Page 27 of Dominate

“Good riddance, Mr. James.”

Chapter Twenty-Eight

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

PAYNE

I’m a killer.

I repeat the words over and over in my head to remind me. There’s no denying the evil I’ve done in my lifetime, but it’s time I use my skills to do some good. As I stare down at the burner phone in my hand, I know there’s no going back. I have a job to do. One last kill, and I’m done. I’ll walk away from it and pray to God that she can forgive me. Either way, they will be safe. She will be avenged.

Taking a deep breath, I press call and wait for him to answer. I’ve got to keep my cool.

“Foxfire, you disappoint me.” I cringe at my codename.

“I apologize for the delay in updating you, Senator, but I believe I have valuable information that you will want.”

I’m going to make you pay for every touch you placed on her.

“Is that so?” His voice sounds full of humor.

You won’t be laughing when I gut you with my knife.

“Yes, I feel it is something that needs your immediate attention. I’m on my way to the airport. I can meet with you tomorrow, if you wish.”

“No, that won’t be necessary. I’m on a much overdue vacation. Tango recommended I visit Savannah, Georgia. You remember your friend, Tango, right?”

That motherfucker!

Tango and I’ve worked several international jobs together in the past. He’s ruthless in this business. He has a thirst for killing, unlike anyone I’ve ever known. Without hesitation, the man will take out anyone, even children. Tango’s messy and impatient…careless to the point of laughing at the slaughtering of innocent bystanders. It’s why I don’t work with him anymore. Even though he’s damn good at contract kills, he’s still not as good as me.

“You motherfucker! Call him off! Now! You’re dead! Do you hear me? Dead!” His sick laughter only fuels my murderous rage.

“You insult my intelligence, Foxfire. You failed me on this job. Since you couldn’t complete a simple task, I found someone who will. I can’t wait to have a little reunion with my stepdaughter. I hear she’s been keeping a secret from me. It appears she needs a lesson in respect.”

“Don’t you dare touch her!”

“Oh, trust me, I plan on doing much more than touching. Good day, Foxfire.”

Scrambling to start my truck, I’ve never felt so helpless in all of my life. I’m over three hours from her. What if he’s already there? Fear surges through my veins, chilling me like an icy cold death. As I swerve onto the highway, I frantically begin dialing Devyn’s number from my personal phone. She doesn’t know I have her number, so I pray she answers when I call.

Each long, drawn out ring makes me more and more insane. “FUCK! Pick up your fucking phone!” I scream into the speaker. Finally, on the fourth ring, her voice mail picks up. “Baby? It’s Payne! Grab Kason and run! Do you hear me? Run! He’s found you. Masterson’s found you!”

Immediately, I hit redial. Once again, I get her voicemail. “Goddamn it! Answer your phone! Please! Broderick knows where you are!! RUN!”

Horns loudly blare as I frantically jerk the wheel from lane to lane, passing cars like a deranged lunatic. I am so panicked I barely remember that I had also programmed Kyra’s number in my phone, too.

God, please let her be with her.

“Hello?” Her confused voice answers.

“Kyra? It’s Payne.”

“You have some fucking nerve calling me. How dare you walk-,” I don’t give her a chance to continue.

“Is Devyn with you?” I’m so terrified that I don’t even realize that I’d let the name slip.

“What did you just say?” Her voice is full of disbelief.

“She’s in danger, Kyra. Tell me she’s with you.”

“I’m not telling you anything!”

“Goddamn it, Kyra. Broderick’s found her. I’m trying to keep them safe. Are they with you?”

“Oh, my God!” she cries. “S-she’s at home. I’ve got Kason with me at my parents.”

Fuck!!

“When is the last time you talked to her? I can’t get her to answer her phone.”

“Her phone’s broken. I haven’t talked to her since I left this morning. Oh, God, Payne. You can’t let him hurt her. I’ve got to call the police.”

“No! No police! I can’t risk him doing something stupid if he’s caught off guard. Listen to me; you stay where you are, do you understand? I’m on my way to her now.”

“Please, hurry, Payne! He’ll kill her.” I end the call, dropping the phone into the seat beside me.

He’ll kill her.

Kill.

The word stabs me hard in the chest. It was all supposed to be a job, but it had become far more than that. She’d saved me. Now, it’s time for me to save her.

Hang on, baby. I’m coming.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

HONEY

Jesus! Kyra’s room is such a fucking pigsty. There’s no way in hell I’m going in there. Cringing at the filth, I quickly shut the door and resume with the rest of my cleaning. When I finally turn off the vacuum, I notice that the music in the living room is no longer playing. Damn it! The wiring in this house is so old that I’ve probably tripped a breaker again. As I walk down the hallway to investigate, confusion fills my head as a familiar scent invades my nose, causing a rush of panic to wash over me.

Calm down. It’s all in your head.

I continue walking to the front of the house when I notice, out of the corner of my eye, a black shadow move across the wooden floor of the living room. At first, I try to rationalize it, but the moment I see the expensive Italian leather shoe step forward, everything in my world falls apart. In complete terror, I drag my eyes upward, following the lines of the expensive, dark designer suit until I lock eyes with the monster that destroyed my life. Other than the few specks of grey blended in with his ebony hair, he looks precisely the same as he did the day I ran away.

No, no, no! How did he find me?

Stumbling over my feet, I frantically try to back away. A wide, wicked smile grows across his face.

Don’t look at him. You’ve got to get out of here.

As I redirect my eyes, they land on the framed photograph in his hand. It’s a recent picture of Kason I’d taken at his last birthday party.

God, please…no!

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