As if the knife-wielding addict could read Bennett’s mind, he curled his lip, and spit flew from his mouth as he belched out the most awful of laughs. Like a snake, his tongue slithered out from between his discolored teeth long enough to wet his cracked lips before it recoiled back into the black hole that was his mouth. “Bitch, I don’t know who you are, but once I get done with this one, I’m going to let Daddy over there watch while I slice and dice his kids, and then I’m coming after you.”

“Petey, dude, you gotta chill,” the one near the coffee table said.

“Don’t you dare fucking tell me what to do, Drew,” Petey yelled, more spittle spraying from his mouth as he brandished the hunting knife at his friend.

“Yo, bro, I ain’t trying to tell you what to do,” Drew said, raising his hands in the air. “But take a look at the coat and boots the bitch by the door is wearing. She’s gotta be loaded, dude. Probably has enough to keep us in ice for years, so if you wanna off the babymakers, have at it, but don’t kill that one. She’s our ticket to fly, man. She’s our ticket to fly.”

Petey peered at Bennett, and a sneer spread across his face. “Well, now, I guess old Drew’s got a point,” he said, placing his mouth near his captive’s ear. “We won’t be needing you after all, honey. Sorry about your luck.”

“Sorry about yours,” Bennett said, locking eyes with Petey.

Petey squeezed his eyes into slits as he casually raised the knife. This was the best part. The part when the helpless could do nothing but watch, and he didn’t want to rush it, and he sure as hell wouldn’t rush killing the one who’d intruded on his fun. No, he would make her suffer. He would break enough bones that she’d empty her bank account to end the pain, and then the real pain would begin. As he pressed the knife against the mother’s throat, he said, “You were say—”

The whoosh of Bennett’s movement caused Petey’s greasy hair to flutter, and before it could settle back into place, Bennett’s hand was around his throat. Acting like a noose, it choked off his words and his air supply, and Bennett wasted no time in shoving the woman toward her husband. “Protect your children,” she said, glancing at the frightened couple. “I’ve got this.”