled off the main road and down a narrow one to the right until he stopped the vehicle and exited it. He stalked over to the passenger side, pulled open the door, and yanked Taylor out. A small pained noise came from the back of his throat.
“Please. I didn’t do anything. I won’t tell anyone about this.”
Cobra punched him in the stomach and he bowled over. “I thought I told you to shut the fuck up. You don’t listen too good, and that’s why you’re in this clusterfuck. Shoulda listened when Dakota told you to stop.”
“Does she want me to apologize to her? I will. I can call her right now and tell her I didn’t mean to hurt her. I swear I thought she was cool with it, but I’m willing to tell her I’m sorry.”
Two sets of headlights lit up the darkness as the trucks pulled in behind the Mustang.
Taylor staggered backward his eyes wild and darting. He began to run away as if he realized for the first time that his death was imminent.
“You want me to get the fucker?” Breaker asked as he cracked his knuckles.
“Yeah—I’m sick of the piece of shit,” Cobra answered.
The men waited in a circle, arms folded across their chests as Breaker walked slowly toward the man who’d just tripped over a fallen branch.
“I’m gonna switch out the plates on the Mustang while we’re waiting,” Pee Wee said.
“T-Roy’s anxious to see it. We’re gonna make some good money on this one,” Iron said as he watched Pee Wee bend down by the vehicle.
“That’s good.” Cobra watched as Breaker grabbed the asshole by the back of the neck.
“No!” Taylor yelled.
“He gonna be missed?” Brute asked.
Cobra shrugged. “It’s a new job in a new city and he doesn’t have too many friends yet. I figure in a day or two, but we’ll be long gone.”
“We’ll crush the burners at the junkyard. You gonna give us yours?” Iron asked Cobra.
“Yeah. I’ll just check in with Skaggs to make sure my woman’s good then it’s all yours. I can’t wait to get back on my bike—I fuckin’ hate cages.”
“I know what you mean,” Iron replied. “Your baby’s in the bed, all ready to go once we’re done with this shit.”
