The Wrath Walker (The Wrath Series Book 1) by Matthew Newson (fun to read .txt) 📗

word. “That’s what I thought. Ron wasn’t one of us, but he was still a friend, so if this guy wants a piece of me, then I’m going to give it to him. I want you guys to stay here today just in case that guy shows up and wants to get his hands dirty with me. Someone get that funny guy off the floor and get him cleaned up. Now!”

I relished that moment as Joey’s men got busy following his orders, but I knew all I needed to do was sit back and wait for when Wrath showed up.

I STAYED HIDDEN FROM the natural eye all day as I surveyed Joey’s restaurant from the safety of the rooftop across the street. Joey let his bodyguards go one-by-one as the day wore on. I would have chalked his error up to his own hubris, but in the end, it didn’t matter, because not even an army could stop that man from getting to Joey.

An old man in a baby blue polo and khakis seemingly showed up out of nowhere in the middle of the restaurant parking lot and shuffled inside. The last two of Joey’s bodyguards walked out of the building, and I knew Joey had fallen for the fake old man. Next, I saw some of the lights turn off for a few minutes before they all came back on again. Finally, Wrath walked out with a smile on his face as he appeared to be enjoying the night air.

Then he checked his watch, headed down the road, and vanished from my sight.

I hadn’t heard one scream or even the slightest bit of commotion that would indicate someone was being attacked. I knew it probably wasn’t a good idea to go into the building, because I had no idea of what could be waiting for me inside, but I had to know what had happened to Joey. I waited a few more minutes to see if any other beings showed up, and when I was convinced none were coming, I quickly traveled from the roof to the front door of the restaurant. I took one last look around and ensured Wrath and no one else was around, and then I opened the door.

There were signs of a struggle. The floor was littered with buck shot, spent shotgun shells, and the two halves of the broken shotgun. I carefully maneuvered around the room. Even though I couldn’t be seen by others, I still consisted of solid matter, even in that state, so I made sure not to disturb the scene. I stepped around the room and avoided any evidence that had settled on the ground.

In the dining room, it didn’t take long for me to spot what was left of Joey b.

A bloody disfigured mess of a man was seated in a chair that he had been zip-tied to. It appeared Wrath, did not want his target to be able to defend himself in any way, but to suffer the full force of the punishment that was inflicted upon him. Joey’s face was completely caved in, and there were fist-shaped indentions in his chest. Several bones protruded through the skin, and there were many other gut-wrenching injuries that could turn even the strongest of stomachs. But Joey’s mangled dead body gave me a glimpse into his attacker’s mind. First, by the way he checked his watch right after he left the building told me he’s working to a schedule, as did many of the spirit beings who worked in the natural realm. They always seemed to be obsessed with time. Even Lucifer kept to a tight schedule when he would appear in our meetings.

The second thing I learned that night was that Wrath was truly killing his victims in the same manner that they had killed other people. I was aware of Ron’s fondness for knives, and how he preferred the bladed weapon instead of a gun. Since he was a cop, he didn’t want to make the mistake of using his service weapon on one of his victims, which would immediately tie the crime back to him. Joey preferred to beat his victims to death with his bare hands. Joey fancied himself a great fighter, but it’s not hard to fight someone when they have been tied to a chair. Wrath was truly vicious, and he had earned my respect, however, the two people he killed thus far did slightly affect my plans for the city. It wasn’t a matter of if, but when he would kill again, and when he did, I would have to introduce myself to him.

“Goodbye, and good riddance, Joey Abbate.”

I stepped outside and headed the opposite direction of Wrath.

Chapter ElevenBrandon Farmer

The Holy Anointed Church

AFTER I LEFT JOEY’S restaurant, I drove around, angry with myself and Joey over the exchange. Every time I relived his final threat to me, I thought about pulling the gun from behind my back and repeatedly pulling the trigger until it clicked. After I cleansed the world from that vile bit of pond scum, I’d find Scott and work him over in front of Lizzie just because I knew I could wipe the floor with him. Then she’d see how weak and pathetic he truly was, and she’d know how big of a mistake she made by choosing him. I punched the steering wheel as my heart pounded with the surge of adrenaline from the thought of making my enemies suffer at my hands.

Then the familiar feelings of guilt and shame flowed back to me over my desire to end another man’s life. My father raised me to be better than that, and at that moment I wished he would have never filled my head with all that stuff from the Bible. Then I wouldn’t have to endure that constant struggle I had lived with for years. It was so ingrained in my thinking that even though I hadn’t read the Bible or so