Page 65 of Ride with the Devil

Luca’s father stares in horror as he shouts nonsense that I tune out.

Ignoring the noise, I march around the desk and put another bullet through Donovan’s brain for good measure.

I’m sure the two shots ringing out will catch the rest of the settlement’s attention. Now that I did the first part of what I came here to do, it’s time I finish up and catch the next flight out to Florida like I planned.

But first I give Mr. St. James an appraising look.

On my way over, I thought about eliminating his parents if I had the chance. Donovan was my main target, but if I could find them… they’d be excellent candidates for my special brand of justice, too. For fuck’s sake, theybrandedLuca. They twisted him up over his sexuality, and sat back as this creep preyed on a girl young enough to be all of their daughters. When Luca tried to save her, they disowned him, only trying to bring him back to their fold when the precious prophet told them to.

A man of God? Hell, no. Between the golden church, the golden altar, and the diamond-encrusted cross hanging in this office, he couldn’t be further than the truth. He’s a con man. A cheat. A cheater.

A fraud.

And now he’s dead.

By some stroke of luck, I found Luca’s father. I should kill him, too. He’d deserve it, but you know what? That would be too easy. Let him know that his son escaped. That he found a partner who is willing to kill for him.

That he’s living a good life working for a man called Devil, while they worship a false prophet who tried to use his own wife and child as a human shield when he saw my gun.

So I don’t kill him. Leaving him to live this sorry existence without Luca? That’s justice enough.

Giving him a dismissive look while still clutching my gun, I move toward the wall. Stepping over Donovan’s corpse, ignoring the way that Emily’s scream becomes a gasp as she rushes out of my reach.

Not like I was heading toward her anyway. I just needed to get a little closer, then to jump a little higher, and— yes! I’ve snatched the diamond cross off the wall.

“I’ll be taking this with me, thank you.”

Emily nods abruptly, as if giving me permission.

Hiding on the other side of the room, Mr. St. James points a trembling finger at me. “You can’t do that!”

Watch me.

“Who do you think you are?” demands Luca’s father. “Stop this instant!”

“Me?” I hook the thumb on my free hand through a loop in my jeans. The other taps against the butt of my gun. “I’m the Hummingbird. And unless you want me coming back here, you’ll forget you ever saw me. And if I do come back? I’ll take the rest of Donavan with me.”

I’m banking on these cultish idiots seeing how easily I killed their precious leader and realizing that if his ‘faith’ couldn’t save him, they don’t have a chance. To be fair, I should just shoot them all now. Bam. Bam. Bam. When I remember the brutal scar on Luca’s arm, my trigger finger twitches. And Emily…

I shift my weight, swiveling the barrel of the Ruger from Luca’s father to Luca’s ex.

She pales, hugging her infant close to her chest, shielding as much of the small body with her own.

I drop the gun.

“Find a better husband,” I tell her, a tiny bit of remorse tugging on my heartstrings. For all I know, Donovan was Emily’s Jason. Though, if that was the case, then I did her a favor by killing that cheating POS.

However, before she gets any ideas in that pretty blonde head of hers, I make sure to add: “But not Luca. He’smine.”

TWENTY-ONE

REUNITED

LUCA

In Springfield, when one enemy disappears, another is quick to take its place.

That’s what comes of being a well-known criminal hotspot. When the lawlessarethe low, it’s obvious that those looking to profit will challenge those at the top.

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