Total pages in book: 128
Estimated words: 132498 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 662(@200wpm)___ 530(@250wpm)___ 442(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132498 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 662(@200wpm)___ 530(@250wpm)___ 442(@300wpm)
My fingers tap the wood twice. “If this is another dead-end, I’m going to gut you.”
“Easy there, killer. Save it for the real bad guys.”
I flip the folder open.
Inside are photos. A name is on a Post-it, attached to a grainy shot of a man. The next piece of paper has an address on it.
I look up slowly, meeting Rafe’s gaze. “What is this?”
“If my source is right, he’s part of it. One of the assassins. He took a contract to kill someone.”
My jaw tightens so hard my teeth ache. “Good. Because that means he might be going after Victoria since her contract is still active.”
I sit back and stare at the photos. “Tonight.”
Rafe’s brows lift. “Just us?”
I stand, shrugging into my jacket. “You want me to bring a parade? Maybe invite my uncle so he can personally execute me when he finds out the mess I got myself and Victoria in?”
Rafe follows me out of the office, boots thudding on the marble floors. “Matteo keeps asking where you keep disappearing to.”
I glance sideways at him, expression bored. “If my cousin is worried about me, he can ask me himself.”
Rafe snorts as we make our way outside. We don’t tell anyone we’re leaving. Not the guards. Not the staff. And especially not Victoria. I hate that part the most.
The only people in the world who know she’s here are the handpicked staff who have no loyalty to anyone but me.
No one who works for my uncle besides Rafe can know, but he knows the gravity of the situation and to keep his mouth shut, and my wife hidden.
The car ride is quiet, and I check my weapon twice to kill the time.
Rafe finally breaks the silence first. “You sure you’re ready to do this?”
My fingers tighten into a fist at the thought. “No. But I have no choice. Nothing can happen to her.”
My wife is in danger because of me, and she will only be safe because I’m willing to become worse than the men hunting her.
Because I will do whatever I have to.
Protecting her is my only concern.
Forty-five minutes later, we approach the address on the slip of paper Rafe gave me. We park two blocks away and walk the rest of the way.
The air is cold enough to sting, but I’m so revved up I barely notice. My blood pumps furiously in my veins, begging to kill everyone who will hurt Victoria.
Rafe stops moving, crouching behind a dumpster as he points into the air. “Camera’s there.”
I slide in beside him, shoulder nearly touching his. “Okay, so we stay close to the wall and cling to the blind spot.”
Rafe’s mouth twitches. “Sounds like a solid plan.”
“It’s our only plan, so it better be.” I shift my weight, checking all the angles.
Rafe breathes out through his nose. “Let’s hope this goes easy. I have a date later tonight.”
“You have a date?” I watch the side door.
“Nah, was just trying to see if you were paying attention.”
“Fair,” I concede, then motion. “Move.”
We cross the open stretch fast, low, slipping into shadow. The side entrance is two steps away. We’re almost clear. Then it happens.
I hear a faint click.
What the fuck is that?
Rafe freezes, and my blood turns to ice.
Without any warning, a silhouette appears behind us, gun already raised and firing.
A shot echoes through the air.
Before I even know what’s happening, Rafe is running toward me, pushing me. Then he jerks beside me, his hand flying to his side. I barely have time to understand what’s happening when Rafe falls to the ground.
My lungs seize. It’s like I’ve forgotten how to breathe. Time slows in a way that makes everything crueler. Rafe’s mouth opens, but no sound comes out at first.
He saved me.
Rafe inhales sharply, eyes snapping to mine. “Run,” he tries to bark, but it comes out like a cough.
I don’t run.
I explode.
I sprint straight at the shooter.
All rational thought has left my brain.
The only thing I can think about is death.
The hitman steps back, startled, trying to aim again. I slam into him. The gun goes off, the bullet biting into the wall behind me.
My fist meets his jaw.
Bone crunches.
He staggers.
I grab his wrist and twist hard until the gun hits the ground.
He swings at me, but I duck.
I use the moment of him being distracted to drive my elbow into his ribs.
He wheezes, but I don’t stop. I don’t think. I just hit.
All the fear I live with pours into rage as I hammer him with my fists.
I drive him backward into the wall. He tries to claw at my jacket to stop me, but now that I have him where I want him, I’m functioning on pure adrenaline.
I slam his head against the concrete.
Once.
Twice.
Blood pours from the back of his head.
“Killing me won’t stop it,” he rasps, voice rough with amusement.