Page 81 of Burn for Me

Laura let out a pitiful squeal in front of me. ‘Please, you’ve got to get me to Massimo. He’s done horrible things to me…’

The men laughed. ‘As if the boss man didn’t sanction it. No one touched his goods without permission.’

The other chimed in, ‘Damn I hope he’s feeling generous again tonight, I’d give her something to complain about alright.’

‘I’m just here to drop her off and pick up payment. Can we get on with it?’ I feigned boredom despite the bulging anger feasting upon my every vein.

‘Yeah mate, sorry.’ The one on the right took his phone from his pocket. ‘Yeah, they’re here. I’ll let 'em in. Course I’ll check for weapons.’

The tone in his voice told me he wasn’t talking directly to Massimo, he’d never have let the thinly veiled disdain fly.

‘Pete’ll check you both down before you go in, and you’ll have to lose the mask. You look ridiculous.’ The one with the phone said, gesturing at the other.

I pushed Laura towards Pete, his grinning making me want to punch out both of his eyes. The minute Laura was in front of him, he took full advantage of feeling her up, sliding his hand up her skirt while the other groped her backside.

She reached for one of the syringes.

‘God, he’s like a fucking virgin,’ I said to the other, who guffawed loudly.

It was all the distraction I needed. Unsheathing my knife, I took a step closer while he looked over at Laura’s hiked up dress. His eyes lingered for too long… and it was the last thing he saw. I thrust my blade through his throat, covering his mouth. Simultaneously, Laura thrust the needle into her victim's neck, his eyes widening and his mouth gaping like a fish. Moments later, he slumped to the floor, his heart stopping near instantly.

Laura stepped back, smoothing her skirt.

‘You alright?’ I asked, gently touching the small of her back after wiping my bloodied gloves on my victim's slumped form.

‘Yeah,’ she answered, breathy, her voice quavering a little.

‘Ready for this?’ I asked, kissing the back of her neck.

‘No, you?’

‘No. I think you should stay outside.’

‘I can’t,’ she said. ‘They’d open fire on you the minute you walked through that door without me.’

‘They might not…’

‘It’s not a chance I’m willing to take. Just promise me you’ll kill the fucker.’ Her voice took on a new harshness I hadn’t heard before. A layer of iron replenishing my own steel.

How could I promise that I’d save her? The last time I’d promised that… May’s melting face flashed into my head. Hazy from the years without her, but horrid enough to rattle me.

I couldn’t make promises I couldn’t keep.

‘I promise I’ll kill him,’ I whispered before capturing her lips for one last kiss.

I’d just have to make sure I kept the fucking promise.

The chill in the air was more than just temperature when we entered the room.

My fingers dug a touch too hard into the warm skin of Laura’s arm, reluctant to let her out of my grip for even one moment.

Massimo stood from where he leaned against one wall of the warehouse room we entered. His two heavies flanked him, only a step or two behind. I needed to get as close as possible without my identity being revealed.

Massimo’s eyes darkened when his gaze fell over Laura’s tight fitting dress.

‘Well, well, well. My little wife-to-be has finally returned.’ He moved with an almost serpent like grace, his eyes unblinking as they drank up my girl.

‘Hope you brought the cash,’ I said, mimicking the bounty guy’s voice the best I could.

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