Page 290 of The Tempted
“Guess what?” I whispered. “It’s not enough for me either,” I said, grabbing his shattered hand with my gloved hand and pouring salt over the wound where his finger was missing.
That’s for me because I’m a greedy motherfucker too.
I emptied the box of salt onto his hand, throwing the box on the floor and grabbed the leash again.
Time for you to howl.
And boy did he howl. He begged for death and screamed in agony.
I snapped the leash. “C’mon boy, let’s go for a walk, I promise to give you a treat if you do as I say,” I said, as if I was talking to a dog. And I was a man of my word. I’d throw the dog a bone if he obeyed his master.
I led Jimmy toward the bar and as he crawled obediently beside me he left a trail of blood along the floor. Another stain to add to the bloodshed caused by this mutt.
“Good boy,” I said, treating him to a pat on the head. “Ready for your treat?”
He remained silent and stared at me with puppy dog eyes.
“Climb onto the stool,” I commanded, waiting for him to follow instructions.
He took a seat on the stool and I jumped onto the bar, pulling the second duffel bag across the wood and dumped the contents of it onto the bar.
“Time for your reward,” I said, grabbing the rubber band. I pulled the hand he was using to hold his maimed one and wrapped the rubber around his arm, tying the knot tight before I flicked his skin and found the vein. I stuck the needle into the vile and filled it with pure heroine.
“You about ready to tell me where my brother and my woman are?”
“I thought you said you weren’t going to kill me,” he cried.
“This shit didn’t kill Blackie did it? It won’t kill you,” I insisted.
He dropped his head, stared at his hand and watched the blood drip onto the floor.
“You’ll pay for this,” he swore.
“I can’t wait,” I retorted.
“I’m the boss!”
“No, I’m the motherfucking boss,” I corrected.
“They’re in the cellar of Vic’s café on 18thAvenue,” he said.
“I find out you’re lying I will kill you,” I promised.
He lifted his eyes to mine.
“That’s where they are,” he cried. “Enjoy them while you can, someone will find them, and everything you’ve done to me, you’ll watch be done to them,” he vowed, struggling with his words.
I stared into his eyes and saw defeat fill them.
This is for Blackie.
I plunged the syringe into his arm and emptied the vile into his veins.
Swim. Take him away.
There was one more score to settle, and I saved the best for last.
I jumped off the bar and dragged the stool to the center of the room and reaching into my bag one last time and pulling the container of lighter fluid out and a box of matches.
