Chapter 17

17

GARRETT

I t’s not often that your prey comes to you. He has made my job so much easier. They came onto my land with guns. Cleaning up is going to be a whole lot easier than I’d anticipated.

I try to keep my focus on Joseph. You never take your eyes off the target, but Snow is difficult to resist. I flick a glance her way. Her eyes are wide, her hand covering her mouth. I can’t help but wonder how she sees me right now. Is she scared? Will she see me in a whole other light after this?

Because I did kill Micah. The little shit thought he'd sneak up on me. I knew the second they’d stepped onto my land, setting off one of my sensors. I’d been out getting more wood for the fire. So I set a trap. I grabbed my ax and began chopping away, deliberately being loud. The dumb ass came right to me. I hadn’t even given him a chance to speak. I merely spun around and chucked the ax at him. He went down easily.

Then there was Ethan. None of them appeared to have received any training. I was about to head back to the house to secure Snow, but Ethan came right toward me. Yes, I knew who they all were.

Zero, who I’d reached out to, got me information on Heaven’s Temple. The FBI already had a thick file on them with all the top-ranking members. Lucky me, they all decided to show up on my property.

While Ethan panicked over finding Micah with an ax in his face, I came up behind him. I’m a bit sad that both of them got such an easy death. They should have suffered some. They should have experienced the fear and misery they frequently inflicted on others.

I am, however, enjoying watching the fear and panic wash over Joseph. He thought he could come into my home and take what was mine. Men like Joseph always let their power go to their heads. Their egos get out of control, and they think they can do anything they want without any consequences. It usually works for them because they prey on innocent people, but I’m far from that. Honestly, I can’t blame Joseph. I’d enter anywhere to get my Snow back.

“What, ah—” he stumbles over his words. “Ethan.”

“No dice.” I give another shrug.

“You killed them.” Why he sounds shocked I have no fucking clue. Maybe they believe that bullshit they spout over at Heaven’s Temple that they are untouchable. He is about to experience a startling awakening.

“I did,” I clip out. My tone makes it clear that it means nothing to me.

Joseph's gaze drops to the gun I still hold at my side. “You’re going to shoot me?”

“Nah.” I step forward, and Joseph retreats a few steps. Snow shifts around, so he’s not close to her. I do, however, go over to her. “Hold this for me, baby.” I hold out the gun to her.

I double-check that I clicked the safety into place before she tentatively takes it from me. “You can go to the bedroom with Bear if you want.”

Snow shakes her head no.

"Now…" I turn to fully face Joseph, my arms open in an invitation. He casts a quick glance through the kitchen toward the back door. His skinny ass had wiggled in through the dog door. I'll need to investigate the possibility of installing a sensor on Bear's collar to restrict its opening to him alone. I haven't worried about it before now. I didn't think anyone was stupid enough to try and get into my home.

“You’ll never make it,” I warn.

“I’ve got money, lots of it.”

“Don’t give a shit.” I step toward him. He steps back, bumping into the couch. There is nowhere for him to go. He’s a caged, scared little rabbit, and I’m enjoying every second of it. I want him to feel fear.

“Girls? We have lots of them.”

I backhand him, sending him tumbling over the couch to the other side. It takes Joseph a minute to get back to his feet. “What do you want then?” he pleads, blood dripping from the corners of his mouth, making me think I knocked a few teeth loose. I clearly didn’t knock any sense into him.

“Already got everything I need.” I glance over to Snow to make it clear what I mean.

“I can get your sister!” Joseph rushes to say as I come around the couch to clear the space between us.

“Stop!” Snow shouts, halting me in my tracks.

“ I can get your sister,” I tell Snow. “We don’t trust lying, fake prophets.” My words get the reaction I was hoping for. Joseph charges me. Perhaps he thought he would surprise me or that I was unaware of the blade he was concealing in his hand.

I shift, allowing him to pass me in his charge, but I still grab him from behind. I wrap my arm around him, gripping his hand. I squeeze, making him cry out. I feel a bone or maybe two crack; his hold on the knife releases, and I take it from him. I wrap my other hand around the front of his throat and bring the blade up against it. It sinks in, making blood trickle down his neck.

“Please,” Joseph starts to beg.

Snow suddenly speaks. “Did Carla plead with you before you killed her?” She steps in front of him. I love that I’m able to give her this. That she gets to take back some of the power he stole from her.

“What are you talking about?”

I press the knife in deeper. “Don’t play games with her,” I warn him. “Answer the question.” I feel him swallow.

“She broke our vows,” Joseph admits. “Lay in our bed with Nora.” He spits the last part. “Then tried to run away.”

“That’s what happened to Nora?” Snow’s eyes fill with tears.

“It was sinful!”

“Sinful!” Snow shouts right back at him. “You fuck other women in that married bed too, and don’t say they're your wives so it doesn’t matter.”

If looks could kill, Joseph would be done for. I have never seen this level of anger from Snow. Normally, it’s all sadness. Now a fire is lit inside of her, and I fucking love to see it.

"It's the way of things."

"No, it's the way you forced upon us. Gave us no choice because we both know that in the real world, you'd be nothing. No woman would want to be your wife."

"You bitch! I'm—" The slide of my blade over an inch has his words cutting off.

"You're no one. That's who you are," Snow tells him.

“I have a feeling you’re not going where you think you are,” I tell Joseph, letting go of the knife. “Don’t want your blood on her.” With that, I snap his neck. His body hits the floor.

Snow stares at me with wide eyes for a long moment before she flings herself at me. I catch her easily, pulling her into me.

“I was so worried you were hurt or something.” She rains kisses down on my face. There is no disgust in her expression. It’s as though Joseph’s lifeless body isn’t even lying on the floor.

“You think I’d leave you to these fuckers?”

“No.” She gives me a watery smile.

“Don’t cry on me.”

“I’ll try not to.” She sniffles.

I step over Joseph’s body, carrying her back to the bedroom. She has seen enough fucked-up shit for a lifetime. My phone starts to go off in my pocket. I sit Snow down on the bed before I pull it out, knowing already it’s my brother.

It’s a text.

Ace: The Target is acquired.

Well, fuck me. He was only supposed to be doing recon.

“Ace has your sister.”

“What!? How do you know?”

I show her my phone.

“What does that even mean? How do you get that from a text? Can you call him?” Snow fires off one question after another.

“If he could call, he would. He's probably still on his way out.”

“Are you sure?” Tears start to stream down her face.

“Yes, I’m sure that’s what his message meant,” I reassure her. I know her tears are happy ones, but they still bother me.

“You really did it. Everything you promised me.” She wraps her arms around my neck, tugging me until I fall onto the bed on top of her. I start to speak, but she covers my mouth with her hand. “Last time you cut me off, so now it’s my turn.” She says this with a huge smile on her beautiful face. "I was so scared that if they took me away or something happened to you, I'd never get the chance to tell you that I love you too."

I never thought hearing her say those three little words would have such an impact on me. I should have known better when it comes to Snow.

“Say it again,” I all but demand it.

“I love you.” I close my eyes and savor the words.

“Then, marry me.”

“Of course I’ll marry you.” Her hands come up to my face. The same way I’ve done to hers so many times. “But what about the dead bodies?” Snow deadpans.

I throw back my head and laugh. She bursts into giggles under me, letting me know that Snow can not only handle my past but our future too.