The Billionaire's Mistake

MISTAKE 245

Chapter 245: Blood everwhere

Pivoting on her heel, Hazel marched with purpose toward the end of the alley where the garish neon signs announced a hardware store on the next corner. The bell jangled overhead as she pushed through the doors, immediately greeted by the musty scent of sawdust and machine

oil.

"Can I help you, miss?" The grizzled clerk looked up from behind the counter, instantly clocking Hazel's disheveled appearance and the spots of blood speckling her blouse.

Rather than respond, Hazel simply strode down the main aisle until she reached the tool section at the back. Her eyes quickly settled on a sturdy-looking ball-peen hammer with a wicked claw at the end of the squared head. Perfect.

Snatching it off the pegboard display, Hazel turned and marched right back to the counter, thumping the hammer down with a resolute clank.

The clerk's rheumy eyes widened slightly as he eyed her up and down. "You, uh...you need this for some work around the house, lady?"

Hazel fixed him with an icy stare, allowing a beat of silence to stretch out. Finally, she leaned in, pitching her voice low. "Breaking bones, actually. A few very deserving ones at that."

The man shrank back, his bravado faltering beneath her unblinking gaze. After a moment, he simply gulped and began ringing up the hammer, seemingly unwilling to ask any further questions.

Hazel smirked as she slid her credit card through, scooping up the paper-wrapped tool and sliding it directly into her oversized tote. She could already envision its first target those smug, self-entitled faces twisted in agony as she brought the hammer crashing down again and again.

"Keep the change," she told the slack-jawed clerk, already turning on her heel to exit the shop. Her ride could be waiting, but Hazel was deliciously patient now. Because soon enough she intended to deliver some uniquely brutal remodeling to those particular bones in need of

re-breaking.

She returned to the car and it drove over to the club.

As one of the guards opened her door, Hazel drew in a deep, steadying breath. She wouldn't be intimidated, not by these mobster muscles, not by Reeds' oily plans, not by her wretched cousin who wished her nothing but ill fortune. No, this was her moment to push back, to fight

for herself in a way she never had before.

Well, what a good place for a crime?" Hazel stated with a chilling smile as she smoothed out her skirt and blouse and walked out into the street. She had not fought anyone in a year. She was itching to throw something. Chapter 245: Blood everwhere

announced a hardware store on the next corner. The bell Jangled

oil.

miss?" The grizzled clerk looked up from behind the counter, instantly. clocking Hazel's

at the back. Her eyes

the pegboard display, Hazel turned and marched right back to the counter, thumping the hammer

he eyed her up and down. "You, uh...you

icy stare, allowing a beat of silence to stretch out. Finally, she leaned in,

gaze. After a moment, he simply gulped and began ringing up the hammer, seemingly

tool and sliding it directly into her oversized tote. She could already

smug,

and again.

on her heel to exit the shop. Her ride could be waiting, but Hazel was deliciously patient now. Because soon enough, she intended to deliver some

and it

one of the guards opened her door, Hazel drew in a deep, steadying breath. She wouldn't be intimidated, not by these mobster muscles, not by Reeds' oily plans, not by her wretched cousin who wished her nothing but ill fortune. No, this was her moment to push back, to fight for

with a chilling smile as she smoothed out her skirt and blouse

entrance with the hulking guards

the line to eh very front. When the bouncers saw her, they stopped her and her guards, saying she could not

can wait right here," she instructed them, though she was not sure if they would listen.

nightclub, her heels clicking purposefully against the polished marble floors. Despite the thumping bass line reverberating through the dimly lit space, she moved with an aura

her entrance and immediately made a beeline over. "You must be Miss Greyson,"

Hazel allowed herself to be led through the pulsating crowd toward a secluded back hallway. The server swiped a key card and ushered her into a plushly-appointed private room, shutting and locking

narrowed as she took in the half-dozen greasy, potbellied men lounging about, sipping expensive whiskeys and passing around thick cigars. In the center of it all was Jack Reeds himself, looking utterly at ease in his usual tailored

withering glare as the other men sizing her up like a prime cut

voice dangerously low." Locking women away in seedy

her spine, she turned on her heel and marched right back toward the door, fully intent on leaving

Reeds's lips as he watched her struggle with the handle in

"Do П

not smile, you greasy old men are

eerily-quiet room, her expression unreadable. "Well, you

Crapsel 245, Blood everwhere