Page 197 of Hidden Ties

“I guess you’re not as stupid as I thought. That’s a fair price … for an amateur.”

“I’m no amateur. I’ve taken plenty of people out.”

“Then you got short-changed. Professionals charge at least a hundred grand, if they’re good. I can make up the difference.”

Link’s dull eyes grew interested.

“I can give each of you three hundred grand. You can pack your bags and leave Kansas City.”

“I like that deal, Link,” Chris spoke up.

“We aren’t taking his deal.” Link smirked. “I can come up with a better deal. You and Tripp take big talker here to the ATM at the bank down the block, and he can bring us that three hundred grand. I’ll stay here and keep Sage company.”

“I’m afraid that doesn’t work for me. Since you probably have never had enough money to have an account, ATMs don’t give out amounts above five hundred dollars.”

Tripp shoved Chris when he tried to take the gun out of his hand. “Shit, five hundred isn’t worth me walking down the steps.”

Link shrugged. “I’m good at making the hundred grand, and I can stay home.”

“Link, where is Tayla?” Sage asked, fear for her friend overriding her fear of Link.

“She’s in the bathroom, like she told you. The bitch didn’t want to lie to you, so I made it where she didn’t have to.”

“I want to go check on her … is that okay?”

“Sure.” Link used his gun to motion where he wanted Creed to go. “Go sit on the couch.”

“I could use a glass of water, if you don’t mind.”

“Chris, go get him a glass of water. It’ll give him something to do while I go fuck his bitch.”

Chris went into the kitchen at the same time Creed took her arm, leading her to the couch, turning his back on the men still standing in the doorway. If she hadn’t turned to look over her shoulder to see the men’s reaction of Creed taking her with him, she would have missed Creed pulling out another gun from his side waistband.

In one sharp move, he pushed her toward the couch as he spun around and pulled the trigger.

Turning her face on the couch cushion, she saw Link holding his bloody hand up, the hand that had been holding the gun, and Tripp lying on the ground, unmoving.

“Shit.” Chris came running from the kitchen, waving his gun shakingly. “What …?”

Creed fired his gun again, sending Chris falling back against wall. His lifeless eyes stared at her as he slid down the wall with a bullet hole in the middle of his forehead.

Another shot went off. Sage looked back to Creed to see who he was shooting at and saw Link holding his bloody knee.

“You try to touch that gun again, I’ll aim higher,” Creed coldly threatened as he went to gather Chris’ gun before moving to pick up the two guns Tripp had.

Squatting down next to Link, he removed the gun lying next to him. Then he stood up and laid the guns on the coffee table, leaving the one he had taken from his waistband still in his hand.

“You okay, Sage?”

“Yes.” Sitting up, she stared at the carnage in the room.

“The security detail should be here any minute.”

“How do they know to come?”

“I told them I would text them if everything was okay. I never texted.”

“Can I go check on Tayla?”

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