Page 145 of The Addict

Like in the movies, he was strapped to a chair. Two of my cousins were present; they weren’t Jace’s kids, but rather the offspring of half siblings. If I had to name our family’s hierarchy, it would be as follows: Jace, myself, then Serenity followed by a few other uncles and cousins on the list of who could be in charge of our family’s businesses and assets if needed. Yes, Jace designated me as his heir, but I was aware that this was only because I had a cock. In his opinion, Serenity would never be as capable in this line of work as I would.

He was most likely right. She was as pure as one could be. A God sent.

Unlike me—a demon.

“Okay, let’s make this quick,” Jace snapped upon entering. He rolled up his sleeves. “I don’t plan on dirtying mine or my nephew’s clothes.”

The man in the chair wriggled, the sweat on his forehead dripping down to soak the cloth that was shoved in his mouth. His eyes were heavy with tears, streaks of dirt could be seen where they fell down his cheeks.

Jace walked up close to him, bending down so he could see his eyes. “Do you have the money, or not?”

He signaled to my cousin to pull out the cloth, so the man could answer. He sputtered upon freeing his airways.

“J-Jace, you know my family is good for this, you know–”

“Do you have it, or not?” Jace repeated sweetly.

“My daughter, she’s ten Jace, you remember when little Serenity was ten, right? We can get it, we can get the money to you within the month, this I swear to you–”

Jace sighed, signaling to put the cloth back in his mouth. “So, I guess that’s a no?”

Jace walked across the room to a gun case and took out his silencer and .22. The man thrashed wildly against the chair, and my cousins, who now had to work to keep him there. I spectated, silently. I couldn’t even begin to describe the sounds he made or what they compared to. They were beyond my comprehension.

With a strange sense of satisfaction, I pondered what people think about right before they die. In particular, how was it being fully aware that death was about to claim you, and there was nothing you could do to stop it? A full play by play is what this man had. Moment by moment, he watched as death approached, and he knew his breaths were limited.

I was his undertaker.

After telling my cousins to get out of the way, Jace gave me the weapon. “You’ll own this business, you know. Soon. When I retire…” he remarked nonchalantly, “...or die. One of those.”

I nodded, checking the chamber.

Loaded.

“As my successor, you are aware that this task would at some point fall on your shoulders, correct?”

I aimed the firearm toward the man. “I get it.”

Jace gave me a shoulder pat. “We’re going to a party after this, so don’t stand too close.”

I took a deep breath and met the man’s beseeching gaze. He wouldn’t find any remorse there, in my eyes, but I wouldn’t turn away from him.

Acknowledging his existence was the least I could do as I pulled the trigger and erased him from this world.

DELANE

My mask was simple.

Again, it was another one of Chelsea’s creative ideas: a small, pastel looking disguise that hid almost nothing but the border of my cheeks and the space around my eyes. It was fashioned with a silver lining that ran along the smooth edges, and slipped over my head easily with a string that connected it.

As I examined myself in the mirror I realized that I had never seen myself looking so…pretty.

I wondered if Noah would even think I looked as good as I was hyping myself up to feel.

I heard Chelsea’s voice in the back of my head. “Shut up and go to the dance, bitch.”

I sighed, and spun around twice, admiring the back of the dress.

This was it then.