Chapter 2 What I deserve

Zane's pov

“Here she is,” Derek says as he drops the man’s legs.

Justin releases his arms at the same time, and Jeff lands face first in a pile of dirt beside the unmarked grave he knows too well. 

He starts scrambling backward on his hands and feet, but I stop him with my feet, kicking him forward.

“Why are you doing this?” he asks.

“Because we believe in an eye for an eye,” Garrett says, crouching in front of him. “Personally, I want to see you fucking blind.”

“You’re... you’re just kids,” Jeff stammers.

My friends laugh.

“And you’re just a sick piece of shit,” Derek says.

I remain where I am, both hands inside the pockets of my black jeans while Jeff looks around, searching for an opening. He knows the odds are against him, just as everyone in this fucking town knows nobody gets past the GWW unless we allow it, and walking away from us comes with a price most people can’t afford.

“Please, just let me go,” Jeff pleads, pushing himself onto his knees. “I won’t tell anyone.”

More laughter.

I step closer, studying his tear streaked face with irritation. “You messed up, Jeff. You really messed up, and now you’re going to pay. Everything has consequences.”

“And what about your consequences, Zane?” he shouts. “You killed three of your friends. When are you going to pay?”

I pay every day.

Derek moves toward Jeff, but I raise one hand. “No, Derek. Let the man talk. These will be his final words afterall.”

“You’re not fucking God!” Jeff screams, hitting his hand on the wet ground. It has started drizzling. That’s right, Jeff. Find that fight inside you. You’re going to need it. “You guys can’t do this to people.”

I glance around the darkness and smile,“Who is going to stop us?” 

“Zane,” he whimper. “I know your mother. She will be ashamed of what you’re doing.”

My smile disappears and my friends move back from me knowing I will need the room. 

“Goddammit,” I mutter. “You shouldn’t have mentioned my mother.”

“You shouldn’t murder people,” he snaps.

“Fine.” I take a step toward him. “I’m going to give you a chance to win your freedom. Beat me, and you walk away.”

A lie.

We all know Jeff can’t beat me.

His eyes dart from me to the others, searching for some sign that this is a joke. Garrett raises his flashlight, bathing Jeff's face in harsh white light, and the man's expression twists with confusion.

“Is this some sick joke?”

“Not at all.”

I reach behind me, grabbing the bottom of my black T-shirt, and pulling it over my head before tossing it onto the wet ground. I can already smell the metallic scent of copper and it’s making my mouth water. 

God. 

It's been so long I had a good fight and I can’t wait. I roll my shoulder to release the tension.

“Get up and fight me.”

“You’re just like your father,” he says. “Taking whatever you get your hands on.”

“Then do something about it.” I spread my arms slightly, giving him a clear target. “I’ll even let you take the first swing.”

Justin chuckles. “He doesn’t want to play.”

I hear something behind me and I purposely turn my head toward the sound and the bastard throws his coward punch like I expect. 

His fist catches the side of my face and I hit him back driving a fist straight into his jaw with enough force to snap his head to the side. I pound my other fist into his nose, feeling the cartilage yield under my knuckles. He instinctively covers his face as he stumbles backward, and I grit my teeth in absolute pleasure as my knuckles crack against his mouth, his teeth slicing my skin wide open that I almost let out a moan of pleasure at the sting.

I love it!

He falls backward directly into Derek, who catches him and holds him upright while I rain down a relentless barrage of blows into his ribs and face. When Derek gets tired of holding him, he shoves him toward me, and I plant a hook that sends him crashing onto the ground.

I stand over him, my breathing heavy as a mixture of sweat and rain covers my body. I can feel the blood dripping from my hands.

"I dare you to get up," I growl.

"Is this..." he pushes his head up. "Is this what this is all about... you guys and your fucking dare?" 

"No!" I snap, my hands clenching into fists. "This is about paying for the life you took!"

"When will you pay for the lives you took, huh, Zane?" he whispers roughly. "What is your p—" 

I don't let him finish, throwing myself down to straddle his chest as I completely lose control. My fists come down again and again, screaming at him while the rain pours over us. 

“Why not give me what I deserve?!” I scream, grabbing his collar and dragging him up. “Be a fucking man and give me what I fucking deserve!”

I shove his head down, slamming it on the ground, over and over and over.

A firm hand touches my shoulder.

“He’s done, Zane,” Derek says. “Walk it off.”

I rise slowly, stepping away as Xavier and Justin move in to pull Jeff off the ground. My breathing remains heavy while I flex my fingers, feeling the sting of every split knuckle.

Fuck, I love a fight.

My father always says I was born a fighter.

He would say if a man can’t use his hand then what is he good for? The only difference is that he pays to use someone else's hand.

A branch snaps behind us and we all turn, flashlights sweeping through the darkness.

“Did you guys hear something?” Justin asks.

“I did,” Xavier says, lowering his light slightly.

“You guys finish this,” I tell them, grabbing my flashlight from the ground. “I’ll check it out.”

I head toward the sound, my tennis shoes crunching over wet branches and leaves. Nobody comes here, at least nobody who is up to no good. The Lowe’s estate lies farther down the hill, where the owners are rarely home and even if they were, will be in bed by now. 

I switch off my flashlight, stand still and listen. I know these grounds like the back of my hand.

The movement comes again and for a second, I think it might be an animal, then I hear two distinct footsteps. I move toward the sound and hear a sharp intake of breath.

I grin.

So close.

Then the person takes off and I launch myself toward it, colliding with a slim body and we both hit the ground hard. The person makes an annoyed sound beneath me, then immediately starts fighting, two hands slapping wildly against my face without managing to land a solid hit. I quickly pin the two hands by the side, using my free hand to grab my fallen flashlight and click it on, aiming the light straight at the intruder.

Dark blue eyes look up at me, framed by long lashes, with parted pink lips and a small diamond piercing in the bottom of her nose. Dark blonde hair covers half of a face one will call breathtaking, and she blinks several times as the light blinds her. 

I grin. "Hello, sweetheart."