Page 107 of When He Hunts

Ronan drove along the narrow path, pulling right in front of a two-story boat storage facility. Lights shone from inside the cavernous warehouse, and he eased the vehicle past the open doors, parking right inside. Ronan killed the engine.

When he exited the car, he had the hoodie up on his borrowed sweatshirt. He wore jeans, and his gun was tucked into the waistband, hidden right under the thick shirt. Another gun was strapped to his ankle. That one was hidden beneath the left leg of his jeans. He also had two listening devices strategically placed on his body. Two because Gray believed in being thorough.

Three figures moved toward him. Two were big, rough-looking men. Tattoos on their necks. One with a scraggly beard. The other with a thinning hairline and eyebrow piercings. Between those two men? Marcus Aeros.

In the freaking flesh.

And Marcus was staring at Ronan with absolute horror on his face.

Ronan smiled at him. “So, I heard you wanted to see me.”

“Shoot him!” Marcus screamed.

His two guards fumbled for their guns. “Why would you want to do that?” Ronan asked. “Especially when I brought your target to you.”

“Stop!”A roar from Marcus.

Shoot. Stop. Make up your mind, Marcus.

The men stared in confusion.

“You’re a fucking idiot,” Marcus told him. Then he laughed. “Don’t shoot him. I want to play.” He shoved the man with the thinning hair and eyebrow piercings. “Go search him. Take away every weapon he has.”

Ronan stepped away from the car. “Is this any way for a businessman to act?”

“Businessman, my ass,” Marcus threw back. “Youkilledmy cousin.”

“Well, in my defense, he was trying to kill me. I get annoyed when people do that shit. Lethally annoyed.”

The goon who’d been sidling toward him stilled.

In the next breath, Ronan had his gun out. And aimed right at Marcus. “I can kill you before they can shoot me.” Not bragging. Just stating a fact. “But I didn’t come here to kill you. I came here to do business.”

“You lied!” Marcus heaved forward. “You said you killed Luna Black! You didn’t!”

“Ah, that’s right. You hired me to kill her.”

“Damn straight, I fucking did!”

Confess, confess, confess.

“Only you didn’t do the job. I got word that she was still alive. Pretending to be your wife or some shit.” He laughed. “I put hits on you both. Don’t know why your fool ass is here or what happened to Cameron, but I am sure as hell gonna enjoy what comes next.” His grin stretched from ear to ear. “You are going to beg me for death before I am done with you.”

Doubtful. “I don’t typically beg for anything.”

“You will,” Marcus assured him. “They all beg. By the time I’m done cutting them, by the time I throw them in the waters I’ve already chummed, people beg! They bleed and they beg, and they don’t come up from the water. That’s gonna be you. A watery freaking grave. You and that bitch.”

Oh, now why did you have to call her that?“I was trying to have a civilized conversation.”

“Uh, boss?” It was the hulking goon. The one who was nervously eyeing the car. “Is there a woman in the trunk? Should we get her out?”

“Yes.” A decisive nod from Marcus. “Get her out. Let’s play.”

No one is playing with Luna.“I’m sorry, but there seems to be confusion here. See, I wasn’t paid for killing Luna Black. So Luna Black is still living.” He kept his weapon up and aimed at Marcus. “And no one else will be killing Luna, either.Not until I get my payment.”

Marcus gaped at him. “Are you serious? That’s why you’re here tonight? You came for your money?”

“I’m here tonight for three reasons.” His gun never wavered as he talked his ass off—and got Marcus to keep right on confessing. The Feds had damn well better be getting every word. “Reason one, I want my money.”

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