Page 14 of The Hitman's Secret Love Child

Chapter 6

Six years ago – one day before prom

Constantine

“Man up, Constantine. We’re broke and this is the best way.”

From the passenger seat of the car I looked up from the gun that was resting in my hands to meet the gaze of a friend of mine – Corey – though I use the term “friend” loosely. I’d done a lot of unscrupulous crap in my years, but this would be the worst to date. This was definitely a bridge I didn’t want to cross.

“And what if they don’t hand over the cash?”

“They will.” He nodded toward the gun. “Hold that in their fucking face. Trust me, they will.”

“How do you know? Have you had to shoot someone before?”

“No, never had to shoot anyone, yet, but I would if I had to… You gotta do what you gotta do to survive. This isn’t my first rodeo, man. Adam and I hit a number of stores before he got caught and sent away. He didn’t squeal though, that’s the main thing.”

I cocked a brow up at Corey. Him not squealing was the main thing? Not some innocent person getting shot dead? Admittedly, my moral compass was a bit skewed, but it wasn’t completely shot.

Looking down at the gun again, I thought of Robyn. She wanted to go to college in Boston and we were planning on getting a place together now that we were graduating. We needed a lot of money quick and the part-time jobs we were holding down wouldn’t cut it, not starting out. This could give us the boost we needed. I’ve never been a good person, I know this, but this was taking things to an entirely different level.

“Oh man, just come on. No one is going to get hurt. Just some quick cash. These places are insured; it’s not like they’re going to actually be out anything.”

I looked back up at Corey. Was that true? I didn’t know.

“So what’s the plan exactly?” He shook a ski mask at me. “You put this on. You follow me a couple of blocks to the store. We hold it up. Get the cash and high-tail our asses back to the car, which will be running. We get away and that’ll be the end of it. We’ll have money in our pockets and life goes on. No one gets shot, no one gets hurt and no one has to die.”

“I’ve never even shot one of these before.”

“It’s easy, point and pull the trigger. We turn off the safety before we enter the store, just in case.”

“Just in case what?”

He shrugged, his dark eyes staring into mine. His eyes were haunting, cold and empty. “Just in case.”

I had a really bad feeling about this. But at the same time, this could be the start Robyn and I needed. Sure, it was dishonest money, but it would be just this once. Just to give us a boost. Like Corey said, these places were insured. Insurance companies were the biggest crooks. Robyn’s parents said they wouldn’t help her with college as long as she was with me. It was a fucking punk move on their part if you ask me, but if I were to be completely honest with myself I could understand why, especially now as I prepared myself to rob a store. If I ever had a daughter, I’d be the last person I’d want her to end up with.

But I loved her.

Nodding, I replied, “Fine,” making my decision. It was the only way.

“Good.” Corey switched off the safety. “Just be careful with that thing, all right?”

“Yeah.” I really didn’t want the gun, but I’d go along with him. The faster this got done the better and I’m sure Corey was right, the gun would spur them into action and we’d be in and out no problem, then I could put this behind me.

This would be the last punk-assed thing I’d do, I promised myself.

“’kay, let’s go.” He got out of the car and I followed. The car was left running, but he activated the power lock from a second key. Wouldn’t want someone to steal the car of the person who’s in the process of robbing someone else. “Just follow my lead.”

I ran behind him. We waited until we were about to round the corner to the entrance of the store before pulling our ski caps over our faces. Corey peeked around the corner.

“Coast is clear,” he said, waving for me to follow him.

I did, my heart rate accelerating with each step. Adrenaline was shooting through my veins as I followed him into the store. My footsteps were loud, louder than sneakers should be on the tiled floor.

“Hands in the air and give me the cash in the safe!” Corey yelled, waving his gun in the face of the middle-aged male attendant.

“Now!” I yelled, my gun pointing at him as well.

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