Page 43 of One Kill

I mean, come the fuck on. He can’t be that dense on the whole thing, can he?

Without waiting for whatever excuse he’s cooking up to defend his bosses, I turn on my heel and stride to my borrowed truck. My hands are shaking, my breaths are short, and I really shouldn’t be driving in this worked up state, but I have no choice.

Murphy blaming me for Hallie’s disappearance may have gutted me to my core, but he isn’t completely wrong. I’m aware that me simply being around them was dangerous, and I was pushing my luck if I’m honest with myself.

This is my penance for leaving Hallie all those years ago. I should’ve checked her to be sure, but… fuck. This is a rabbit hole I don’t want to be going down. Beating myself up about something I can’t change isn’t going to save my girl.

The look of pure devastation on Murphy’s face, his cry of terror at the phone call; these are things that will haunt my nightmares, even after I’ve found her and brought her home safely. Because Iwillfucking bring her home safely.

“The light’s fucking green, you fuckhead.” I slam my palm against the horn, needing the vehicle in front of me to move out of my damn way.

It’s raining heavily, the light from passing cars almost glowing off the droplets crashing against my windshield. Mixed with the snow from earlier in the week, there’s no doubt black ice is on the road, but that doesn’t stop me from wishing I had my bike right now so I could cut through this fucking traffic.

I need to try and rationalize my thoughts, which is usually something that comes so easily to me, but it’s proving difficult in these fucked up circumstances.

For starters, who the fuck is the unknown number that’s texted me more than once now? And how did they know Hallie was gone? Are they friend or foe? Because, at this point, they could be either. Glitch hasn’t been able to get a trace on it at all yet, which is fucking weird.

Whoever it is, I can’t wait to meet them face to face. Or maybe knife to face, right after I’ve slaughtered the fucknuts who have my daughter.

Terror and anger are warring inside me, each fighting for dominance within my veins, flowing through every inch of my body as I tightly grip the wheel. My knuckles are white, my muscles tense, and I barely remember one iota of my journey to the Reapers’ clubhouse as I slowly pull to a stop out front.

Tab’s already waiting for me by the entrance, arms folded across his giant chest. The group chat with my Reapers was my first point of call. I sent them all the information I have and they’re already looking into what they can. They haven’t asked for the specifics, but they knew something has been going on with me the last few weeks.

This is my made family though. I should’ve trusted them with everything before this point, and even though I didn’t, they’re still all hands on deck for me.

Rain continues to fall, soaking me as I step out of the truck and move toward Tab. The weather matches my dark and battered emotions.

Tab watches me, eyes full of concern, and he just nods as he steps aside for me to go into the house, following behind me and closing the door. Shoo appears as soon as we’re inside, a large mug of coffee ready and waiting for me between his large palms.

I know it’s mine because he’d rather drink a cup of shit than coffee.

“Where we at?” There’s no time for pleasantries, not with the way this anger is flowing through the very fabric of my soul.

“The Irish cunts that Murphy works for have her. We know that much. What we don’t know iswherethey have her. Yet.“ Shoo’s quick rundown does little to reassure me.

“How the fuck do we know who has her and not where they’ve taken her?”

“After your accident, Glitch tracked the car that followed you with the shooters back to the Irish in Jersey, so Flower started tailing that fucknut, Riley. Mancini knows, I spoke to him while you were on your way here and got the go ahead to fuck shit up. We’re done pussy footing around the Irish mob and it’s time to clean house.” Shoo looks pleased with himself, excitable even, at the thought of what we know we have to do.

“As great as that news is, you still haven’t told me how we know they have Hallie.” I’d like nothing more than to end the Irish fucks, but I need to be sure about this.

I may have gotten my revenge for my parents by killing the mob boss’s two brothers years ago, but it wasn’t exactly authorized by Marco’s father, who was the Mafia boss at the time. The opportunity arose, I took it, then I asked for forgiveness after the fact. Of course, he understood and was even a little proud, and we all agreed to keep the mafia out of it so as not to cause a stupid gang war of any kind.

Having the mafia backing on this one will make things a hell of a lot easier, because with or without it, I plan on spilling a lot of blood for this.

“Riley was seen meeting with his dad, Ronan, just before seven, before they both headed straight for a bar near the movie theater you said the girls were at with a van full of their crew. When you texted, Flower called Glitch to run the plates on the van and was ready to change her target from Riley to whoever the fuck was in the van, but it’d already gone, nowhere to be seen. Only Riley was left and she watched him drive ten yards closer to the theater to begin playing the part of doting dad to his own kid. We discovered the plates on the van were fakes, and she’s still tailing Riley as of right now.” We’ve moved further into the house as he explains what we know so far.

“Okay, so we’re working on assumptions rather than actual knowledge.” I wouldn’t say I’m angry with that, because my gut is telling me it was the damn Irish too, but concrete evidence is usually better to start a war with. Not that it’ll be much of one because my Reapers and I are going to do the best cleanup we’ve ever done.

No fucking traces.

Shoo grimaces at my assessment of the situation. “Yeah.” He shrugs.

I can’t fault his honesty.

“We can work with that. Where is Flower now?” Wherever she is, Riley is, and that mother fucker is getting a visit from me very soon.

“Last we heard, he was seen arguing outside the movie theater before sending his kid home with the aunt. Flower’s been following him for the last thirty minutes around Jersey and she’s pretty sure he’s figured out he has a tail. Either that or he’s being real cautious because he’s been circling.” The whole time Shoo talks, Tab is standing stoically in the corner of the main living area, listening intently, ready to move out at a moment’s notice.

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