“You nearly ruined the reputation of Killer of Kings, Chains. Do you know that? You nearly fucked with what I have. I don’t like that.” Boss held his gun out steady, and Lori gasped, putting herself in front of Chains.
“No, don’t kill him.”
“You need your bitch to fight your battles for you as well now, Chains? You’re not man enough to take me on by yourself?”
She shook her head. “No. Please stop. You’ve got this all wrong. I love him. I love Chains. Yes, our beginning was a bit weird, but who cares? He loves me, too, and we’re going to be together. We’re going to get married. I’m not going to say anything about what you do. Please, don’t kill him.” She felt her tears suddenly building, and before she could stop them they were streaming down. “I don’t want to live without him. He’s been the only one that has ever cared about me, and I don’t want to lose that. He means everything.” The moment she started talking, the reality of losing him was just too great. She couldn’t handle that, nor did she want to. All of her life she’d been pushed aside, unloved, unwanted.
Chains was the only one to see her, to care about her, to love her, and she couldn’t let anything happen to him. She wouldn’t be able to survive it.
With tears blurring her vision, she stared at the man that she knew could end her happiness with a single shot from his gun.
Staring into death’s eyes, she placed herself in front of Chains. “Please, I’m begging you, don’t kill him. I couldn’t … I don’t…” Words were failing her. She only felt this overwhelming sense of grief.
“It’s fine,” Chains said. His hand banded around her. He tried to move her out of the way, but she refused to budge. Not this time. She wasn’t going to let him be taken from her. She couldn’t.
Licking her dry lips, she kept her focus on Boss. He looked bored, as if this was all a little tedious to him.
“Kill me instead.” The words left her mouth, but the moment she said them, she knew she’d surprised him.
Was that a good thing?
Chapter Thirteen
“Out of the room.” Boss pointed to the door. “I need to speak with Chains alone.”
“Are you going to hurt him?” asked Lori.
Boss didn’t look ready to humor her.
“It’s okay, baby. Just business. I’ll be out soon,” said Chains.
Lori looked back at him as she left the room, the door finally clicking shut behind her. He hated being caught in this position, but he could only blame himself. When he’d taken Lori from behind the diner, it had been pure instinct. There was just something about her that called to him, demanded he keep her as his reward for a fucked-up life. He hadn’t used a level head then or when he went on his last assignment with Boss. Chains knew firsthand what happened to hitmen who left loose ends or turned sloppy. Boss demanded perfection. He was obsessed with keeping the reputation of Killer of Kings hard as nails.
“So…”
“I know I fucked up, but it won’t happen again,” said Chains.
Boss tapped a pen on the desk, swiveling slightly back and forth in his chair. “Of all people, I wouldn’t expect you to take a prisoner. I mean, fuck, after the shit you’ve been through it doesn’t make sense.”
“She wasn’t my prisoner. Not for long, anyway. We both feel the same way about each other, so I don’t see a problem.”
“Of course you don’t. But I guarantee you’ll cost me money and the lives of my men if you keep screwing around on the job. I can’t have it. I won’t have it.”
He wanted to ask what was next, but kept his mouth shut. Why was Boss stalling? Just put a bullet in his head and get it over with. Once Boss made up his mind, nothing he could say would change a thing regardless.
“I keep you close for a reason. I trust you, and you always give me your best. When I need a driver, intel, guaranteed hit, anything … I call you and get results.”
“That doesn’t have to change.”
Boss stood up and rolled out his shoulders. “Viper and Bain are off to clean up your mess right now. Even though you fucked me over, I won’t tolerate anyone trying to take out my men. The only thing going for you is getting El Diablo to sign on with Killer of Kings.”
“Because you blackmailed him.”
Boss shook his head. “I got information he couldn’t. Nothing’s free, Chains. Not in this fucking life.” He walked back and forth in front of the hotel windows, admiring the skyline.
Apparently when El Diablo was sold off to a gang as a child, he hadn’t been the only one. He had a younger sister, but she’d disappeared when he tried to find her as an adult. Boss managed to find her, but he required loyalty in exchange for the information.
“Lori’s innocent. I got her mixed up in this shit, so please leave her out of this. I know I screwed up, but I gave you a lot of good years. Surely that counts for something.” It was his last request, one more chance to try to ensure Lori didn’t get hurt.