Page 25 of Five Fingers of Death

“You’d better get your ass over here now, man.”

“You’re there?”

“Uh…yep. Along with a really fucking scary dude who looks like he murders people for fun, and some guy who says he’s your boss.” He lowered his voice and it sounded like he was walking away. “What the fuck did you do?”

“Not a damn thing.”

“Could have sworn I was your boss.”

“Me too. How’s Holly?”

“You mean, besides the fact that she’s making everyone hot chocolate?”

I smirked at that, the tension easing slightly. “That’s my girl.”

“She put on fucking Christmas music.”

“At least she’s not freaking out.”

“It’s fucking July.”

“Ever heard of Christmas in July?”

He started muttering under his breath and then his voice sounded far away. “You can fucking relax, Noelle. I’m not here for you... No, I didn’t come here to profess my love to you!” Then he was back. “I swear to God, I will kill you for putting me in this situation. She thinks I’m in love with her.”

“It’s not like she’s going to fall for you.”

“No, but she might take a chainsaw to my balls. This woman is immensely scary. After that stunt I pulled, she thinks I’m here for her every time I show up.”

“I’m two minutes out. Just hold her off, and tell everyone else to back the fuck off.”

“You tell them,” he grumbled, ending the call.

Now that I knew she was safe, the tension eased in me somewhat. But there was still the question of who was after me and why. If this had anything to do with Rafe, I was going to reach into his grave and kill him again.

I parked outside the shop and rushed inside. The door bounced off the wall as I flung the door open. The moment I spotted her, my heart skipped a beat, and then I had her in my arms and was kissing her, holding her to me just to make sure this was real.

“Are you okay?” I asked.

“I’m fine. What happened? Who are these guys?”

I brushed a tendril of hair behind her ear and sighed, setting her on the ground. “Give me a minute.” Pressing my lips to her forehead, I turned to Cash and Knight. “What the hell is going on?”

Cash raised his chin slightly, his eyes flicking to Holly. “Senator Kavanaugh was shot and killed when he was trying to tell Kavanaugh something.”

“I heard.”

“And then Kavanaugh was shot.”

I nodded. I knew all this.

He seemed a little surprised that I knew any of this. “You’ve been MIA. Chase filled me in. What does this have to do with me?”

“We’re not sure yet. We pissed off someone. They?—”

Glass shattered as bullets riddled the front of the shop. I grabbed Holly and threw her to the ground, covering her body with mine. Glancing around, I saw Wyatt doing the same with Noelle. I grabbed the gun from the back of my jeans and dragged Holly over to the counter, hiding her behind it.

“Stay here and stay low!” I shouted over the noise.

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