Chapter 8 - The Ghost of Hawthorne RoadMy heart shattered into a thousand jagged pieces.
My father… the man whose memory I had carried, the man I thought had been an innocent victim of the mafia wars… had betrayed everyone. He had sold out Clara, he had sold out Kai, and ultimately, he had sold out his own daughter and granddaughter for a bag of blood-soaked money.
“You’re a monster,” I whispered, stepping in front of Lily, reaching into my pocket for the small compact pistol Kai had given me.
“I’m a businessman, Maya,” Julian corrected smoothly, bringing his revolver up and aiming it directly at my forehead. “And business requires closing every open file. Hand the girl over to my men.”
Lev didn't hesitate. He raised his tactical rifle to fire, but before he could pull the trigger, two suppressed shots echoed from the trees behind Julian’s men.
THWIP! THWIP!
The two mercenaries standing on Julian’s right crumpled into the snow instantly, dark blood pooling under their tactical vests.
Julian spun around in shock. “What the—”
Out of the pitch-black shadows of the forest, a figure emerged—moving with lethal, terrifying speed.
It was Kai.
His tactical vest was scorched and covered in white plaster dust, blood trickled from a deep gash above his left temple, and his eyes were glowing with an unhinged, feral fury that looked entirely inhuman. He looked like an ancient demon rising from the ash of his own pyre.
Before the remaining two mercenaries could raise their weapons, Kai closed the distance, grabbing the barrel of the first soldier's rifle, twisting it forcefully to break the man’s wrists, and pulling the soldier’s own combat knife from his belt to plunge it straight into his neck.
The second mercenary panicked, spraying blind automatic fire into the dark, but Kai slammed his heavy combat boot into the man’s knee, collapsing his leg with a sickening crunch, before discharging his silver-plated .45 point-blank into the mercenary’s chest.
It happened in less than four seconds. A masterclass in absolute, brutal violence.
Julian staggered back into the snow, his ivory-handled revolver trembling in his hand as he stared at the resurrected ghost of Kai Harrington.
“You… you were inside the house!” Julian stammered, panic finally bleeding into his arrogant voice. “The main floor collapsed! The thermite—”
“I built that house, Julian,” Kai growled, his voice deep, raspy, and terrifying as he stepped forward, dragging his silver pistol through the snow. “Do you really think I didn't build a secondary drop-chute behind the grand hearth?”
Julian aimed his gun at Kai’s chest with shaking hands. “Stay back! I’ll kill you! I swear to God I’ll shoot you right here!”
Kai didn't stop. He didn't even flinch. He kept walking straight toward the barrel of Julian’s gun.
“Shoot me, Julian,” Kai whispered, his voice dangerously soft. “Shoot me and pray to whatever god you believe in that the bullet kills me instantly. Because if it doesn't… I will tear your soul out through your teeth.”
Julian’s finger tightened on the trigger.
May you like
BANG!
A shot shattered the night air.
Related Stories
