by Ty Marshall
Cinco was relentless in his attack as he continued to work the torch over Bree’s body until his skin began to resemble melted candle wax. The savage look on his face sent chills up China’s spine, but she still continued to beg for Bree’s life.
Finally, Cinco turned to her and smirked. “If you want mercy for him, give it to him yourself,” he said, walking over to her and rubbing the back of his bloody hand against her face. He leaned over, placing his lips close to her ear, and spoke in a low, haunting tone. “I’m gonna torture him nice and slow. His death will be long and painful. Only you can stop it.” He then kissed her on the cheek.
China turned away in disgust.
“You want it to stop, then you stop it!” Cinco shouted as he walked over to a table with an assortment of tools he used for torturing his victims and picked up a huge knife. He strutted back over to China and shoved it into her hand. “Here. Put him out of his misery.”
China looked down at the knife in her hand, then up at Bree. She couldn’t do it, no matter how much she wanted his suffering to stop. She couldn’t bring herself to kill him, even if it was done mercifully.
“Do it!” Cinco shouted in her face, enjoying the rush of the moment.
“Please, China,” Bree mumbled, barely able to speak. He was in excruciating pain and wanted it all to be over with. He was floating in and out of consciousness as he felt his life slowly slipping away. He had accepted his fate and anticipated death as a more pleasurable result than what he was enduring at the hands of Cinco.
“You hear him. Do it!” Cinco yelled.
“I can’t,” China confessed, her refusal disappointing both men.
“Do it and I’ll let you live. You two didn’t get anything in the robbery. This would make us even. Do it!”
“Pleeease,” Bree begged.
“Don’t make me do this.”
“You two lovebirds,” Cinco teased, with a smug grin on his face. “How ’bout this?” he suggested, cocking his gun and placing it against China’s head. “You have ten seconds to decide, or I’m going to kill you both. One … two … three…”
China knew he was serious, but this was the first time she didn’t want to put her selfish needs first. She had done enough to Bree, but killing him was the ultimate deed that she just couldn’t bring herself to do. “I can’t.”
“… four … five … six … seven … eight…”
Bree lifted his head and looked toward China. He felt like he was crying but couldn’t tell if it was tears or blood leaking from his eyes. If he had to die, he would rather it be at her hands than the torturous, ruthless hands of Cinco. China could see the pleading look in his mangled face, even through all the blood and charred skin.
“Nine.” Cinco barked.
“Okay!” China shouted.
She rose to her feet and slowly walked toward Bree. A sickening feeling flowed through her stomach and chest as her heart pounded with the force of an elephant stampede. The closer she got, the more emotional she became, until she was standing directly in front of him. She began to sob louder as she tried to give herself the courage to do it.
Bree could see the hesitation in her eyes. “China, how do you think Cinco found you?” he muttered. “I told him where you were. I wanted him to catch you and kill you for abandoning me.” He told her the truth, hoping it would make her mad enough to put him out of his misery.
China’s face fell, expressionless and cold, hearing Bree’s confession. Her lip curled up in anger as she raised the knife, closed her eyes, and drove it directly into his heart.
Bree grunted as the blade entered his chest and hit his heart. “Thank you, China. I love you,” he said, as he took his last breath and his head fell forward.
China was covered in blood, but she kept her eyes closed as tears began to run again. She couldn’t bring herself to look at Bree’s lifeless corpse, but she could feel his warm blood soaking into her clothes. The heartache of it all was just too much to bear. Distressed, but relieved that Bree was no longer suffering, she took a deep sigh. “It’s done. Are you satisfied now?” she asked, but she never opened her eyes to look a back at Cinco.
“Hardly,” he replied with a sinister laugh.
China heard a gun cock, followed by a thunderous sound as pain shot through her entire body before everything suddenly went dark …
THIS WAS ONLY THE BEGINNING …
LUXURY AND LARCENY:
— PART TWO —
COMING NOVEMBER 2016
For more information, visit Macmillan.com
About the Author
Ty Marshall is one of the hottest new authors in African American literature. Raised in Peekskill, New York, his authentic depiction of the streets based on real-life and real-world experiences sets him apart from the pack. His ability to write fiction from a real place makes him special, but it’s the seamless way he weaves the two worlds together that makes him an undeniable talent.
Handpicked by New York Times bestselling author JaQuavis Coleman, Ty is a member of the Official Writer’s League (OWL), the company founded by Ashley Antoinette and JaQuavis. He is a proud husband and father who resides in Georgia. He has released four novels. You can sign up for email updates here.
Thank you for buying this
St. Martin’s Press ebook.
To receive special offers, bonus content,
and info on new releases and other great reads,
sign up for our newsletters.
Or visit us online at
us.macmillan.com/newslettersignup
For email updates on the author, click here.
Contents
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
About the Author
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in these novels are either products of the authors’ imaginations or are used fictitiously.
LUXURY AND LARCENY: PART 1. Copyright © 2016 by Ashley Antoinette. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.
www.stmartins.com
Cover art and design by Joshua Wirth
Our e-books may be purchased in bulk for promotional, educational, or business use. Please contact the Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department at (800) 221-7945, extension 5442, or by e-mail at [email protected].
e-ISBN 9781250098795
First Edition: October 2016
First eBook edition: October 2016
