Page 100 of Rugger: The Huntress

“Thank you,” I sighed, “Because I am trying.”

“Gazelle, you don’t have to tell me that. I already know. We’re one in the same. I’m lucky to be as close to you as I am right now. I don’t take that lightly.”

There was an internal battle I was fighting, but his handsome face made the struggle much easier. I was leaning into the feelings he produced within me instead of turning away from them. The trust I had was growing at a snail’s pace, but it was a sign that something within me was changing. Not forever. Not for anyone.For him.

On the eighth floor of the Payne & Prime Logistics Center, I sat with an extra pair of eyes against my face allowing my morning to replay in my head. Psalms had proposed a plethora of things, including he’d be the only man to enter my gates from this moment forward.

My salivating pussy wouldn’t allow me to deny him the opportunity. Neither would my itching trigger finger. He’d wipe out every contract the Triad sent my way if I did.

“Gave any more thought to my offer?”

Sonnie’s voice penetrated the communication device. My rhythmic heartbeat grew wildly with each word he spoke. I removed the binoculars and rested my back against the chair.

“Eyes open, Sonnie.”

“My eyes are open, love. So is my heart to the idea of you–”

I pulled skin from my bottom lip between my teeth and began gnawing. My cheeks flushed a deep, unsolicited brown. A chill crept up my spine but was met with the warmth of his voice.

“Targets in the elevator,” he informed me.

I sat the binoculars on the desk beside me and placed my right eye against the scope of my rifle. I prepared to engage.

“Second floor. Fourth floor. Sixth floor,” Sonnie announced the elevator’s movement. “Eighth f?—”

Pew. Broken glass sounded immediately after the silenced bullet was released.

Bingo. The first bullet ate through the center of Benji’s neck. Blood sprang from his neck at an alarming rate. By the time his hand made it to the wound, he’d already lost a pint. It didn’t matter how many hands tried, they wouldn’t be able to stop the blood flow and they wouldn’t be able to stop the inevitable. He was going to die and he was going to die within the next five seconds.

“Gazelle!” Sonnie called out to me, but I was too deep in my zone to be reached. Having him in my ear was like nails on a chalkboard.

Pew. A second bullet pierced the forehead of Bahaj, the younger brother.

His life ended instantly.

Pew. A third killed Nijeem, their first cousin.

Pew.A fourth killed the security, who was doing a poor job at securing his employers. The bruises on their distressed frames was evidence. From their posture and stale presence, it was obvious their visit toThe Therapisthad been a tumultuous one.

“Gaze–”

I didn’t wait for the elevator to clear. It was the plan Psalms had made when failing to realize I didn’t follow anyone’s plan but my own. Hopefully, the lesson had been a brief one because I didn’t have the energy or care to put the effort into teaching him again.

“For what it’s worth, so is mine.”

“Your wh–”

“My heart.”

I removed the device from my ear. Its presence was vexing and the man on the other line was distracting. It was because ofhim that I ended our mission prematurely. While he wanted to sit on our target, I wanted to sit on him. And, sitting in the chair until he gave me the green light was not going to work for me.

I tossed the bag on my back that held the contents of my rifle and the new set of binoculars Psalms had gifted me. Without haste, I made my way out of the door, into the hallway, and toward the stairwell.

I conquered four flights of stairs before sirens sounded in the distance. Fire, ambulance, and police were en route. Neither of them would be able to save a single person on the elevator. They’d all expired.

I pushed my way out of the smelly confinement and into the hallway of the first floor. The sirens were closer. My adrenaline spiked. Promises of Psalms’ bed led me through the hallway with the right side of my mouth curved upward.

Fuck.

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