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“Ty Simmons?”

The man turns to face me, his lips curling into a snarl. “The fuck do you want?”

“You’re Ty?”

“What’s it to you, man?”

“It’s important. I have a message for Ty Simmons.”

I know this is him. I’ve been following him since he used his credit card at the downtown club he was at. We’re in front of his house now, standing in his driveway in a shitty part of town.

I also know that he’s an abuser, beating his wife and kids. His wife is currently in the hospital, and even though he was arrested, he’s out on bail. From my research, I also know he’s got a thing for beating on women, often picking up sex workers and being way too rough. He gets off on the assault, the control, the pain and fear he causes them. His terror train stops tonight.

“I’m Ty,” he says, puffing his chest out as he walks back towards me. “What’s the message?”

“I was told you like to hit women and kids.”

He pulls his head back slightly, narrowing his eyes. He’s not a tall man, but he’s stocky. His face is ugly as hell, with a deep scar over his left eyebrow, a crooked nose, and yellowing, rotting teeth. He’s used to being the bully, but not tonight.

“Oh? And what are you gonna do about it? Did Steph send you? Or her dad?”

“I don’t know, and it doesn’t matter. It’s my pleasure.”

“What are you talking about?”

Done playing around with him, I surge forward, grabbing him by the collar of his polo shirt and walking him backward until he’s pressed against the front door.

“Get the fuck off me,” he yells, but I’m not worried about a nosy neighbor. Not in this neighborhood. Besides, even if someone calls the cops, they won’t hurry to get here and I’ll be long gone.

“Ty, Ty.” I tsk, shaking my head. “You had to be a piece of shit, huh? I mean, what kind of man hits a woman? A child? What the fuck, man?”

“Fuck you.”

He’s not scared yet, but that’s okay. “Open the door.”

“Get fucked.”

“I already fucked tonight, and it was awesome. Now, I need to do my job, so open the fucking door before I blow your head off on the steps.”

He scoffs. “You ain’t blowing shit⁠—”

I cut off his words by cocking my gun and holding it to his temple. “You were saying?”

Ty swallows hard, turning carefully to unlock the door. This isn’t my usual MO. Normally they don’t even have time to register my presence before they’re dead. That’s how I got my nickname—like a whisper on the wind, Shadow said. I lurk, slipping from the shadows, there and gone before they can even react, but this one tonight is different. I want to look into his eyes while I end his life. I want him to see the man he can’t bully.

I close the door behind us once we’re inside. Ty stands nervously in front of me.

“Take your clothes off.”

“What?”

“You heard me.” I wave the gun at him. “Get naked.”

His bottom lip trembles. “What are you gonna do to me?”

“You scared? Are you afraid I’m going to do to you what you do to women?”

He looks around anxiously, but I just grin.