Page 13 of What Doesn't Kill Us

Lilith looks at me, and then we all look at each other for a few moments.

Then I smile, a zing of electricity zipping up my spine as I reply, “Looks like it’s our turn to fuck around and find out.”

Chapter Six

Toni

TonyandMattarepissed.

When we return from our shopping excursion, I give them a brief rundown on how we want to proceed. That we could easily move forward without them puts a serious twist in their panties, but in the end, they decide they want to stick around. Lilith made it clear they’re expected to stay firmly on our side of the fence, and if we find out they’re playing both sides, they will be permanently eliminated. They both glance at me like they expect me to interfere; however, I remain quiet and unflinching in my support of Lilith.

The fact of the matter is, we’ve wasted too much time being divided on what our key priority is. Looking for Darius, protecting me, and searching for answers. Well, we know where Dare is now, and I no longer need protecting. That leaves one primary goal. Figuring out which questions are most imperative and getting them answered.

Our first line of business is figuring out exactly who Agatha is and then determining whether she’s a friend or foe. Lilith insists she’s a foe, but I can’t help but be curious about what her motivations are, given most of our family is dead. If all she wants is power, she can have it. Frankly, Lilith and I are both sick and tired of the constant push and pull of this life, so if she wants to come in and lord over the underworld, she can take it.

Meanwhile, the extra muscle Lilith requested from Mickey arrived in short order, and I’m a little impressed. Lilith says she’s known most of them for her entire adult life, and she’s correct that you cannot buy loyalty. I was even more surprised to find a few women on the crew. At first, I thought they were spouses or partners of the men, but this assumption was quickly corrected, and they all laughed in my face.

Even knowing firsthand how tough women can be, I’m still susceptible to the typical stereotypes that women carry. As if all they’re good for is arm candy and decoration. I’m quite certain any of these women is highly capable of mass murder—stilettos or not.

I gave them strict instructions that if Tony made a pass at them; they were free to stop him in whatever way they saw fit. Of course, I gave this instruction in front of him, which earned me a solid glare.

Whatever, he can fuck off.

Matt wasn’t very successful in finding information on Agatha, which means we must be a bit more resourceful in how we gain the information we need. Since all of us are sick of sitting back and waiting for people to come to us, we decide to figure out a way to get to her first. It is difficult to track down a ghost, but not entirely impossible.

And that’s how I find myself hunkered down in an abandoned building across from another old, abandoned building, freezing my ass off, all for the slim chance someone of interest may walk by. So far, this whole staying out of sight and staying out of trouble thing is boring.

Carolina has had her own issues keeping Darius off her back since he made it clear he doesn’t, for one second, believe I took the information she gave me and did nothing. She finally told him he could think whatever he wanted, but she would say nothing to him about it, so he might as well save it for someone he could control. Apparently, that didn’t go over very well, but I’m happy to report that Carolina gives no fucks.

It was through Carolina we got this tip that Darius was going to be meeting a contact at some point tonight. We were given a few locations for said meeting, requiring us to be spread across the city, hoping one of us would be in the right place at the right time. We know the odds are not in our favor and we’re likely wasting our time, but lately all we have is time, so we do what we can.

I’m not sure how long I’ve been sitting here, but it’s fucking cold. My toes are going numb, and I’m pressing my hands into my armpits, trying to warm them up. I’m muttering to myself about how stupid this entire plan is when movement in the distance catches my attention. I lean closer, trying to get a better look and make out the silhouette of a large-ish person walking toward the other vacant building. Digging out my night-vision binoculars, I zero in on the shadowy figure, suppressing my urge to crow in delight when I make out the distinctive features of one Darius Hughes.

I search through my pile of burner phones until I find the one I’m looking for, then send a message off to the group, letting them know I’m tonight’s lucky winner. I ping them my location to remind them of where I am and then turn my attention back to Dare.

I watch him disappear into the warehouse, then I carefully exit this building and creep through the shadows to a vantage point where I can see the doorway he disappeared through. A few minutes go by, then a car pulls up, and I press myself tight against the building as a woman exits from the rear of the vehicle. She follows the same path into the warehouse as Dare, and I briefly contemplate making a move before she can enter the building.

If the vehicle she arrived in had driven off, I likely would have taken my chances, but all the unknowns make it too risky, so I sit back and watch her disappear into the warehouse.

I send another message, letting them know there are now two people in the building and a vehicle with an unknown number of occupants parked on the curb. I sneak around the outside of the building and make my way toward the back in search of another entrance.

The total area appears to be deserted: an oddity given these types of lots typically attract the homeless. I come to a door and try the handle, finding it’s unlocked. This is slightly suspicious, but having no other option, I ease the door open and squeeze my way in, shutting it silently behind me.

I enter a small office area that’s barely illuminated by the light coming through the window. I walk to the doorway and peer around the corner into the hallway. It’s pitch-black, and I wince at the thought of having to go out there. I consider using the night-vision goggles I have in my bag, but reconsider, given the likelihood of someone flipping on a light and blinding me to a target.

I slowly edge my way through the doorway out into the darkness, then painstakingly tiptoe down the dark hallway, listening intently for any kind of sound that would lead me toward Darius. As my eyes adjust to the blackness, I make out faint shapes, and after a few moments of moving at a crawl, I come to a dead-end. Figuring I missed a right-hand turn somewhere, I switch to the other side of the hallway, then backtrack the way I came until I run into a break in the wall. I pause, listening intently, then hang a left down the hallway, but I still hear nothing other than the hum of some type of ventilation system.

A bang resounds around me, stopping me dead in my tracks, and I tilt my head, attempting to focus my hearing on the direction the noise came from. I continue down the hall slowly, then pick up my pace a bit as I hear the faint murmuring of voices in the distance. I follow the sound of the voices as they become louder, and I make out a dim light up ahead as I get closer. Getting low, I creep in the shadows until I’m right at the doorway and peek around the corner before ducking back into the shadows again.

I can’t make out what they’re saying in their hushed tones, but neither appears to be happy to be speaking to the other. There’s silence for a few minutes, and I chance another peek, doing a double-take when I see those two fuckers embracing in what appears to be a rather passionate lip-lock.

My blood boils in my veins, and even though I hear the voice of reason in the back of my head telling me not to be fucking stupid, I pull my gun and release the safety. Darius has his back to me, and from the way they’re focused on each other, I’d be surprised if they even knew I was there. And if they catch sight of me, it’s going to be too fucking late.

I briefly consider getting close enough to kill them both with the same bullet, but then I remember what a vindictive bitch I am and how I wouldn’t want anyone to get off the hook too easily for being a two-timing motherfucker.

I sidle up right beside them, raising my gun and pressing the barrel firmly against her temple.

“Don’t move.”

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