Final Debt (Indebted #6)(74)

I hated the perfection of lilies. I despised the bright red of roses.

My temper swirled out of control. “I’ll tell you what I have to say, old witch.”

Bonnie froze. “What did you just say?”

If I did this, there would be no turning back.

I would die tomorrow.

But I could live today.

I could achieve more in one act of cruelty than I ever could in a coffin.

No one knew when death was coming.

I supposed I was lucky in a way—knowing the grim reaper waited for me gave me a certain kind of freedom. The knowledge gave me power to face my nightmares rather than run.

Plucking the vase with my good hand, I held the bushel of flowers as a weapon. Petals fell by my feet, dripping slowly in the heat of her boudoir. “You make me sick.”

Her eyes flared. “Put that down this instant.”

Tucking the arrangement haphazardly into my sling, I stalked closer. Wrenching the head off a red rose, I threw the petals in her direction. “You set a bad example for all grandmothers around the world.”

She stood taller but stepped backward. Not wanting to give up ground but wary at the same time.

I threw another destroyed rose in her direction. “You’ve polluted this earth for long enough.”

She lost to my invasion.

Her cane tapped for traction as she scuttled backward.

The door soared open and a Black Diamond brother came in.

Shit!

I breathed hard, fistful of petals and a standoff with Bonnie Hawk.

Instantly, Bonnie’s face transformed into feral confidence. “Ah, Clarity. Good timing.” She pointed her stick at me. “Kindly remove the vase from Ms. Weaver’s control.”

“Right away, ma’am.” I had no hope of holding onto it one-handedly as he snatched it from my sling. He was smaller than Marquise but had the same evil glint and malicious satisfaction. His bald head shone with the sconces around the room.

He didn’t look at me again as he placed the flowers back on the trestle. “You summoned me?”

Bonnie nodded, smoothing fly-away hairs from her chignon. “Go and fetch the Dremel and a bucket of water and vinegar.”

He cocked his head in my direction. “You okay alone?”

“I’ll be fine. Go.”

Clarity nodded. “On it.” He left, closing the door behind him.

I hated she trusted she could be in the same room with me—even after my outburst. I hated I came across so weak that she didn’t feel she needed protection.

Make her regret that.

“Trust me alone with you now?” I tilted my head. “Rather a stupid thing to do, don’t you think?”

My hands curled as thoughts of killing her ran wild. I had nothing to lose anymore. Jethro was in Africa. I didn’t know where Jasmine was. V was hopefully back with Tex. And Kes was in the custody of doctors and nurses. We were scattered to four corners, no longer touching but still linked.

I could kill Bonnie before Cut killed me.

Bonnie smirked. “Child, you have a broken arm, most likely a fever, and death looming on your horizon. I have no need to fear a guttersnipe like you. You just used whatever energy you had. You can’t deny it. You’re positively dripping with exertion and fatigue.” Turning her back on me—showing just how little she viewed me as a threat—she snapped, “Now, after that highly inappropriate incident, return to the subject. What about Jethro?”

“What about him?”

She cleared her throat angrily. “Am I correct in assuming he’s still alive?”

Rage spread like wildfire through my system. I might not have knitting needles or scalpels, but I couldn’t stomach this old bitch any longer. “Yes, as a matter of fact. He is alive, and I was telling the truth. He’s on his way to kill you all.”

She flinched, unable to hide her sudden suspicions. “I don’t believe you.”

I shrugged. “You don’t have to believe me for it to be true.”

For a second, silence was a third entity in the room before Bonnie laughed. “Cut would’ve mentioned such a thing. You’re lying. Didn’t your mother ever tell you liars go to hell?”

“Was she supposed to tell me that before or after you killed her?”

Bonnie tensed. “You’re getting mighty bold for a Weaver about to die.”

I drifted forward. “Bold enough to kill you before I go?”

Say no so I can prove you wrong.

One Hawk soul tallied my own. I wanted two. No, I wanted three before I was through.

The door sailed open, shattering the tension between us. The Black Diamond brother strolled in and placed a bucket of water, sour smelling vinegar, and a power tool on the flower-arranging bench.

Glancing at Bonnie, he wiped his hands on his jeans. His bald head caught the rays of late-morning sunshine.

My body clock was so screwed up; I didn’t know if it was meant to be night or day, sleep or awake.

“Need anything else, ma’am?”

Bonnie pursed her lips, glancing at me with a mixture of wariness and disdain. “Yes, stand by the door. Don’t leave.”

I laughed softly. “Afraid of a Weaver, after all.”

Bonnie snapped her fingers. “Shut that trap and come here. I have work to do.”

Damn.