Page 60 of Ride with the Devil

She shrugs. “I’ve been thinking about it for a while. I like the idea of going out with a bang. When this is all done, the Hummingbird is going to retire.”

“You don’t have to do that because of me.”

“I know. Killing was fun for a while, but I was getting bored. You know me, ace. I don’t like to be bored. Luckily, I found someone who entertains me.” She taps my bicep. “I get a kick out of corrupting you. BUt don’t worry. If you need me, I’ll be there. One of us can be a killer from time to time.”

And it doesn’t have to be me.

Thou shall not?—

“Come on.” Cross shakes his head. “This is ridiculous. We know Winter’s still sneaking around Springfield. For the first time in months, we know he’s around. I think we should take her out, then handle Winter and the Snowflakes on our own.” His voice drops, almost deadly quiet. “He tried to hurt Genevieve. I can’t let him go after him again.”

If Winter’s dead, Cross won’t have to worry about that.

Too bad the overprotective, possessive artist isn’t thinking rationally. He’s thinking about his butterfly, and how far he’ll go to protect her.

How do I know? Because the moment Cross lifts his gun again, aiming it at Kylie, I drawmine.

Have I ever aimed my Ruger at another person? No. But if he thinks that he’s going to shoot this woman in front of me?

We canbothbe killers.

Cross narrows his gaze on the barrel of my gun. “This how you gonna get your next slash, Luca?”

Luca, I notice. Not ‘wheels’ anymore.

I guess that makes sense. I do have a gun on him.

My hand is steady, the gun focused on Cross’s chest. “If you threaten Kylie again, it might be.”

“Drop the gun, Luca,” rumbles Devil. “Don’t make a stupid choice, kid. He’s one of us.”

“So was Twig,” I remind the boss, “but you didn’t hesitate to put him down when he disrespected Ava.”

“She’s my wife. My fucking heart. I love her. Of course I did.”

“And I’ll do the same.”

Rolls mutters a curse under his breath. Officer Coleman inches a couple of steps away from Cross.

He’s not even looking at the gun. No. His gaze is on my face. “You love her, Luca?”

That’s too mild of a word for how I feel about Kylie Ferguson. I’mobsessedwith her.

I know it’s fast. I know we only just met. I know she’s a contract killer who lied to me about who she really was.

And, like I said, I don’t give a fuck about that. Because she’s Kylie, and she’smine.

But how can I say all that? With a room full of people, and half of them looking like they’re ready to turn their weapons on me now?

I drop the Ruger. “Yeah. I love her.”

Cross nods. His eyes are still dark with rage, but his voice calms as he says, “Then I guess that’s good enough for me. Come on. Let’s blow up that sick motherfucker before he can hurt any more of us.”

And that’s how my future with Kylie Ferguson hinges on faking one death, and pulling off another.

No fucking pressure.

NINETEEN

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