Blood Red (6 page)

Vivi Anna

He started to whimper. “Have mercy.”

“I’m not going to kill you, Jimmy. I want you alive so you can take back a message to The Wolf. Tell him he may think he’s hunting me, but I am nobody’s prey.”

Without a single glance at his fallen brothers, Jimmy scrambled to his feet and ran out of the pub.

Red leaned over where John lay, and pulled her knife out of his head. She wiped the blood on his shirt and sheathed it back on her leg. She felt a presence behind her. She swung around, hands up, ready to strike.

Jack stood behind her, his cheek red and already swelling. “Are you all right?”

Red turned from his caring blue eyes and went to the bar. “Nothing that won’t heal.” She picked up a neglected drink and pounded it back.

She winced as the alcohol stung her open cuts. The burning felt good. Made her feel still alive. She reached down to her belt and untied a little leather pouch. She set it on the bar counter.

“Give me a bottle of vodka. The rest’s for the garbage disposal.”

The barkeep set an unopened bottle of vodka in front of her. He took the pouch and upended it into his hand. Gold coins spilled out onto his palm. He held onto four coins and handed the pouch back to her.

With bottle in hand, Red walked to the exit. Jack followed silently behind her. She pushed opened the door and walked out into the brisk night. A rainstorm was brewing. Dark, threatening clouds amassed in 10

Blood Red

the night sky. She could smell it in the damp air.

She walked slowly down the cobbled street feeling the effects of the evening's altercation. She could feel Jack behind her. She stopped and turned toward him.

He looked like a lost little puppy. Red was not good with pets. She hated the responsibility for another’s care. That was why she had no friends, either. Too many obligations, too many friends lost.

“Go home.”

“No. I want to go with you.”

“Why?”

Jack reached out tentatively, hand shaking, and slid his thumb over her swollen lips. She didn’t pull away. “Does it matter?”

Red turned and continued walking down the street. Jack followed. She reached the end of the street to a rundown boarding house. She opened the door and turned back to Jack.

“I won’t be gentle.”

“I know.”

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