Only this time, the Butcher is staring back.
His hair is cropped close to his head and dyed a vibrant blonde that contrasts with his dark eyebrows and facial hair. He’s tall, but thin, and his gun is aimed at my face now.
My eyes flicker over his shoulder to the open doorway. There, I see Gennady tied up in the hallway. He has a towel shoved in his mouth with duct tape over it and his hands and feet are zip-tied together. I notice blood dripping onto the hardwood beneath him.
“You two really thought you could come into my house unseen?” The Butcher snarls, tipping his head back, looking down his nose at me. “I have cameras everywhere. I knew you were here before you even unlocked the door.”
“Why didn’t you kill us then?”
The Butcher smiles. “I wanted to have a little fun with you firs
