The Killer Fix

Chapter 7

The satisfied look on his face, grinning as he leans forward, observing her, tells Riley exactly what she had expected; arrogance. He's won, and he knows it. 

Rather than feeling frightened, she feels overcome by bitter rage. He reaches for the bottle of whiskey he had placed on the coffee table minutes earlier. 'Drink?' 

He pours himself one as he keeps his eyes fixed on her, awaiting an answer. 

'No thanks, I'm kind of tied up at the moment.' 

He puts the open bottle down, stands up and raises his navy green shirt a few inches to reveal a gun stuck to his belt. He pulls it out and bends over as he places it on the coffee table, all without losing eye contact for even a second. It's meant as a threat, but she isn't fazed by it. 

As he moves around the table and kneels down beside her she instinctively backs away. He takes hold of the rope around her wrists and unties it with ease. Returning to his couch he pours the second drink and pushes the glass across the table towards her. After rubbing her painful wrists for a minute, she still won't touch the glass. 

'Oh come on. After the week you've had, I think you could use a drink.' While sending more disgruntled looks in his direction she grabs the glass and finishes the drink in a few swift tosses, ignoring the burning sensation in her throat.

'So you're not expecting me to poison you, then?' He concludes.

'Somehow, that doesn't seem like your style.'

'You're not scared of me, are you?'

'Should I be?'

'You must realize by now who I am.'

'Yeah, you're Milo's dead brother.' She drops the glass on the coffee table with a loud blow as her eyes peer away from him. Her voice echoes clear irritation.

'I am. But you can call me Gray.'

'Are you sure you don't prefer The One Shot Killer?'

'Why don't you just ask me what you want to know? You put so much effort into tracking me down, after all.'

'Bet you didn't expect me to actually find you.'

'I admit, I was stupid for visiting your sister. I didn't expect her to remember. But I'm sure my brother didn't help you meet me, I'm guessing he doesn't know anything about that text.' The near guilty look in Riley's averted eyes is answer enough. 

Despite wanting to keep avoiding his pleased expression, she makes herself look at him again, in a useless attempt to read him. She can't guess what he's thinking if her life depended on it. He on the other hand looks like he knows exactly what's going on in her head. The look in his dark brown eyes is piercing, almost haunting, like he's looking right through her. 

A shadow is cast over his eyes by his thick, bushy eyebrows. A lock or two of sleek, dark brown hair rest on his forehead and next to his right eye. He's not nearly as pale as his brother, he looks healthy and vigorous. He has strong, clear features, combined with his muscular built he's the kind of handsome bad boy type every girl would go for. He'd be attractive, if he wasn't psychotic. 

What does he want? Why did he bring her here? Why didn't he just kill her? She decides it's best to simply take him up on his offer, as it appears he's willing to open up.

'Did you kidnap my sister?'

'Yes, I did.'

Pretending not to be completely thrown off by his answer, she continues the interrogation. 'And Ivy Ross, David Bryant, did you kill them?'