Page 97 of Killer Love

“Thank you, Mrs. Clark.”

She smiles in the doorway and leaves. The dog instantly hops on his hind legs, excited to have her back in one piece, and she mutters something about how he better get used to me as she heads back inside the house.

I return to my car to grab the black duffel bag from the trunk. It’s still heavy with the money Luka gave me. If I can put it to good use making an old widow’s life easier, then I will. That almost makes me feel a little better about how I got it.

Almost.

I close the trunk and I take a deep breath. The air is cool and clear and, for the first time in years, calming. Between befriending the Russian mob and killing for Snake Eyes and fighting another man’s war, I haven’t had the chance to relax since I was a teenager. That might actually be possible out here. For a little while, anyway.

They’ll come looking. They might even find me.

When that happens, I’ll be ready.

I set the duffel on the bed and reach inside for the flash drive hidden between the stacks of cash. My copy of the master file is still encrypted, but I know a guy who might be able to help with that. I’ll keep it safe and close. A good insurance policy won’t hurt when that day comes.

A light came to me and, with it, a new life.

Tomorrow, it may come to you.

I hope you’re right, Sofia.

But I’m not holding my breath.

Chapter 30

Dani

Six Months Later

“Roxie!”

That’s not my name, but I’ve answered to it since I was sixteen.

“Yes, Dad?” I twist around and Lena drops the makeup brush from my cheeks.

My father’s eyes trail me up and down to check my appearance. It’s the same hard glance he’s given me every day since junior high when my looks started to matter more to him than they did to me.

“Thanks again for doing this today,” he says. A navy-blue pantsuit isn’t exactly my regular style, but he seems satisfied with it. “This means a lot to your stepmother.”

I throw on a smile. It’s not like I had a say in the matter. He makes my schedule.

“I’m happy to do it,” I say.

“After this, we have that meeting with Bruckberg.”

Lena raises the brush again to wipe a bit more rouge along my cheekbone. I cringe behind it, hoping he doesn’t notice.

“Roxie…”

He noticed.

“I don’t want to hear about this again,” he says.

“I didn’t say anything, Dad.”

“This is a huge opportunity for you. You read the script, right?”

“Yes, I read the script.”

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