Page 16 of Sleeper

“Go ahead. Shoot me. That’s a smart idea isn’t it, big boy? Shoot the only person who has the information you need.” Her eyes rolled. “It doesn’t matter to me if I die. You’d be doing me a favor. So, c’mon, put me out of my misery.”

“What about the guns?” Tin Man asked while I lowered my weapon. Her head cocked to the side.

“What guns?”

“The ones you stole.”

“I didn’t steal shit! I only came here to help my best friend get clean and they turned me into a fucking junkie instead.” Her head whipped around, and her amber brown eyes stared at me through her long eyelashes. There was no reason to believe what she said, but the sincerity in her voice was undeniable. I might regret it, but I trusted what she said to be true.

“The fuck happened to you?” Sac asked as he poked her swollen cheekbone while she glared at him.

“Willie happened to me. That’s why I said I don’t fucking care if you put me down. If I leave here, I’ll become a killer and I don’t want to do that and I can’t if I’m dead.”

“My…I mean Willie did that to you?”

Her head jerked backward, and her eyelids batted. “Did I fucking stutter, Sleeper?” She spoke my name as her eyes fixated on the name on my cut. Rage shot through my body and my fingertips shook. My dad had a mean streak, there was no denying that, but I never thought he’d beat a woman.

“What happened?” I asked in a grave voice, my disappointment unmistakable.

“I’m not sure. They kept me drugged and there was a fight.”

“Did he do that to your face?” I growled, my hand cupping her chin and my veins icing over, knowing the answer before she responded. Her features softened, but only for a second as she sighed and then nodded.

“Or at least I think he did? I don’t know,” she admitted. I didn’t know her, but even if she was a petty thief, she didn’t deserve this. He was a dead man walking on borrowed time when we suspected he took our guns, but his time just ran out. Savage rage tore through my body and my vision blurred, while I looked at the multi-colored bruises across her skin. A sense of possessiveness surged through my veins and my fingers balled into fists.

A phone ringing broke my fiery trance from her. Tin Man’s hand disappeared behind his cut, and he answered it on the second ring. “This better be important.” He paused as his mouth formed a thin line and a shit eating grin quickly replaced it. “You’ll never guess who is back in Cleveland.” He stuffed his phone back into his pocket and his smile widened.

“No fucking way he’s that stupid.”

“Oh yes the fuck he is.”

13

VERA

“You’re coming with us.” Sleeper’s green eyes glared at me. “Interview is over.”

“Fucking finally,” I groused, not giving a damn if it was or not. I had him right where I wanted him. I was going to lie through my teeth, but as soon as I found his weak spot, I told the truth instead. Well, mostly. They all thought I was Kenzi and I didn’t correct them. Maybe I should have but fuck the whole lot of them. The mere fact that they were looking for Kenzi meant they were guilty by association in my book.

I wasn’t the only one deceiving someone in this room. This was a set up. They weren’t there to interview me for a job of any sort. The only things they were concerned with was Willie and Kenzi. None of it was a coincidence, but I didn’t know how it was intertwined. Not yet anyway. My new life’s mission was to get to the bottom of this, even if it cost me my life.

14

VERA

“Ihave my own place to sleep.” I argued with Sleeper, slipping my fingertips under his and pried. His grip tightened around my forearm.

“Doesn’t matter. I might not think you’re entirely at fault, but I won’t let you go either.” He groaned when my nails dug into the top of his hand. “For fuck’s sake, Kenzi. Hold still. I don’t want to hurt you but I will if I have to.”

“You don’t have to. Just fucking release me!” I kicked his shin and he yelped.

“I can’t. Every time I do you attack me,” he said, gritting his teeth together.

“You deserve it. This is the third time I’ve been kidnapped in my life, and I can’t fucking breathe. Okay? I can’t take it anymore. I would rather die than go through this again!”

“I’m not fucking kidnapping you.” He sighed, letting my arm go as soon as we were through the door. He turned to lock the door and stood in front of it.

“But you aren’t letting me leave.”

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