Page 121 of Crush

“I’m fine. I thought you were going to die, I thought I was going to lose you,” she sobbed, almost hysterical now. “Oh my God, Max.”

“I know and I’m sorry you had to see that. But you’re safe now, the fucker can’t hurt you, or us anymore.”

“Where’s Dexter,” Amber said, looking around.

“I’m here Miss. Nothing to worry about,” Dexter said from behind us.

“The show’s over people. Let’s clean up and head out,” Kinlan suddenly ordered.

The sound of sliding doors echoed through the air as did booted feet hitting the gravel but I didn’t give a shit. I had Amber in my arms, and I lifted her towards me, cupping her jaw and placing my mouth over hers. I wanted to distract her from what was clearly an order to dispose of the body.

As our mouths moved together and she wrapped her arms around me, I could feel people surrounding us.

“Whilst this is all very romantic. Do you mind saving it? We’ve got shit to do,” Kinlan said and I drew back, looking up at him with rage and disgust. It washisfault that Amber had almost been shot. I pushed to my feet and went to lunge for him but he shook his head and stepped back. His message was clear. The hidden sniper that had taken Harker out would now have eyes on me. I raised my arms and backed off a step, taking Amber’s small hand in mine.

Two of his men rushed past me with large sheets of plastic which they placed next to Harker’s body. I held Amber against my side so she didn’t watch, her face pushed into my shoulder.

Harker’s body was rolled onto the plastic in seconds and he was then carried over to the van. It was empty in the back apart from what looked like cleaning supplies.

I watched as they threw his body encased in plastic into the space there like he was no more than roadkill.

“Miles, CCTV?”

“Wiped boss. Jammer deactivated. No trace,” the guy ‘Miles’ replied. He was a tall thin man with glasses and must have been Kinlan’s tech guy.

So, they had somehow wiped the security system so there would be no trace of what had happened. That meant no proof and no police but I knew we couldn’t report it. That didn’t sit right with me but what could I do?

As Kinlan walked toward me, two other men flanked him and the guy called Lewis kept his gun on Dexter.

Pushing Amber behind my back, I squared my shoulders.

“You did well, Max. And I’d like to revisit my original offer.”

I snorted, “What? To be the muscle for the mafia?”

I felt Amber stiffen behind me as she whispered, “Max? What…” her voice trailed off as Kinlan came close.

“Yes.”

Inhaling, I felt between a rock and an even bigger rock. If I said no, would he kill me? A thought suddenly occurred to me.

“Did youknowI’d beat him?”

The mob boss smiled, “Of course. I never had any doubt of that. David wasn’t the toughest of characters. That’s why he preyed on little girls.”

“Why didn’t you just shoot the fucker and be done with it?” I rasped, glancing towards Dexter who was still quite pale.

“Where is the fun in that? Didn’t it feel good smacking the living shit out of him?”

Christ, he was right and that thought made me sick to my stomach. What had I become?

“What if I’d lost?” I regretted the words as soon as they left my mouth.

Kinlan brushed a speck of gravel dust from his sleeve and withdrew his sunglasses. “I suppose we’ll never know.”

I then watched as he walked away, flanked by his men and they all climbed into their cars.

“What the hell, Max? How do you know someone so dangerous? And who is David, I don’t understand.”

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