Page 40 of The Forbidden Secret

His eyes darkened as she turned her back and walked straight out of the shop.

The pieces clicked together in an instant as he followed her out of the storefront, trailing a few yards behind. She walked casually before offering me a wink.

I understoodexactlywhat she was doing now.

I pulled out a large-hilted hunter’s knife and slid into the backseat of the car, waiting for the perfect moment. If we couldn’t get answers inside the shop, we’d get them another way, and Jaimie was smart enough to play this man like a fucking fiddle.

She reached the driver’s side of the car and opened the door. When the man reached her, he grabbed her arm and whipped her around. Jaimie looked back at the store, checking one more time that she was not being watched, before smiling.

“All brawn and no brain is not good in this business.”

Only a flicker of surprise filled his eyes before she struck. She turned and reached behind him, grabbing the back of his head and slamming it into the car.

I slid out immediately, holding the hunter’s knife to the man’s throat. “Make a noise, and I will slit your fucking throat right now.”

He didn’t say a word as I walked to the back of the car and opened the trunk. He looked between us as I pushed him inside, and without a moment’s hesitation, I slammed the hilt of the knife against his temple, effectively rendering him unconscious.

* * * *

The blood dripped into the sink, lightening with each second I scrubbed at my hands and arms. I watched as the light pink turned clear, and I pumped out more soap, rubbing it beneath my fingernails.

“Useless prick,” Jaimie said as she stared into the mirror and ground her teeth. She stitched a small cut on her hairline, drawing a tear from her eye as her nose twitched. “We should have kept him hanging longer.”

I couldn’t disagree.

“Do you need help with the knot?” I asked as she did the second stitch and pulled it tight.

She only shook her head as I turned off the water and faced the guard’s body on the floor of this abandoned building. He had given usnothing.Other than talking about how powerful and important his boss was, there was no information to glean. I had been optimistic this time. He clearly worked at Clide’s side, so he had to have heardsomething.

But Clide was secretive enough to keep everyone around him unaware of his plans and dealings.

Jaimie exhaled as she knotted the thread and cut the tail from the stitch.

When we had opened the trunk, he had swung a plastic box at Jaimie, and it had split open her head. He didn’t land any more blows, and Jaimie certainly took it out on his hide.

“I’m done trying to appease Giovanni,” I admitted.

She raised her hands in defense. “I’m just contracted to help you in whatever way you need. If we are killing the motherfucker, I’m not going to argue with you.”

I had thought a lot about it. I had considered all the angles, and the only one that guaranteed we could get Evelina away was killing Clide Newton. He came after her so zealously because he didn’t think he had any substantial opposition. He was expending resources but not expecting to lose anything in the process. Realistically, even if I declared myself a threat, he wouldn’t care. I was one man compared to his thousands.

I knew what I had to do, and after another dead end, there was really only one option.

“I’m going to end this.”

Chapter Sixteen

Evelina Bianchi

Zeke lookedpissed.

I wondered if it was because of another day without any relevant information, but as he tossed his phone at me, not tearing his gaze from mine, I looked down at it and raised a brow.

“I’m sorry, why am I holding your phone?” I asked with a small chuckle.

“There was a voicemail left for you.”

My heart sank into my stomach as I considered the only person who had his number—the only one who I had called with his phone.

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