Sister's Revenge: Action Adventure Assassin Pulp Thriller Book #1 (Michelle Angelique Avenging Angel Assassin)

by Lori Jean Grace

  “We’ll be driving on the freeway, same as now. How’s that harder than this?”

  “Because we’ll be driving two cars and we won’t have anyone to talk to. Even if everybody’s not talking, it’s still easier with someone else in the car. Company helps you not get pissed at the stupid shit people do out here on the road.”

  “I get that. If you didn’t remind me to be all sweet and shit, I might have done something. I sure want to get up next to that jerk and tell him to go screw hisself. Or at least flip him off. How long will it take us to get down to Newport and leave the rental?”

  “A few hours; we should be at the drop-off point around noon. We don’t do anything to draw attention when we get there. The whole area’s rich and lily-white, so we’ll be noticeable. We just drive in, park the car, I hop in with you, and we drive away. We don’t even stay to pee. Irvine University is only a few minutes up the street and we’ll blend in like a couple of students. We can stop there for lunch.”

  Michelle got out at the Burbank Airport, where she picked up the Toyota using her Texas license and credit card for Michelle Torres.

  Four hours of caravanning later, they stood in the Burger King parking lot with Nikky rubbing her butt and stretching her legs. “You were right. Coming down here with no one to talk to made it a long, boring drive. I’m already tired and we still have to go back up to the hood and catch up with my mom. I’ll be done with driving for a while when we finally get there.”

  Inside, the Burger King bustled with college students, all looking as plain and unkempt as Nikky and Michelle. Exactly as planned, nobody gave them a second glance.

  “Girl, you’re dragging in here like you done got your butt whupped,” Michelle teased.

  “We’re twins, then,” Nikky replied, “because you’re looking pretty to-the-curb yourself.”

  “All this driving is boring but easy. Tomorrow will be harder. Tomorrow, we have to be at Uncle G’s by five thirty to hook up with him and Tuan. They don’t know, don’t care, and don’t want to know, what we’re doing. Not now, not ever. We have to be back at the yacht club by mid-afternoon. That gets us to the marina on time to look like a normal day of fishing.”

  “Where’s the hard part come in?”

  “When we’re driving back here after we’ve done our business with Jerome. The adrenaline will wear off, and you’ll crash hard like a whipped dog. When you’re that tired, it’s easy to make simple mistakes, like get pissed at some asswipe or lock the keys in the car. Stupid shit like that can get you jacked if you’re not careful. Once we get back on the boat, we’ll be okay.”

  “What do we do after we finish up with the boat?” Nikky asked.

  “First, we help with the cleanup—hose down the boat and all that stuff. Tuan and Uncle G will tell us we have to gut the fish, but they’ll just be messing with us. Then we’ll have dinner with Tuan’s family before we go back home. They’re Vietnamese, so they make some crazy food.”

  “I’m not eating any dead baby chick, like you told us about before. No way in hell I’ll do that.”

  “Don’t worry, dead chicks are special and they won’t want to give some of their special food to no Negro who’ll waste it. Uncle G said they’re cooking up some duck heads and octopus. Probably not, but there’s a good chance they’ll throw in some fish heads.”

  “Yeah, well, you can eat that shit. I won’t be eating fish heads, or chicken heads, neither. No heads of any kind.”

  “I’m only messing with you. Every time I’ve eaten with them the food’s always been real good. They know you’re American and can’t eat some crazy Asian shit. They’re good people; they’ll treat us right. Tomorrow will feel a lot longer than today. By the time we’re at their place, you’ll be real happy to eat someone else’s food …”

  The rest of the return trip to Nikky’s apartment was as uneventful as it was uninspiring. When they arrived, Michelle parked in front. “The night before a hit is always strange. We’ve had a boring day that still was tiring, but it’s normally hard to sleep and easy to stay up late. Don’t let yourself do that. Have a glass of wine, take a long hot bath, then drink some milk and go to bed. I’ll be here early in the morning. We both need to be sharp tomorrow.”

  Tomorrow came very early. Today was the big day. Michelle headed to Nikky’s long before the sun came up. She parked on the street and got out to get Nikky, who surprised her by coming down the front walk before Michelle had even reached the front of the car.

  They both climbed into Michelle’s Crossfire.

  “Girl, did you hear me?” Nikky said. “I need some coffee. I’m still tired from yesterday and it’s an ungodly time. Please, I need some coffee.”

  “No, you don’t,” Michelle said. “You need more sleep, not coffee. Leave the coffee alone for now. I put the top up so you’ll be cozy and warm. You just lean back and don’t get too woke up yet. When we switch to Uncle G’s Chrysler, get in the back; it’s roomy and you can sleep on the drive down to the boat. We still have a couple of hours before the sun wakes you up.”

  Michelle would rather not have brought Nikky in on this project. She didn’t have the training and she lacked discipline. However, she naturally had the right personality: quiet, watchful, a fast thinker, and always ready to move. She’d be fine. Besides, she had as much right as anyone to get at that rat bastard Jerome. He jacked her pretty bad, and for no good reason, too. Besides, an extra person would be helpful during the busy day.

  With Nikky asleep in the Chrysler’s backseat and G-Baby driving, the long, early morning ride gave Michelle time to think through the day’s events. Hopefully, Deja’s plan to spend the day with her mother would work out well for everyone.

  Lost in her thoughts, Michelle hadn’t noticed when they exited the freeway. Only when they stopped for a light did Michelle look up to realize they were only a couple of blocks from Huntington Harbor where they’d board the boat with Tuan.

  Michelle shook Nikky awake. “Hey, we’re here. Wake up, sleepyhead.”

  “Already? Good. Nobody should be up before the sun. It’s just not right.”

  “If you care to join the rest of us, I’ve got that coffee you wanted.”

  Tuan climbed off the boat and walked to where Michelle, G‑Baby, and Nikky stood sipping hot coffee.

  Michelle handed Tuan a cup. “Hey, Tuan, good morning. This sleepyhead here is my friend, Nikky. Nikky, this is Tuan. He’s our captain today.”

  “Good to meet you, Nikky.” Tuan shook Nikky’s hand. “Hi, Michelle. We’re ready to go. We’ll stop at the bait shop on the way out. G‑Baby and I will tie up at the dock while you and Nikky go in. Tell Mary it’s for me; she’ll know what to give you. Also, tell her you and Nikky will need to rent lighter-weight poles. She’ll know what to fix you up with; take all of it.”

  The group headed to the boat.

  “Ever been on a boat like this before?” Tuan asked Nikky.

  “No. I’ve never been on any boat. What kind is it?”

  “A thirty-foot Sea Ray, what they call a Weekender. It’s more than I should have, but my wife lets me get away with it. Since you haven’t been on the water before, it’s probably best that you sit up front with me. It’s a little windy, but less likely that you’ll get seasick.”

  G‑Baby untied the lines, then pushed the boat away and climbed aboard. Tuan gave the motor some gas and steered them to the center of the channel.

  Nikky took the seat next to Tuan. “It’s kinda like riding in a convertible, only real slow.”

  “Here in the harbor it is. We’ll go faster and it’ll be a little more active when we get outside, but we’ll stay close to the shore where it won’t be very bad. There’s the bait shop.” He pointed. “We’ll tie up over there.” Tuan motored the boat over to a short dock with a ‘T” on the end and a modest-sized convenience store up on the shore. “The bait shop is inside. You’ll see it when you go in.”

  Less than an hour later, Michelle and Nikky had transferred from
the boat to the rented Toyota. They were on their way for a date with Jerome—a date he didn’t know he had, but would never forget, for as long as he lived.

  *

  “Well, would you look at that. Sleeping like a peaceful baby in his king-size bed. Guess he had a big night last night,” Michelle said.

  Nikky pulled out eight large plastic zip ties and four pieces of steel chain from her backpack. She sat them on the top of the chest of drawers, next to the large butcher knife. “He may be peaceful asleep like that, but he’s still an asshole.”

  “Oh, fuck!” Jerome quickly sat up. “I didn’t say nothin’ to no police. I don’t—”

  “Shut the fuck up,” Michelle said. “I’m glad you’re awake, so I don’t have to wake your skank-ass up.”

  “What’re you gonna do? You, you, you’re not gonna shoot me like you did before, are you? I’m still all fucked up, and I got—”

  Puhffiitt!

  The bullet hit the mattress next to his leg. Jerome shut up.

  “You’re a chickenshit snitch. Of course you’ll lie about being a snitch. Don’t insult me by thinking I’ll believe some pack of lies. Let’s establish some truth here. You are a lying, coward snitch.”

  “No, honest, I didn’t—”

  “Oh yeah, that’s the other thing, you’re stupid. Jesus, you can’t possibly imagine that drag will fly with us. Nobody, not even you, could be that stupid. How have you managed to stay alive all these years? Now, tell me you understand you’re a coward and a snitch.” Michelle leveled her silenced 9mm at his face.

  “I understand.”

  “You understand what?”

  “That I’m a coward and a snitch.”

  “Now we’re getting somewhere; at least you know what you are. This is what you’re going to do: get out of bed and stand over in the corner. Go—now.” Michelle motioned toward the corner with her gun.

  Jerome scrambled up and stood in the corner. His eyes darted back and forth between Michelle and Nikky.

  “Nikky, you go ahead and do your thing. I’ll keep this piece of shit company while you work.”

  Nikky nodded and, swinging the knife down hard, stabbed through the corner of the mattress. The blade entered the top and stuck out through the side, and Nikky used it as a guide to slide a heavy duty plastic zip tie through the hole.

  “Do you know why she cut a hole in your mattress?” Michelle asked.

  “No.”

  “Good Lord, you really are as stupid as you seem.”

  Nikky threaded the zip tie through the last link of a section of steel chain then zipped it tight to the corner of the mattress. She did the same thing at the head of the bed.

  As Nikky worked on the top corner, Jerome’s eyes flew wide, his horrified stare glued to her as she tightened the zip tie on the second chain.

  “Now you’re beginning to get the picture,” Michelle said. “Jerome, look at me.”

  He did.

  “I have a question for you: can you tell me why she cut holes in your mattress like that?”

  “Cuz you’re gonna tie me to the bed. And the plastic ties go around the metal ring so I can’t rip them out. Please don’t kill me or leave me to die.”

  “Much of what happens here today will depend on you. If you do exactly what we say, you’ll live. Act stupid, you’ll die. Simple as that.”

  “I’ll do what you want.”

  “Now, Nikky’s done with this side of the bed. I want you to stay against the wall, ease up to the top of the bed, and crawl across to the other side.”

  Jerome did as he was told.

  “Stand in that corner until I say different.” Michelle pointed at the corner with her 9mm. “Try to jump, I’ll shoot you dead.”

  Jerome stiffened, and Nikky started working on the other side of the bed.

  “Are you sure you want to live?” Michelle asked.

  “Yes.”

  “In that case, you need to remember two things. Do you remember what I told you the last time about following instructions?”

  Jerome shook his head. “I don’t remember.”

  “The part about being shot two or three times. Do you remember that?”

  “Yes.”

  “Good. Explain to Nikky what I said.”

  “She said she’d shoot me.”

  “What else?” Michelle demanded.

  “She said it was up to me how many times I got shot,” Jerome said.

  Michelle rolled her hand for more. “And …?”

  “She said if I did exactly what she told me to, I’d get shot two times.”

  “What else?”

  “If I didn’t do what she told me to, she’d shoot me again.”

  “And what happened?”

  Jerome turned to Michelle. “You shot me three times.”

  “Right, and which is the worst one?”

  “The one in my shoulder.”

  “Right, the one you got because you didn’t believe me. Do you believe me now?”

  “Yes.”

  “What did I tell you about the police?”

  “You said if I told the police, I’d pay the price.”

  “Did you know the police arrested me because you told them I shot you? Think carefully about the state of your health before you answer.”

  “Honest, I didn’t mean to snitch. They kept questioning me about the gunshot wounds and it just slipped out.”

  “Something interesting happened,” Michelle said. “The police didn’t book me on your word. Here you’re all shot up, saying I did it, and they didn’t even book me. Why do you think they let me go like that?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Because I’m not that stupid. Do you think I wouldn’t have a rock-solid alibi when I came at you? What do you think now? Do you think I have a rock-solid alibi for Nikky and me this time?”

  “Yeah, I guess …” The last bit of hope left Jerome’s eyes.

  “So now do you believe you’ll live because I say you will? And you better believe I’ll kill you if you tell the police we’ve been here. Doesn’t matter what happens. If you tell the police, you’ll be dead. Do you believe both of these things, you stupid, ignorant muthafucka?”

  “Yes.”

  “Now step out of your pants and lie down on the bed, spread-eagle-like.”

  Jerome dropped his pajama bottoms and lay face down with his arms and legs stretched out.

  “Roll over and scoot down a foot. I want you face up to see what’s happening.”

  He rolled over and scooted down.

  “Reach over and put your right hand through the tie wrap and pull it tight. Remember, you do what I tell you and you’ll live.”

  Again, he did what he was told.

  When Jerome was fully stretched out and all four points were firmly tied down, Michelle lowered her gun.

  “All this here—being tied to your bed—this is what happens when you don’t trust me. If the police come knocking on my door, it doesn’t matter what they say or ask. I’ll be out free, and you, you’ll pay a big price. You really need to trust this one. If you touch any of my friends, you’ll pay the price. I have lots of friends, and each time the price is more. Last—and this is a truth—I’m going to shoot you today. Do you believe that?

  Jerome rolled his head, looking back and forth at the plastic cuffs around his wrist. “Please don’t shoot me. Not again.”

  “Look at me, Jerome,” Michelle said.

  He looked at her.

  “Answer my question. Do you believe me on all of these things?”

  “Yes.”

  “Tell me.”

  “I trust you’ll kill me if I tell the police you’ve been here. You’ll jack me worse than today if I hit any of your friends. You’re gonna shoot me now, but I’m gonna live.”

  “Do you believe that’s true?”

  “Yes. You’ve been true on everything you’ve said since I met you. I gotta believe what you say now is all true.”

  “Good. You and D
eja are done for good. Don’t go around her ever again. She talks to you on the street, you say ‘yes, ma’am; no, ma’am,’ real polite. Then you disappear your skank-ass. You got that?”

  “Yes.”

  “I’m going to shoot you in the balls. Only take one. Leave you one. I’ll put a pressure bandage on your shit and call an ambulance. I’ll even cut one hand free for you to keep the pressure on it until the ambulance shows up. You’ll live.”

  Jerome’s hands and legs shook and Michelle recognized it as the adrenaline flooding through him.

  “No, please, I swear … I swear on the set, on everything I love. You don’t need to do this. I did all of them things you said, but please don’t shoot my balls.”

  “Jerome, you’re a liar. You’re a skank-ass liar. If I don’t shoot you now, you’ll think I’m a bitch you can get over on. No, you’re getting shot today. Fact is, I should kill you, here and now. Do you have any idea why I don’t kill you right now?”

  “No.”

  “You earned this little treatment here today. You earned worse than this, but Deja had hopes you were a good guy. She cared for you, and you shit on her. Because she had feelings for you, you get to live. I ought to kill you for hurting her and for the other shit you did. But she asked me not to, so you’re getting off easy with paying a smaller price than what you’ve got coming.”

  “No, I swear,” his voice cracking, “I’ll never do no shit like I’ve done, never again.”

  “We’ll see what happens in the future. But now, here, we need to finish this shit up. The only thing left is to decide who has the privilege of doing the job we’re here to do. You don’t mind we use a coin from your pocket to flip for it, do you?”

  Michelle tossed the coin and Nikky called it.

  “Nikky won,” Michelle told Jerome. “I think that’s probably best. She’s the one who personally has the biggest reason for a sister’s revenge on your ass.” She stepped back.

  Nikky walked over and looked Jerome right in the eye. “Don’t move. I don’t want to shoot your dick off. Now say goodbye to your left nut.”

  Nikky lined up the gun, then moved around the bed and tried again. “Um, how do I just hit one?”