Page 47 of Once A Crime Lord

Damn right she did. She trained to know how to kill, and that was what she’d done. Her hands flexed on the wheel. Just like the last time, she didn’t feel an ounce of remorse. If anything, she wanted to turn around and do more damage. Her chest burned with rage. Those fuckers. They didn’t care about innocent bystanders. They opened fire anytime, anywhere.

The sound of her phone ringing filled the car. “Pass my purse!”

He tossed it on the console. She dug in her bag as she navigated the freeway and kept an eye out for cops.

“Are you hurt?” Blade asked when she answered.

“No.”

“Good. Drive home.”

“Okay. Any word from Gavin?”

“No. I have men driving from the compound to you. I’m going back to help. Are you going to be okay?”

Her heart clenched. “You think he’s...?”

“Don’t borrow trouble. Get home, you hear me?”

“Yes,” she said and hung up.

“This has to do with your husband being a crime boss, doesn’t it?” Jonathan asked.

She glanced at her ex who had no idea how close he came to death today. “Where are you staying?”

“Lyla, talk to me.”

“About what?” she demanded.

“About what’s happening.”

“It’s safer if you don’t know. You can’t tell anyone what you saw today. I have to drop you off somewhere safe. Where should I take you?”

“I’m staying at one of the Pyre Casinos.”

She wanted to strangle him. “You need to leave as soon as possible.”

“Why?”

“My husband will freak when he finds out you were at the event today. How could you be so foolish?”

“I heard your husband’s foundation was putting it on and thought you might be here. I extended my stay, hoping we could talk.”

“About what?” she shouted, pounding the wheel with her fist. “What you saw today? That’s my life now, Jonathan.”

“How can you say that and think I won’t ask more questions?”

“I can’t take you to The Strip,” she said to herself and took the next exit off the freeway.

“Where are you taking me?”

“Check out of your room by phone and don’t go back for anything. You might be on someone’s radar now...” She cruised down the highway, searching for a nondescript accommodation for him. Her phone rang, and she saw Blade’s name again. “Yes?”

“Where the fuck are you going?” Blade snapped. “I told you to go home. You’re veering off course.”

“I need to get him somewhere safe.”

There was a sharp silence. “You have him in the car with you? I was hoping he’d been shot, so I wouldn’t have to do it.”

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