Page 41 of Stone Cold Bad
Through the haze, I heard Ray unlock his liquor cabinet.My mind drifted in and out of reality.One minute, I was leaned over his desk trying to plunge a letter opener into his face, and the next, I was safe and secure in Colt’s arms.That vision and the reality that I’d lost Colt forever made me curl into a ball of quiet hysteria.Now, my only hope was that Ray would get drunk enough to kill me.I wanted the end to come soon so that I didn’t have to endure the excruciating heartbreak.
It was clear to me that I was never meant to have any happiness in my life.My childhood and teen years had been one long string of disappointments.Then I’d ended up with this monster.With Colt, I’d finally found someone that made me feel that life was worth living.And now, because of my sordid past, he was gone.
I stumbled off the couch.Ray turned around just as I grabbed a glass from his liquor cabinet.I smacked it on the side of his desk to give it jagged edges, deadly shards just sharp enough to cut a throat.Ray stepped back.But it wasn’t his throat I was heading for.I shoved the glass toward my neck.Ray’s eyes widened, and he lunged for the glass.I put a gash in my shoulder as he knocked it from my hand.
He stared at me.“You had it all here.Money.An easy life.”
Tears clouded my vision.“Life with you was never easy.But when you started drinking, it became unbearable.”
Ray’s jaw tightened.He tossed back the bourbon and slammed his glass on the desk.“We’ll see just how unbearable I can be.”He reached for me as there was a knock at the door.He stopped.I used the pause to step out of his reach.His silent, menacing glare stopped my retreat.
“Yes?”he called sharply.
One of the men from outside poked his head into the office.Ray had obviously hired a whole new crew for protection.I was sure it had to do with the miserable failure of his men the night I’d made a run for it.Overwhelming sadness washed over me again as I thought back to that night, the night I’d ended up in Colt’s arms.
“What is it?”Ray asked.
The man stepped inside.He was armed with a large handgun, a ridiculous contrast to the expensive, crisp suit he was wearing.He looked more prepared for a business meeting than protecting a lowlife bookie from all the people who wanted him dead.“Sir, the man who gave you information is here to collect his ten thousand dollar reward.”
A derisive laugh shot from Ray’s mouth.“Is he?Fucking mercenary.Tell him to get the fuck off of my property.If he doesn’t leave, shoot him.”
The man looked shocked.
I glanced over at Ray.“God, you’ve really lost your fucking mind.”
He ignored my barb and glared at the man who hadn’t moved yet.
“Well, is there something else?”
The man shook his head.He seemed to be thinking the same thing as me.“Nope.I’ll go ask him to leave the property.”With that he turned and left.
Ray faced me.“Next time one of my men is within earshot, you keep that pretty mouth shut.Now, where were we?”
TWENTY-NINE
COLT
Iwiped most of the blood away from my face, but every time I talked or moved, it seemed to start flowing again.With my state of mind and body, for that matter, I wasn’t thinking too straight.None of us were, it seemed.We were moving purely on adrenaline and anger.There had been no plan made, just a quick ambush.We pulled up to the street.Ward’s massive house peered up over the tall trees.
Slade leaned down to get a view past a long, leafy branch.“I see some men standing out on the lawn.Looks like he’s got guys positioned all around the place.”He pushed his face farther forward.“Wait.What the fuck is he doing there?”
“You going to let us in on your solo conversation?”Hunter asked.
“It’s that asshole who’s been picking up our cargo.”
“Ace?Are you sure?”I asked.
Slade squinted to make sure.“Yep, that’s him.”
“That asshole.He was asking questions about Jade on our last drop.”
Hunter looked at me in the backseat.“You never said anything.”
“He had the flyer with her picture and the reward offer.He was asking me while he had his gun against my head.I told him I didn’t know her, but he’d already been asking around about her and people had mentioned my name.I guess we have him to blame for the whole thing going down like this.”
Hunter turned forward.“He must be at the house to collect his reward.”He pulled the guns out from the glove box.Unfortunately, mine was still at the cottage.But Slade and Hunter had theirs, and I was armed with enough rage and determination that I wasn’t going to need one.
Slade checked his bullets.“Been awhile since we needed to use these.”There was an edge of hesitation in his voice.We’d been in plenty of fights, but a brawl always took on a whole different layer when everyone was armed.And keeping the police out of it was going to be impossible.
