The dim lights cast a hazy glow over the worn tables of the local bar in Wind City. The door swung open, admitting a customer who calmly took a seat at the counter.
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr7yZ6oVIFG
"Frank, give me some booze," the man said, his voice a low rumble.
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR1ESgsONdo
Frank, the bartender, poured a generous shot of whiskey. "Haven't seen you in days, Dave," he commented, wiping down a glass.
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlAWis2h9ek
Dave lifted his glass, a tremor in his voice. "Yeah, I was inside... The judge dropped my charges, so they let me out."
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgTMnW7pIen
Frank smiled. "Good for you."
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj6th79oNQa
"They put a cop to watch me, though, so I'm not fully free, you see," Dave said, the bitterness evident in his tone.
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqsrdtJI9J1
Frank broke some ice into a glass. "Bummer. I was hoping to see you at the party."
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz0jYTrp9DA
A shadow fell over the table as another man approached. "I overheard you say you were inside. Mind me asking where?"
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCF2UK7ZOEa
Dave took a sip of his whiskey before answering. "Red Grave."
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkWl3u65E0L
The other man chuckled. "Believe it or not, I was there too, in the B section. Released a couple of weeks ago. I'm Dante, by the way."
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡscGFedZ1Ak
Dave laughed. "Really? What were you in for?"
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsj9HvJGiDV
Dante grabbed a beer from the cooler. "Beat my boss with a chair. He told me to work on designs, then never used them. I stayed there for a couple of months."
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpvm7n886QB
They shared a few laughs before Dave scanned the bar, noticing it was empty. "No ladies?"
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4vl8nFZATi
Dante wiped his face with a napkin. "Well, my friends were begging me to meet them at this place called Lastdrop. What do you say?"
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs90T1jru1u
Dave grinned. "Let's go. I bet there are at least some girls there. Good night, Frank."
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGgLC0Qthmo
They both exited the bar, Frank pocketing the money Dave had left on the counter. As Dante drove, he stopped at a house.
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUhhfTnTRQs
"Why are we stopping here?" Dave asked.
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDqXEWyHT9O
"Promised my friend I'd pick him up," Dante replied.
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmiPMiq6Qay
They got out and walked to the door. Dante rang the bell, he grabbed the key and entered looking for them but there was no answer. He tried calling, but found a text message: "Where are you we are already here."
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO63f4hQZf1
Dave scratched his head. "You should have called them before."
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWLae6Y1F1P
Dante smiled sheepishly. "My bad. Let's roll."
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPQaPv1FsxX
Dave opened the door, only to find himself rolling onto the ground. He had been pushed by an unseen force.
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfuvCh6sHAG
Confused and disoriented, he looked up to see Dante standing over him, a menacing glint in his eyes.
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJW430BWEhW
"Wait, why?" Dave stammered, fear creeping into his voice.
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ924S6UsVu9
Dante didn't answer. He delivered a swift kick to Dave's stomach, sending him writhing in pain. Another kick connected with Dave's face, breaking his nose with a sickening crack.
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaWwcNdc7tI
"Please, you're going to kill me!" Dave cried, blood streaming down his face.
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeUcqe7BCrZ
Dante leaned in close, his voice a cold whisper. "Stop crying like a little bitch."
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYaj7I1fBNI
Dave coughed up blood, his voice barely a rasp. "Why? Please tell me why."
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZlGy6uqmj
Dante rained blows upon him, each punch a brutal reminder of his helpless situation. He could feel his ribs cracking under the relentless assault.
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUYcW3VHbA9
Finally, Dante stood up and walked towards a drawer, pulling out a pair of gloves and a box of matches. Dave knew what was coming. He had been outmatched from the start, but now there was no escape.
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA0dF332XLj
He tried to crawl towards the door, but his broken leg made it impossible. He saw someone standing outside, a glimmer of hope flickering in his eyes.
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN8ltixdT88
Mustering all his remaining strength, Dave stood up and ran towards the door, screaming for help. But his jaw was shattered, his words garbled and unintelligible.
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg8W1ZGhRBG
Dante delivered another blow, a low kick that shattered Dave's other leg. He took a deep breath, his voice filled with a chilling calm.
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVEyCd9UjEs
"Remember a year ago? You dated a girl, fed her all that crap about loving her," Dante said, using Dave's own hands to pour fuel on his body.
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlW0hWLa7Ph
"Then you invited her to see the house you'd move in with her, only to rape her. You and three other bastards."
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh7cTcdRzBN
Dave tried to speak, but his voice was lost. Dante held a lit match to his body, setting him ablaze.
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjofuhuAJq
Dave screamed in agony as the flames engulfed him. Dante watched impassively, his face devoid of emotion.
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYatybWKraE
After the fire died down, Dante changed his clothes, cleaned the place, and headed home. He checked the door for his keys, found them, and slipped inside, trying to be as silent as possible.
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDDNmbo1f5o
He made his way through the hallway to a room decorated in a distinctly feminine style, clearly his sister's. He kissed her forehead gently and went to his own room, placing his phone on the charger before falling asleep with a satisfied smile on his face.
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBwnaocoLDl
The darkness in the room slowly gave way to the morning sun. Dante rose and closed the window, returning to bed. But a voice broke the silence.
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH376qxwAYr
"Vi, Vi, wake up, it's 8:00 o'clock," a voice called.
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0CLasGJPw
Dante cursed under his breath"fuck"and got up. He showered, changed, and headed to the kitchen, where his sister was already seated.
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3wvCJgdq0
"Victor, did you take the car back?" she asked.
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEPsMCb8XQq
Victor swallowed his sandwich, avoiding eye contact. "How about 'good morning' first? And no, I'll take it after work."
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDogh05CNb3
His sister put down her fork. "Then you need to give me a ride."
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVPlQygJfg
Victor grabbed his keys and dropped his sister off at her therapist's office. On his way to work, he was pulled over by a police officer.
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk99mYtYyzK
Victor stopped the car, making sure he had his driver's license and registration ready. He felt a wave of relief wash over him as the officer approached.
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGIRjZ9yywP
"Sir, may I see your driver's license, please?" the officer asked politely.
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr8l0koximK
Victor handed over the documents, his palms sweating slightly. "I'm sure I wasn't speeding, officer."
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdbzwVXl87f
The officer smiled. "I'm sure I heard him calling you dante yesterday."
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdtSs41LzuW
Victor's heart skipped a beat.
[Full book coming next month]
ns216.73.217.9da2
and then Add to home screen.