Page 44 of One Kill

“Where’s everyone else?” I need to know who’s on what and where so I can at least attempt to tackle this like any other situation we deal with.

“Fizz has been sent home, but she insisted we keep her up to date with what’s going on. Crank basically forced her to leave after she had a panic attack. You know how she is when kids are involved, it’s a big trigger for her. Crank’s in the garage outside with Binx, fueling up some of the vehicles and checking everything’s good to go.” Gotta say, Crank doing this is always amazing. The one and only time he didn’t, I got pulled over by the police because of a broken tail light, with a dead body in the trunk. Thank fuck it happened to be one of the cops Marco pays very well to keep quiet about what goes on in The City. “Glitch is in the computer room doing his thing if you wanna check in to see if we have anything new before heading out.”

Nodding my thanks, I head for Glitch’s work room, knocking once before entering.

He barely looks up from the computer screen to see who’s come in. “Hey, Boss.” He doesn’t look like he belongs in front of a computer screen. In fact, he’s great to have in the field when we need an extra hand, but this is his happy place. Despite his bulky, tattooed frame, he’d rather hide away than be out there in the real world. All of my Reapers have their own stories, their own tragedies and traumas, and that’s just one reason we work so well together.

“Anything new to report, G?” I sit myself down on the small couch against the back wall, it’s more of a perch, really.

“Kind of. I’ve got a trace on Riley’s cell and I’ve been able to hack into it.” Rubbing the back of his neck, he swivels in his chair to face me, the tap tap tapping of the keyboard now silenced. “According to his messages with his dad, they’ve had eyes on you for a couple of weeks. You keep disappearing on them, and this was their only option. They don’t plan on hurting the girl, but they are trying to lure you into a trap so they can kill you. It seems that they don’t know who you work for though, which gives us a little advantage. If they want to maintain the tentative peace, that is.”

Everyone seems to be dancing around in circles with the information. It’s all helpful, yet not even a little bit helpful. I’m frustrated as fuck with nobody to take all this rage out on.

“Your phone’s buzzing like crazy.” Glitch tilts his head toward my hand; I need to get ahold of myself and stay in the here and now, instead of imagining the Irish mob with heads on sticks.

Unknown:Fort Lee Soldier’s Cabin.

My fingers are trembling at the information. It could be nothing, but it could also be everything.

“Can you trace this message?” Composing myself very fucking well, if I do say so myself, I hand Glitch my cell.

“I can try, J.”

“Good, because whether it’s a trap or not, the crew and I are heading over to Fort Lee.”

Sitting around on my ass gathering information is making me feel about as productive as a wet napkin. The unknown texter has either handed me valuable information, or signed their own death warrant. Either way, I need to try.

My girl needs rescuing.

I just hope I don’t lose what I’ve built with her dad in the process.

Chapter Twenty-One

J

Thehour-longdrivetoFort Lee Soldier Cabin is monotonous and I didn’t even take the time to appreciate the view as I crossed the George Washington Bridge. It’s just after one in the morning now, but there are still more vehicles on the road than I’d like. Heading out of New York means we don’t have the same protections when bending the law.

Shoo, Tab, and Binx are in the van behind me, loaded up with our cleanup tools—guns and knives included, because ridding the Earth of scum is in the same category as cleaning up. My black bomber jacket is perfect for concealing the harness full of daggers across my ribs, and the straps around my thighs and calves over my tight black pants hold just as many. Even my chunky ankle boots are loaded, and I have a gun on each hip. Gotta say, it’s not super comfortable driving while this heavily armed, but comfort is the least of my priorities.

Flower texted just before we left to say she’d meet us there after some douche cut her off and made her lose the tail on Riley.

There’s no road to the Fort Lee Soldier Cabin, it’s part of a historical park site and in the middle of a copse of trees, like a mini forest. It’s been closed down for about a year, so we’re positive we won’t have any other people to contend with. Which is something we’re gonna have to hope luck is on our side for because CCTV around the area is non-existent.

I turn off the engine in the empty parking lot close to our destination, the van pulling in beside me, and I take in my surroundings once I’m out of the truck. The sky is dark, clouds rolling in, trees rustling as the wind whips through the branches, all of it adding to the somber mood that’s fallen over me and my Reapers tonight.

Marco Mancini has rules, and leaving kids out of mafia business is a hard one. If this rule was broken, even our mafia family would have consequences. The fact that the fucking Irish mob deems it acceptable has just signed their death sentence.

“Load up, boys. Let’s go see what kind of surprise is in store for us.” My stomach is bubbling with a fear I wish I could erase, but I won’t let those thoughts win out. I never do.

“Ready, Boss,” is echoed from Shoo, Tab, and Binx as the grumble of a Mustang makes me look up. Flower has arrived, stepping out of her car as soon as it’s parked and moving toward me.

“Sorry I lo—”

“Forget about it. Shit happens. We move on and find another way around it.” My words are firm, but without malice, and she accepts every one like the badass she is.

“Okay.” There’s no argument from her, she just nods once and holds her fist out for a bump, knowing I’d probably stab her in the tit if she went for a hug.

“Let’s go play!” Shoo is practically bouncing on his heels, waiting for us to begin our short trek to the cabin. Tab rolls his eyes, Binx shrugs, and Flower grins, excitement brimming through her veins.

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