She never could get out. I didn’t hate her for that, she did what she needed to do and what she thought would keep herself safe.

“Sit down, son. I think it’s about time you have a drink.” He tugs off his tie around his neck and tosses it onto the floor beside him. He was always away for business, buying new properties or meeting investors to buy more.

He’s a fucking criminal. We all know it.

“I’m good.” I lower myself onto the chair opposite his, keeping the gun aimed on him and resting my foot against the coffee table. Now with her gone, and the empty text message on my phone, this is going to be easy. “You’re not going to shoot me, Wicked.” He leans forward, resting his elbows on the top of his thighs. His brow curves upward in challenge, and I have to force myself to not pounce forward. To not lose my cool and let my rage out. I don’t need to prove myself to him.

Not now.

And not ever.

“Actually,” I say, turning the gun on its side. I can’t show weakness. It will give Jared a chance to jump forward and take the gun, and even worse than that—kill Poppy. “I would.” Years of rage and anger simmer below my surface because I know. I know how to release it. I just have to be patient. The downfall of a killer is the loss of patience, and I have plenty. Clearly.

“What are you going to do, Wicked? Shoot me? Then leave little Poppy out here for the system, hmmm? No…” He leans back against the leather, resting his ankle on his knee. “You won’t do that because you don’t have the kind of wickedness you need inside of you to pull that trigger, so I’ll tell you what.” He pauses, reaching into the inside of his suit jacket and pulling out a packet of smokes. “I’ll save your punishment for Poppy.” The corner of his mouth curves around his white teeth and I snap. My finger squeezes the trigger, and I watch as if in slow motion as the center of his forehead explodes from the impact of the bullet. Blood splatters over the back wall, onto the hot coals in the fireplace, and sprays over my face. I knew what I had to do. To protect her. I will always do what I need to do to protect Poppy, and even though I failed this time, I’m not ever going to with Poppy.