Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 46450 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 232(@200wpm)___ 186(@250wpm)___ 155(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46450 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 232(@200wpm)___ 186(@250wpm)___ 155(@300wpm)
My hands smooth over my belly. I can feel my heart beating through my body, and it’s like I can feel my child kicking, the life waking inside of me, a preview of what’s to come.
If Yasmin’s right.
If Felix comes back.
CHAPTER
TWENTY
Felix
“So this is the man who turned me into his personal attack dog,” I snarl, looking across the dark street at the bar as Mike – real name Deacon – heads for the bar, two men walking behind him.
He’s a tall man, thin but not skinny, more sinewy. His hair is a shaggy mop of red, and he wears a suit that doesn’t match his frame, and jewelry glints from his ears and his fingers in the streetlights.
Mr. Red – it’s hard to think of him in any other way – heads inside.
“Don’t beat yourself up,” Kenny says, clapping me on the arm. “I wouldn’t have been able to find him before this anyway.”
“No?”
Kenny shakes his head. “He was being careful until recently. Word is, he’s back on the booze. He quit for years before that. It explains why he suddenly tried to use his Mr. Red bullshit to make you kill an innocent. It also explains why he’s being so careless with his digital footprint.”
“He didn’t just try to make me kill a civilian,” I say, grinding my teeth from side to side. “He tried to make me kill a woman.”
“Just a woman?” Kenny says, eyebrow raised.
I smirk, laughing gruffly. “Did Yasmin tell you?”
“She didn’t have to,” Kenny says. “I saw the way you were looking at her. How long has it been going on? It’s one hell of a coincidence that this bastard hired you to kill your girlfriend.”
Kenny grins, adding, “You could’ve told me, though.”
“There was nothing to tell,” I murmur.
“How’s that?” he asks.
“We only met the night Mr. Red gave me the contract.”
Kenny narrows his eyes, looking at me with rare skepticism. Ever since we served together, he’s always looked at me with trust, the same way I look at him.
But there’s doubt now.
“That’s difficult to accept,” he says quietly. “You look at her the same way men look at their wives, Felix. There’s no way this is just a casual fling. Or new. It can’t be.”
I shrug. “It’s the truth. She means everything to me, far more than any other woman…not just has, but could.”
“And she feels the same?”
“I don’t know. I hope so.” I nod at the bar. “But we need to focus. There won’t be any new or old relationship if we don’t handle this like professionals.”
Kenny pops his neck from side to side. “You’re right. But I want you to know I’m happy for you.”
“Thank you.” I smile, genuine emotion touching me. “I just hope she feels the same.”
“I think she does,” Kenny says. “If the way she looks at you is any indication.”
I let his words settle inside of me, praying they’re true.
“Remember what we talked about,” Kenny says a moment later.
I sigh darkly. “I know.”
Deacon Jones is a wanted man, despite what aliases he uses. If we take him alive, we can deliver him to the police, and for his combined and twisted crimes, he’ll spend the rest of his life in a cage.
“Are you going to be able to let him live?” Kenny asks. “I’d understand if you’re tempted to go down the other path. But let me know now.”
I grit my teeth, sitting up.
“I’ve never enjoyed killing. I did it when we were in the service because I had to, and we were keeping our brothers safe. Here, with Mr. Red, I did it for Yasmin and Felicia. But I won’t murder a man in cold blood. Even if the monster deserves it.”
Kenny nods grimly. “Then let’s get to work.”
My heart is thumping at the base of my throat as Kenny, an ex-SEAL called Markus, and I approach the rear of the bar. There are three men out front, ready to toss in their flashbang grenades when Kenny gives the signal.
My hand is tight on my rifle, my head a little hazy, not as clear as it usually is before a job. The ideal situation is to be almost mindless, to become nothing but a body executing the plan…and then to allow my mind to return when it’s time to make important decisions.
But as we get closer, all I can think about is Freya, the look of gorgeous concentration on her face when she was applying my tattoo.
I try to imagine how she would’ve reacted if I’d told her right then how I felt.
After a moment, I force the thoughts away or at least do my best to make them disappear. The best I can do is push them to the corner of my mind, not letting myself dwell on them.
The fact this man tried to make me kill my girlfriend.