Writing's on the wall but I can't see the words

It's, right in front of me but my vision is blurred

And, is this love that makes the clear eye blurred?

Is this love that has me losing my mind?

When he calls your name and you just gotta have it

Love me all the wrong ways, my bad habit

Hold me close, while you take me away

(I just wanna scream your name)

Oooh I like that

Oooh t-t-tap that

I'ma call you daddy

(You make me go insane)

Oooh do me right

Do me all night

Cause you give me life

Runnin' through my veins

Runnin' through my veins

(Jazmine Sullivan-Veins)

I'd expected that Mike would be stupid enough to try and lock the door on me me in my own house. I got undressed and stood at the door in my bra and panties. I'd begun to pity him. At this point, I was sure the news had spread to everyone that tonight, Mike would be eliminated. While striping down, I figured I'd give him to choices. He could either die feeling pleasure, or he could die painfully. I calmly pulled my hair back into a ponytail and shot the lock off the door. I wasn't worried about him escaping, as there were no windows in this bedroom. As I suspected, he was attempting to pack a bag. He had to know that there was only one way out of here, and that way was not going to be on his terms.

"Mike, I'm sorry things have to be like this,"

"No you aren't. If you were really sorry, you'd let me leave. It isn't as if I'd tell anyone anything. I can keep my mouth closed as long as you let me go."

Now he was starting to piss me off. I walked closer to him, reaching out to trace the planes of his face gently. As I ran my fingers over his lips, I smiled innocently. I waited until he'd closed his eyes and leaned into my touch to take my glock and bring it roughly across his face. I watched as he fell on the bed, pain etched across his face. One of the things I'd always like about Mike was that for the most part, he learned from his mistakes.

"Now Mikey, we both know that the reason I can't let you go, is because you couldn't keep your mouth closed. So, we both know what your fate will be. Tragic, yes. Surprising, no. So I'll give you two options. You can die a happy man. I'll let you fuck me, and I'll let you get your rocks off, and after, I'll give you a clear shot between the eyes. Or, you can go in agony. I'll take my time, shooting you so that you feel enough pain that you wish to die, but won't actually do so. And once I get bored, I'll shoot you in the chest, and while you bleed out, make you watch as I fuck Edward Masen and brag about all of the things he can do to my body that you can't. You decide. You have exactly twenty seconds, and if you don't choose by then, I'll choose for you. I promise you won't like my choice."

I knew that for some reason, he hated Edward Masen almost as much as I hated being lied to. I had already guessed the choice he was going to make, but I wanted to hear him say it. I wanted him to accept the fact that the only way this would end, would be for the last breath to leave his body. He was lucky I was feeling benevolent today.

I inspected my nails briefly while I waited. I needed a manicure badly, and I was sure that the chemicals from the cleanup would only serve to make things worse. I'd have to ask one of my sisters where she got her nails done. They'd always been rather fast. As I was mentally choosing the color that I wanted them to be, when I heard Mike make his choice.

"You know I hate Masen. I'd like to die knowing that he'd never touched you."

I stood from the chair I had dropped into and walked over to him.

"Get onto the bed."

I waited as he climbed into bed, my gun in my hand, poised in the event he tried something unwise.

"Fellas choice Mikey. How do you want it?"

"I'd like to go out like a man here Swan. Strip and get onto all fours on the bed."

I did as he requested. I'd let him die with some dignity. Before I settled myself onto the bed, I waved my gun a little so that he could see that I was not fucking around here. Any sudden moves and I'd spray his brains all over the walls without a second thought. As quickly as he moved to take off his pants, I knew how this was going to be. He planned on getting his rocks off and leaving me hanging. It didn't matter. I'd find myself a new boy toy soon. Men were attracted to the power I held. It was a pity I was losing him though. He had always been rather obedient, and in all the times I'd searched him for weapons before he was allowed to enter my home, he always came up empty.

He entered me slowly from behind, grunting as he felt how tight I was for the last time. I was going to miss this. Michael had always been a good lay. Seconds turned to minutes and when I thought I would die from boredom, he smacked my ass and said, "I love you Isabella."

I smiled at that and waited until he withdrew from me and fell beside me in bed. I took my time and let him lay down in bed. While he was settling himself, I got dressed again, keeping my eyes on him and my gun close. Once I was dressed and he was settled in bed, I stood at the foot, my eyes trained on his.

"Things were nice while they lasted Michael."

"I'll miss you Isabella."

For a minute, I almost felt bad. Before I could change my mind, I shot him, quick and clean between the eyes. I was grateful for the overly large headboard that I'd convinced Michael and some of his friends to haul in for me. The blood spatter hadn't reached the walls because of it, and thankfully I didn't have to deal with the drama of having blood on my face. I had loved him, but before I could allow myself to grieve in any way, there was a knock at the door and I heard Edward Masen's voice at the door.

"Isabella! Aprire! Open up!"

I took the time to put my hair up into a high ponytail and took a quick but deep breath. I was surprised the girls had beat him here but the situation needed to be dealt with quickly. When I opened the door I was briefly surprised that he had come alone. He must have trusted me or had a death wish these days, since we almost never traveled alone. I ushered him inside and silently walked into the bedroom. There was no point in drawing this out. He was here to handle business. I walked into the room and leaned along the wall across the bed. After crossing my arms, I slightly tilted my head, looking at him and waiting to see what he would do or say next.

Before I could complain about the wait, he let out a loud whistle and walked up closer to the bed.

"Alright Swan. The body looks pretty relaxed, so I'm going to assume he died with the knowledge of what he did. What do you want from me and the guys? We could just do a clean and dice, or we could do a clean and dump. What's it gonna be?"
I shrugged my shoulders and sagged against the wall, pulling a pack of smokes from my pocket. I never lit up, but this merger was stressing me out.

"Michael giving away the location of that meeting was proof that the pack could get to us, to me. I don't like the way that feels, and we need to send some kind of message. I need it to be crystal clear. Make it a clean and dump. I want a new carpet and bed in here by close of business. Lose his shirt. Carve 'Swan Sent Me'. Cut out his tongue and sew it onto his forehead. When they get here, send my sisters to me. They're going to get me a meeting with Black and I'm going to make a couple of things clear. He apparently has gotten it into his thick skull that I can be fucked with, that we can be fucked with. That ends now. Have your guys deal with the furniture things if you don't mind, and then they can pay a visit to Royce King and find out what else he told him."

I took a long drag on the cigarette and stood to stub it out on the bed. I threw the cigarette down and shrugged my shoulders at Masen's puzzled look.

"Since a new one's coming anyway."

I took the holder out of my hair and turned away from Masen towards my closet and dressing room, and bathroom.

"I'm going to shower and change. Let me know when everyone's here. With the exception of Rose and Al, everyone has strict instructions to stay away from this room for the moment."

I didn't wait for an answer. I turned on the balls of my feet and went to escape to the shower. I hoped the water would wash away how I was beginning to feel about the way Masen's eyes crinkled when he knew I was avoiding emotion.

Well folks, that's all for this chapter. If you remotely enjoyed this, please review.

Until next time,

-V