Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 73302 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 367(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73302 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 367(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
“Step away, Andretti.”
He laughed at me. “No fucking way, you fucking cheater. If you try anything, he’ll be dead before the bullet gets to me.”
I wanted to pretend I didn’t care that I had no more reason to keep Rafe alive than I did Andretti, but I didn’t think I could pull that off. I met Rafael’s gaze, trying to silently let him know I was going to get him out of this alive if he didn’t try something crazy.
He gave a slight nod, and I knew he understood.
I needed a distraction. At this point, I didn’t care what I had to reveal. I wasn’t going to let Rafe die because of my mistake. “What does Ivanov want with him?”
Andretti frowned. “Who?”
“Ivanov. The man you’re working for. The fucking pedophile.”
“What the fuck?” He turned to me, snarling, and the knife moved away from Rafael’s neck. Far enough? I wasn’t sure.
I glanced at Rafael again and then down at the knife. Was there any chance he’d understand he needed to be ready to push the man’s hand away?
“That’s right. I know what kind of sick shit you get up to.”
Andretti was fully focused on me now. “You’re out of your mind.”
I raised my gun and shot him through the head. He dropped to the ground instantly. Thank God Rafe was ready. He shoved Andretti’s arm away and stepped back.
“You killed him.” Rafe looked stunned.
“Did you want him to slice your throat open?”
“No, but I… Thanks.”
I knew there was no way Andretti was still alive, but I needed proof. I bent and felt for a pulse. When I was satisfied the bastard was as dead as he should be, I rose and took a step toward Rafe.
“He only has half a head. You thought he was still breathing?”
“No, but I had to be sure.”
He stared at the pavement where blood pooled beneath the man. I gave the body another kick.
“What was that for?” Rafe asked.
“He tried to hurt you. I wish I could kill him again for that.”
Rafe stared at me like I’d lost my mind. I probably had. Maria had been waiting for the moment when I stepped over the edge and couldn’t bring myself back. Was that happening now?
I laid a hand on Rafe’s arm. “Call your family. Ask them to come clean up this corpse, and don’t mention me.”
Rafe made no move to pull out his phone. “Who are you? How do you know about Ivanov.”
“There will be time to explain later. Just do what I said.”
“You—”
“Rafael, call them now.”
“Don’t you have someone you can call?”
That would be a disaster. “You don’t want me to involve my people.”
Finally, he pulled out his phone and did as I’d said.
10
RAFE
“What is it?” Remington asked. He sounded pissed that I’d called him, and I was in no shape to handle that.
“Andretti, one of them men from my not-so-secret game accused me of cheating and attacked me. He’s dead in an alley.”
“Where are you?”
“In the alley with him.” I glanced at the closet street sign and gave the address.
“Do you think he was the man we’re looking for?”
“I’m not sure. I accused him of working for Ivanov before I shot him, and he acted like he’d never heard of him.”
Remington was silent for a moment. “Do you think he was telling the truth?”
“I don’t know. Maybe. He did seem truly confused. He’s been losing heavily. I think he took too much coke and lost it.”
“Okay. Get out of there. I’ve got men on the way.”
“What if someone finds the body before they get here and calls the cops?”
“In that part of town? No one is going to touch him.”
He was right.
“Get moving. I don’t want you on the scene.”
“But I…” Fuck. I didn’t know what to say. I couldn’t tell him G was here with me without spilling everything.
“Are you okay?”
Shit, I hoped I didn’t sound as confused as I felt. “Yes.”
“Then go home. You did good. I’ll let you know what we learn.”
“Thanks.” I ended the call and met G’s gaze. “What the hell just happened here?”
He scowled at me. “You really want me to believe you didn’t know what this fucker was up to?”
I’d checked his background. He had a prostitution ring, but he wasn’t involved with children, and his employees weren’t trafficked. Was I that much of a fucking idiot? Remington was going to kill me. If I’d missed something so obvious, he’d never put me in charge of anything again. “You really think he’s working for Ivanov?”
“I do.”
“Do you have proof?”
G looked away. “No.”
“So he could have just been mad at me because you cheated him the other night?”
G shrugged. “Possibly, but I saved you, so I’ve already paid you back.”
He had, but I didn’t want to admit it. “You interrupted a conversation with a patron.”
“That was not a fucking conversation, and he was on enough cocaine to make his heart explode.”