Page 63 of Twisted

“Give me the hard drive, we’re ditchin’ your car. There’ll be more men after us soon.”

They were rushing down the stairs hand in hand, but his words seemed to strike a nerve with her. Maisie’s grip tightened, and her face flew to his in a show of spite and quiet fury.

“Fuckin’ hell, Mais, you think I have time right now to go through whatever shit is on that?”

He glanced down at her, watched as her jaw clenched and her tits bounced down each step.

“Fine, but as soon as we get wherever we’re goin’—”

“Fuck, I’ll give it back, happy?” he growled. “Still have half a mind to bend ya over my knee for that heart attack.”

Her cheek lifted in a half smile, turning a slight shade of pink, and the sight made his heart clench at her devastating beauty. They hit the landing, prepared to run for the exit when his pull on Maisie yanked him back. He paused, stepping back toward her, following her line of sight. Chubs lay there in a mangled heap, eyes wide open and staring up to where he’d fallen from, neck twisted grotesquely. He should have been face down considering the positioning of the rest of his body.

“C’mon, baby doll,” he urged gently. This was nothing new to him, and though he’d known the man for years, his disdain for how he operated made his death even easier to bear. Maisie seemed transfixed, eyes glued to the body. Jaeger gave another gentle tug.

She turned her face to his, her paleness a striking indication that although she’d murdered, she wasn’t a murderer. This sight struck her, a look Jaeger had seen on new recruits’ faces time and again. She was pure and good in her core, even if she liked to dabble in a little darkness. Setting his jaw, he positioned his body to cut off her view, reaching up to cup her cheek, smoothing his thumb lovingly over his favorite scar.

She blinked up at him in a daze, but he answered her inner turmoil with a gentle smile.

“Always gonna be death around me, Mais. Hope ya never have to see it again, but…” he trailed off. She set her jaw, her plump lips pursing with the motion.

“What is it ya do? You knew them, Jaeger, and I’ll not be lied to by you ever again,” she hissed. He released her with a chuckle, holding up his hands in surrender. She could be fierce when she needed to be, and he loved that about her. But he also loved the way she had looked just a moment ago; saddened, struck by death deep in her beautiful soul. A younger, more innocent version of herself still lingered, and he craved it as much as he craved her fire.

“Not here, alright? Ya need to calm down enough before our drive,” he said, encouraging her forward and out the exit, grasping her soft hand again. “We’ve a long ass drive to—”

But in the muggy twilight, his words were cut short. The scent of rain on pavement tickled his nose, and cloaked between two buildings in an alley, he knew they were fucked this time. His Harley sat innocently just yards away, but it may as well have been miles with who stood between them and their freedom.

“I oughtta slit your throat now kid and do ya a favor,” Rancho hissed, eyes igniting behind his thick framed glasses. He stood alone, but Jaeger knew better than to think he wastrulyalone. Even if he was solo, Rancho was one of two men he feared more than anything. Gentle, he pushed Maisie behind him as she clutched at his arm. He could feel her tremors of fear.

Rancho snorted, crossing his arms and leaning around to shake his head at her.

“A sweet little thing like you ain’t invisible.”

“Cut to the chase, Ranch. I killed Hairy and she killed Chubs. And if this is about Linds—”

Rancho waved his hand, sarcastic as always.

“Your sister is a real cunt,” he said. Leaning around again, he spoke to Maisie. “Sorry, miss. I call it like it is.”

“So why the fuck are you here?” Jaeger hissed, his grip on Maisie tightening. Rancho sighed and pulled off his glasses to swipe at the sweat collecting on the bridge of his nose. When he pushed his glasses back on, Jaeger’s blood ran cold at the look in his eye.

“Should kill ya for turnin’ your back on us kid, but…” he trailed off, kicking at the wet asphalt. “Fuck, ya think I can do that after everythin’?”

Jaeger’s heart raced at the glimmer of hope.

“Then let us go. You’ll never hear a word or see either of us again.”

Rancho was already shaking his head.

“Can’t, kid. Ya have somethin’ boss man needs real bad.”

Jaeger sifted through his options, but it was of no use; he knew how Hades operated, with utter perfection and a conciseness that would strip you of your skin in one swift motion. They were fucked, but he needed to explain, needed a chance. The concerning part was why Hades needed it, why they’d told Lindsay to take a hike after she’d hired them to kill Maisie. Something was off.

“You’ve already used your one chance with him, kid, and you know it.”

“You can have it.”

The voice was just a wisp, small and pained but desperate. Jaeger whirled, his own eyes now wide as he stared down at Maisie in shock. Her jaw was set, her eyes round and glistening. He knew by the look on her face she was quietly serious.

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