“That’s all you have to say to me?” he demanded. “You fucking leave in the middle of the night with only a damn electronic note, and that’s it? No, how are you, Killian? What have you been up to? How have you been surviving since our parents were killed?”
“You’re a grown adult, Kill,” I said, sneering. “You should be able to take care of yourself.”
“Fuck you.” His finger jabbed into my chest. I barely felt it. “Fuck you, dude. You gave her everything! I have nothing left. No way to fucking live except the shit you left in that bank account for me.”
I moved to brush past him. His voice rose over the sound of the music. “You know it’s not just me you’ve hurt by leaving.”
That stopped me cold. I closed my eyes, willing him to say anything else.
“She’s barely left that damn apartment of hers since you left. I haven’t seen her at all, but even I know she’s not doing well. Mateo’s taken over completely.”
“Good for Mateo.”
“Seriously?” He stepped in front of me again. I could smell the alcohol on his breath. “Damn. I thought you’d at least care about her if you didn’t give a shit about me.” He laughed, but it sounded humorless. “You’re a fucking mess.”
“You’re one to talk,” I snarled. “Look at you. You look like a god damned alcoholic. A waste of breath. You used to be something, Kill. Now you’re just pathetic. At least I’m doing shit. At least I’m avenging our parents.” With each word, I stalked closer until we were nose to nose.
He glared up at me, seething. “Fuck you. You and I both know I was nothing. That I did nothing.”
“Yeah,” I laughed. “Fuck me. That’s all you have to say.” Giving him a disgusted look, I stepped past him, letting my shoulder smack into his. He didn’t stop me this time.
I left the music, the bodies, behind. I’d done what I’d needed to do. There was no use in sticking around. This lead had only taken me to yet another dead end, and I needed to start all over again. My threads were falling one by one, taking me nowhere. The Snake was too smart. The communication between them and their associates was always by a burner phone or messages. The offers always came secretly, untraceable. It was fucking annoying. They covered their tracks too well.
I couldn’t find one fucking in with this psycho, and I felt like I was running out of time. There hadn’t been any more activity since my father’s death, but that didn’t mean the Snake was gone. They were just biding their time. Or maybe they were still planning their next move. It was nerve-wracking. I didn’t know where they would strike next, and each minute I wasted, I knew they were getting closer to her.
To Sienna.
They’d already taken out her father. They’d brought down my parents. I wouldn’t be surprised if they didn’t stop until our entire family was wiped the fuck out. I just hoped that Sienna was protecting herself. And Killian…it was well known that he was our father’s greatest disappointment. I was pretty sure his reputation and the drinks would keep him from being seen as a threat to the Snake. And that’s exactly why I’d left Killian to deal with his shit on his own. I knew he’d go back to his usual ways of coping, making himself as non-threatening as possible. That was his safety.
I stepped from the club, the music fading as the door closed behind me. Stalking away from the club, I let the night fold around me. Wen’s personal apartment was just a few blocks away. He’d been nice enough to let me stay with him for only a few thousand per week, though I was pretty sure I was starting to piss him off every time I came home with bloody clothes.
But I didn’t head to his apartment just yet. I felt restless. I always did after killing. The adrenaline was too much to just go back and sleep. I needed to run out the beast before I did that. Otherwise, I’d be up all fucking night, thinking. And I didn’t want to think at all.
A plane flew overhead, lights blinking, as I headed towards the docks. It had been my only solace these past few days. A reminder of everything I lost. Sometimes I sat at the edge of the shipyard, watching the offices. My feet led me there automatically. I didn’t have to think about it.
Tonight, though, there was already someone else in my usual spot. I stood like stone, watching her from the darkness. She faced the water, one hand gripping the rusty railings, the other on her stomach. My heart leaped to my throat, choking me. I couldn’t see her very well, but my memories were sharp and clear. I knew every line, every curve of those lips, every lash lining those gray eyes.
I took one step forward, my shoe scuffling on the pavement. I froze, cursing myself for the rookie mistake. She tensed, her head tilting slightly as she strained to hear over the sound of the lapping water. I held my breath, half hoping she would turn to find me. But I knew that couldn’t happen.
Tearing myself away, I disappeared back into the darkness. I’d face her again someday. But not tonight. I couldn’t meet her eyes like this, with the evidence of my actions clear across my suit jacket and white shirt smeared with scarlet. Not with the adrenaline still racing through my veins and the feeling of hatred in my heart.
It took everything in me not to turn around.
6
SIENNA
When I returned, I burned the note, letting it curl and turn to ash before dropping it out my apartment window. But the words were still burned into my mind. I couldn’t get them out. And I couldn’t stay here in this apartment. Not now. The Snake had somehow gotten in, despite the fact that we had security, cameras, and everything in between. Despite the fact that my apartment was on the highest level, the door locked.
I knew that, even if I did watch the security tapes, I’d find nothing. The Snake was too good. Too slick. They wouldn’t allow themselves to be seen by the cameras. They wouldn’t make it easy for us to find out who they were.
As soon as the last strip of paper turned to ash in the wind, I was out of there. Taking the elevator a floor down, I stopped outside of my mother’s door. It felt silly running to her now, but I couldn’t help it. I didn’t want to be alone in my own apartment, not now that I knew the Snake had so many different ways to get to me. It was a reminder that, at any moment, I could be taken. Or killed.
Knocking, I waited a few minutes before she answered the door. My mother took one look at my face and quickly ushered me in. I let myself fall into her arms before the first tears fell.
“Come on,” she murmured, leading me into the kitchen. Sitting me down at the island counter, she whipped up a small cup of espresso before passing it over. I took a sip, the tears ceasing just a bit as the familiar taste of espresso hit my tongue.
“Do you want to talk about it?” my mother asked. “Or do you just want some company?”