"And his people." A grim smile tugs at Brick's lips. "An eye for an eye. We take out whoever's responsible for those graves, and then some.”
Brick's suggestion makes my stomach churn, because that type of vengeful plan usually involves collateral damage. There's a chance more innocent lives could be lost while we carry out this plot. But I know he's right. Tane understands violence, and violence is the only language he speaks.
"Do it," I say quietly. "Take out whoever was involved, and send them back in pieces. We'll dump them on Tane's doorstep."
A savage grin spreads across Brick's face. "With pleasure."
Angel smirks at his side. "This is going to be fun."
Slade cracks his knuckles again, anticipation etched into the sharp lines of his face. "We'll make sure Tane never forgets us.”
I nod, steeling myself against the nausea rising in my gut. This is war, and war means sacrifice.
We surge into action, preparing for the bloodbath to come. But when I close my eyes, all I see are piles of rotting corpses stretching out into the distance.
And I wonder if we're any better than the monster we're trying to stop.
The raid of one of Tane’s local outposts goes off without a hitch, our men descending on Tane's like a plague of locusts.
By the time the sun dips below the horizon, three of Tane's captains are dead —and in pieces, just as we ordered. Our guys made it look like a botched drug interception. Something that wouldn’t link directly back to us, just enough to thoroughly unsettle Tane and set him on a wild goose chase.
Brick and Angel return with blood on their hands and victory in their eyes, Slade on their heels with a shark's grin on his face.
"Message sent," Brick grins, pulling Angel in for a deep, hungry kiss. I can only imagine she tastes blood and death on his lips, and my stomach churns.
But she kisses him back, and I understand the need to cling to the familiarity of his embrace. This is our world, our life, and we can't afford to flinch from the violence that sustains it.
"Well done," she murmurs against his mouth. Brick hums, nipping at her lower lip.
I close my eyes, trying to clear my mind. But the ghosts of rotting corpses still linger at the edges, silent witnesses to the bloodshed we've wrought.
And I wonder if there will ever come a day when I can no longer ignore their accusing stares.
I scan the courtyard where everyone has gathered to discuss today’s events. Angel and Slade are now tangled up in each other, a mess of hungry lips and roving hands, while the others laugh and trade stories of the raid.
They're alive. They're whole. And for now, that's enough.
"Youdid good today," I tell Brick, patting him on his massive shoulder. He grins, pulling a cigarette from his pocket and lighting it with a flick of his lighter.
"All in a day's work."
I pluck the cigarette from his lips, taking a deep drag and blowing smoke up at the darkening sky. The nicotine buzzes in my veins, calming my frayed nerves.
Angel notices us, and narrows her eyes from across the courtyard. She’s not fond of our habit, but knows right now isn’t the time to ride us. The last thing we need is nicotine withdrawal while trying to take down Tane. Besides, I hardly pick up a cigarette when I’m not under extreme stress.
"I don't know how much longer we can keep this up," I admit. Across the courtyard, Slade now has Angel pressed up against the wall, her legs wrapped around his waist.
Brick's gaze follows mine, his brow furrowing. "What do you mean?" He quirks a brow at me. “Get a room!” he yells at Angel and Slade, and they both laugh, but don’t stop their canoodling.
"Tane's not going to back down. He's going to keep coming at us, and if we don't put him down for good..." I trail off, passing the cigarette back to Brick. "Sooner or later, one of us isn't going to make it back home."
Brick is silent for a long moment. "Then we end him," he says flatly. "However we have to. Before he has the chance to hurt anyone else."
His words should fill me with relief. But all I can see are the piles of rotting corpses, innocents sacrificed in a war that will never truly end. And I know it’s way too late to walk away from this life of violence.
"Roman." Brick's voice cuts through my brooding thoughts. I look up to find him watching me, eyes gleaming gold in the fading light.
"We're together until the end. Whatever happens." He places his huge hand on my shoulder, squeezing tight. "You don't have to face this alone."