Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 94686 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94686 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
He pierced her with his gaze. “Yours. Dawn will no longer be a problem for you.”
That was the moment, Jasmine took a step back. “Dawn? Um. . .did we know for sure that she was the one behind all of it?”
“We think so,” Troy said. “I figure Wendy and Dawn got together—”
“But do we know for sure?” Jasmine asked.
“Sis, we think, but—”
“It doesn’t matter.” Benny shut down Troy’s talking and captured all of our attention. “They’ll all die today.”
Jasmine raised her eyebrows. “So. . .okay. No, Benny. That. . .is just wrong. I can’t let you do that.”
“What did you think would happen?” Benny reached his hand out and touched her chin. Everything inside of me longed to knock his hand away. I didn’t like him so close to her. I couldn’t care less if he loved her or that he was her father. All I saw was an insane murderer next to my woman.
“I didn’t think you would kill them all,” she mumbled.
“I do my best to not hide things from you, but let’s make this clear today. I want you safe,” Benny said.
“I’m safe,” she countered.
“Not until they’re all gone.”
“You can’t just kill them if they didn’t have anything to do with the murders.”
Benny’s voice carried a sharpened edge. “I can when my daughter is shot.”
“I just became your daughter weeks ago, so let’s not go all crazy with seeking revenge for me. This stops now, Benny.”
“Correction, little one.” Benny wagged his finger. “You’ve been my daughter since the day you were born. I may not have publicly been there, but I was always there when it mattered the most. Right now you need me because you’ve managed to get yourself in this situation with this. . .man.”
“We’re getting off track. We have to focus.” Jasmine stared at her feet as if she couldn’t even look at him. “You already killed Dawn?”
“Yes.”
Jasmine sighed. “Okay. Did you do this in a humane way?”
“Of course, Jasmine. I’m no monster.”
Troy coughed and then cleared his throat. It had to be a signal that these twins knew because as soon as Jasmine noticed Troy cough, she started to shake and placed her shivering fingers behind her back. “Benny, I don’t want you to kill anymore. Please let Chase and Troy handle this.”
“I’m not a pit bull.” Benny smiled when he looked at Jasmine.
Troy didn’t even try to pretend civility. He put his sister behind him and got between both Benny and her.
“Stop, Troy. I’m fine.” Jasmine sucked her teeth and walked around him. “Benny, this can’t go on. No more solving this situation. We’ve got it.”
“I’m not a bulldog or cocker spaniel or even a greyhound,” Benny declared.
“Okay. Why is that relevant to now?” Jasmine asked.
“Because you’re talking to me as if I’m a dog. I don’t eat puppy chow or slop out of a bowl placed in the kitchen. I am a man. I eat like one and walk like one. I provide for what’s mine and I protect them. So when you say to me, Benny, this can’t go on, I’m forced to correct you, for I am no dog. I do not listen to orders, nor do I fetch and run or fucking be pulled by a leash, little girl.”
“That’s not the point,” Jasmine countered. “You don’t get to kill—”
“Do you think I’m here because you or Chase allowed it?” Benny chuckled. “Do you think I stand in this hallway at the mercy of your spoiled, insignificant little boyfriend? I. Am. No. Dog!”
Quiet replaced my breathing. Horrid fear-filled silence traveled all around us.
Benny cleared his throat. “Wendy is next, then Lucy. That’s my plan. We don’t deviate. We don’t bother me. In fact, we stay out of my way.”
“I don’t think Lucy did anything,” Troy said. “But I’m sure Wendy actively killed the three women and shot Jazz. You’re no dog, man, but you got some ethics to your kills, right?”
“Doesn’t matter to me if Lucy didn’t do it. She’s dead by association.” Benny shrugged. “Anything to keep my little girl safe.”
“Really? I doubt that.” Jasmine still shook, but a scowl showed on her face. “I’m starting to think you’re just happy to have a reason to kill one of Chase’s ex-girlfriends on his property.”
“You’re starting to have a mouth like your sister,” Benny said.
“Well, I am no dog either.”
Benny frowned. “No. You’re daddy’s girl.”
Coming from any other father, it would’ve been a hopeful moment. No one said anything in the hallway. Everyone seemed jittery and on edge.
“Killing Lucy is not about my safety,” Jasmine said. “I think you just want to do it.”
“Maybe.”
She opened her mouth in shock. “Please. . .let Chase and me handle this.”
He shook his head. “I’m sorry, Jasmine. This time I do it my way.” He lifted his wrist and checked his watch. “I have a few things to check on in the basement. I’ll be back up for my next meeting with Chase’s little women. I’d suggest that you all go downstairs or maybe outside. Troy, make sure your sister is out of the house. Both of them, in fact.”