Page 30 of The Fall Guy

“What’s happening here, ladies?” Felix asks, coming to join, followed by two guys from his crew.

I curse under my breath. The last thing I want is to be caught between two gangs. Giving up my pretence, I ditch the towel and head for the door. It’s been years since I felt intimidated, and I won’t be starting again now.

Felix shoves into me, making Max and Kaden get to their feet.

“Woah. No need to turn up the heat.” I try to escape, but Felix has other ideas. He throws the first punch. I duck so he hits one of the metal bars on the bench. His two cronies make a grab for me, but I’m fast. I slip out of reach, but not before Max and Kaden start pounding on Felix.

I’m standing in the doorway with a clean escape in view but the two other members of Nickel are approaching, and Kaden may lose his advantage. Latching onto one of their backs I wrestle him to the ground. I land a few punches before his mate pulls me off. I’m kicking and bucking as they try to put me down.

A whistle sounds, and everyone scrambles to their feet, trying to look casual as the guards enter.

“What’s going on in here?” the governor asks.

None of us speak as we line up like naughty school children. The governor gets in all of our faces, but nobody bites when she seeks answers. She’s left with no choice; she has to let us go even though she’s aware something just went down.

Max is the first to catch me up. “You should consider joining us. The Cyclones would easily welcome you into the fold,” he says.

Max didn’t technically ask me a question, so I don’t voice my opinion. I try not to react as I meet his eyes. I’m a loner. Joining a gang is eventually going to lead to me doing something I don’twant to do. It’s better I stay away from that scenario as it won’t end well.

Kaden is close behind us. He trips over his own foot before stumbling into the wall. “What the fuck was that?” I ask when he finally catches up. He knows I’m not talking about his clumsiness.

“I thought you might need some help.” His smile is smug and I’m guessing this has something to do with me calling him weak. At least I know where he stands now, he thinks there is strength in numbers. It should’ve been obvious really; he is in a gang.

“I had it handled,” I grumble. We move away from Max toward our cell, and he doesn’t follow.

“Felix is a big mother fucker.” Kaden is looking at the situation too logically. Yes, Felix is huge, but he’s slow and not very bright. His strength can be overpowered with a little creativity.

“And Max is a psychopath.” We enter our cell as I make the flippant comment.

“Says the man who kills people for a living.” His voice holds anger.

I get right up in his face. “Just because we had a wank together, doesn’t make us best buds.”

He squares up to me. “You saved me. I was just repaying you the favour.”

“No, what you were doing was initiating me into a gang. I’m a lone wolf, I’m not in need of a pack.” I grit my teeth.

“Would it be so bad to have someone watching your back?” He bares his teeth.

“Yes,” I snap back.

“I don’t get you. First, you try to kill me, then you’re flirting, and then you’re avoiding me like a friend you can’t shake.”

I pause. Some of the anger I was feeling disperses. “Yeah, well, you’re not the only one confused by my actions. I could’ve just done the job and got paid.”

“Then why didn’t you?” he raises his voice.

I falter.

That’s the ultimate question here, the one I’ve been trying to figure out all this time. I’m not one to catch feelings or leave a job undone. I’m a ruthless killer. I depend on no one and need for nothing outside my own unit. I’m my own best friend and worst enemy.

“Because I like you, okay? There I said it.”

He looks at my lips, and my heart starts to pound. My black soul wants more from Kaden than anyone before. This is worse than any counterattack. I’m a loner and don’t need him to be looking at me like that. Why couldn’t he have been an easy lay and then maybe I could’ve moved on. My infatuation would’ve hopefully fizzled out.

He pulls me forward, and my lips come crashing into his. They’re as soft as I expected but also punishing. He kisses me hard like it’s the last one he’s ever going to get. Our mouths move together in unison, and he slips me a bit of tongue.

The door to our cell is wide open, and anyone could walk in at any minute. He doesn’t seem to care, but I force him away.

---