Page 34 of Payback
"You want her to come crying to you so you can shut the door in her face?" he asked.
"That is what I aim for," I assured him.
“Good, then I have nothing more to say. I’m just making sure you know that these things can sometimes take over, make us want to prolong the sweet pain because even to us it’s addictive. We understand pain, and once it takes on a pleasing taste, that's when we truly cannot stop inflicting it.”
"You have nothing to worry about. She disgusts me."
"Well, then I won’t delay you any further. Proceed," he told me, sweeping his hand through the air.
I bid Vince goodbye, telling him to call me the next time he needed me before I left his house.
Chapter 18
-Jared-
I wore the dark gloves as I parked in the underground lot. Removing my helmet, I hung it on the handle before swinging my leg over the other side. Stepping toward the elevator, I pressed the up button. The doors soon chimed open, and I entered. Rising to the reception, I knew what awaited me there. Crossing the serene lobby, I approached a seemingly pleasant lady who, in reality, worked for Vince. With a courteous smile, she focused on me, slipping into her act.
“Good afternoon, sir,” she greeted.
“Afternoon.”
“Checking in?”
“Just for the night,” I confirmed.
She nodded, feigning the act of typing something into her computer. From an external perspective, everything seemed ordinary, as I had executed this process countless times in the past.
“Penthouse suite,” she noted. I acknowledged with a nod, and she retrieved a card, handing it over. “Have a pleasant stay.”
“Thank you.”
I took the card from her grip, walking toward the elevator while feeling my heart quicken its pace. The thrill coursed through my veins as I anticipated what was about to unfold. Instinctively, my body wanted to move around, seeking an outlet for the surging adrenaline, but I compelled myself to stay composed. Observing the ascending numbers, I reached the top floor. A soft chime signaled my arrival, and the doors glided open. I wasn’t surprised to find “security guards” stationed right outside the doors leading to the suite. They were ensuring that my target wouldn’t leave tonight if he tried.
“Has he made any attempt to leave?” I asked.
One of them shook his head.
“He’s clueless about what’s coming for him,” one of the men responded.
I nodded, a smile forming on my lips, as the person to my right handed me a mask. This wasn’t about concealing my identity. This was Vince’s domain. The place lacked cameras, and the dark mask molded into a skull shape exuded a lethal aura. I accepted it, donning the mask before reaching for my gun. The person on my left handed me a silencer, which I screwed onto the muzzle of the gun. Armed with the card that granted me access, I headed toward my target’s room. Quietly, I slipped into the shadowy entrance. It didn’t take long before the sound of a voice reached my ears, emanating from deeper within the room. Moving cautiously, I reached the living area. Peeking around a corner, I spotted my target seated in front of the TV, engaged in a phone call. Vince had left the choice to me, whether to hasten or prolong this process. Usually, the decision was straightforward, particularly for scum like this man. But now I had something waiting for me—a precious reward. I had a decision to make. Would I execute this swiftly or savor the moment? Nothing was quite like having someone completely at my mercy, knowing that not even death could free them from their fate. However, did I want to torment this bastard, or did I yearn to return to what awaited me at home? Alison certainly held an allure, yet I sensed a primal beast stirring within me, something even she couldn’t quell.
Moving silently, ensuring no sound betrayed my presence, I crept up behind my target. Oblivious to his impending doom, he remained utterly clueless, engrossed in his conversation. He hadn’t the faintest inkling that someone had marked a conspicuous red X on his back. He shouldn’t have dared to lay a finger on that young girl, and now the reckoning was upon him.
I drew back my arm, delivering a forceful blow with the end of my gun against the side of his head. He slumped unconscious, falling onto the couch. The call he had been on still rambled, and I allowed the voice to continue until I witnessed the phone’s screen darken. It was better to assume the connection had been lost. Stooping down, I seized his phone. Powering it down completely, I stashed it inside my jacket before starting my work. Clearing a space in the center of the living room, I noticed that the curtains had already been drawn. Fetching a chair, I positioned it in the middle, atop a carpet that would likely be discarded afterward. There was a reason Vince had orchestrated my target’s demise within his hotel. How he had arranged for my target to check in at that specific time was beyond me, but it didn’t matter. Perhaps it was the very person who had hired me that had orchestrated the circumstances, ensuring my target was exactly where he needed to be. My task was to handle the grim particulars and erase all traces.
I located some cables to bind the target once I positioned him in the chair. Tying his hands behind his back and securing his feet to the chair legs, I then cut open his shirt, pulling it down to expose his upper arms and chest fully. Stepping back slightly, I assessed my handiwork. Approaching again, I cut a few strips from the shirt and held them in my hand, setting them aside for later use. I proceeded to turn off all the lights in the room, allowing only the TV behind me to cast an eerie glow. Taking a seat in front of the immobilized target, I observed him. He would remain unconscious for a little while longer, affording Alison a more extended respite than I desired. Yet, my insatiable little slut would have to wait, as there was someone else in dire need of retribution.
My gaze flickered to a watch further away, its time display barely discernible. The ordeal was starting to take longer than expected. Around 45 minutes had passed, and impatience was settling in. Rising from my chair, I approached the target. I gripped his jaw, redirecting his focus toward me. Time had not treated him kindly—thin white hair, a prominent beer belly, and the stench of alcohol. I shook him gently, but he remained unresponsive. Drawing back a bit, I flexed my hand and slapped him across the face, jolting him back to consciousness. Amid his confusion, I retreated to my seat and settled down. I allowed him to grapple with his surroundings, to survey the scene and absorb every detail. When his eyes eventually landed on me, a surge of anticipation surged through me. I was eager to begin. A faint voice in my head started chanting the word “kill”. I recognized this as the awakening of the beast within.
Kill, kill, kill…
It might be assumed that the voice emerged when I distanced myself from the wretched life that I had endured by joining Vince, but the true catalyst behind this voice was something far more sinister. Alison was responsible for its beginning, as my mind had been consumed for years with fantasies of wrapping my hands around her throat and squeezing the life from her. Death, however, was far too merciful. That’s why I favored a slow approach, unless more pressing matters demanded my attention.
“Who the hell are you?” my target demanded to know.
I remained silent, seated as immobile as a statue, poised like a predator preparing to strike. My target cast another nervous glance around, seeking answers that would not materialize. There was only him and me in this dark room.
“Listen, I-I don’t know who you are, but I can double whatever they paid you. You don’t even have to reveal your name. Just release me, and we can resolve this,” he pleaded.
