Page 97 of Wrecked for Love
I stepped forward, my voice trembling. “Bobo…it’s me.” But his eyes didn’t show any recognition. Instead, he looked ready to tear me apart.
Gideon’s laughter echoed as I stumbled back. “Priceless!” he cried out, grinning. “Worth every bit of hassle to get that dog here, just to see the look on your face. Wouldn’t have had the same effect back in New York.”
My heart broke seeing Bobo so warped, so vicious.
“You’re a monster!” I lunged at Gideon, shoving him hard, but the guard pulled me back. I reminded myself I couldn’t afford to get hurt, so I stopped resisting.
“Everything and everyone can be trained, Claire. Just like you. A sweet little pet groomer turned into an assassin.”
“Sooner or later, this will all catch up with you!” I gritted. “And when that moment comes, Iwilltrain that dog to crave your blood!”
“Muzzle him!” Gideon ordered. “We don’t want the neighbors complaining.”
I steadied my breath. “I’m no use to you, Gideon. Let me go. I’ll disappear, not just from Montana but far enough that no one will ever hear about us again.”
“Oh, I’ve got plenty of use for you.”
“Release me, or you’ll be in deeper shit than you’ve ever imagined.”
Gideon continued playing with his knife, then raised his eyes to me. “You’re the only shit I care about right now, and trust me, I’m not worried. Don’t forget that you only bring death to those you love. Let’s not make this any harder, Claire. If you try anything between here and New York, the next one to die will be your boyfriend. What’s his name? Elia?”
I fought to keep my reaction in check. Elia was still alive!
Keeping my relief hidden, I gave Gideon exactly what he expected, something that came naturally to me—defiance. “Don’t you dare lay a finger on him!”
Satisfied, he asked, “And what are you going to do?”
I met his gaze. “As you said, anyone can be trained.”
Gideon studied me like I was some sort of contestant on trial. “You’ll make a good whore. A lot of my clients will pay a high price for a cunt like yours. Watching you writhing in resistance? Damn, I’d charge extra for that.” He ran the tip of his knife along my chin.
Lucien Voss, who had so far been a spectator, finally stepped forward. “Speaking of money, I believe payment is due. I don’t care about whatever business you have with this lovely lady, but our services end here,” he stated firmly.
“Absolutely,” Gideon replied, motioning for his men to stay with me as he readied himself to negotiate with Lucien.
Lucien smirked at me. “A boy’s gotta have his fun, huh? Round two, Claire, with or without you. Has a ring to it, doesn’t it?” He winked and clicked his tongue before vanishing into the room with Gideon.
But instead of engaging in talks, gunshots rang out. Even without witnessing the scene, I knew. A single shot for Lucien Voss, succeeded by two more for his companions.
I had just made it to the living room when Gideon approached me. “Don’t you feel like you’re already back in New York?”
41
ELIA
I reached Great Falls in what seemed like a heartbeat, my old truck thrumming beneath me as if my foot hadn’t left the pedal since I started.
As I neared a structure locals dubbed “Powerhouse,” it was clear the building hadn’t been empty for ages, contrary to what I’d been told. A faint glow spilled from its windows. Outside, three cars were haphazardly parked, and a lone figure loitered near one, likely a man left to watch over the premises.
Pushing my engine beyond its limits, the ice-coated road beneath me made every turn treacherous. I managed to drive a little farther before doubling back on foot, moving as stealthily as my rigid, tortured limbs allowed. The pain had become so familiar that it felt like a permanent part of me.
The man assigned to watch—probably just a driver—leaned casually against his vehicle, the dull glow of his cigarette flickering in the cold morning air. His shoulders were hunched, his hands were shoved deep into his pockets, and the occasional stomp of his boots made it clear that Montana’s winter was biting hard. His focus on staying warm was my advantage.
Testing the steadiness of my legs with Hank’s old brace, I could move more freely now, though it came at the cost of some support. Still, I pressed on. Creeping forward, I used the parked cars for both cover and balance. Step by step, I inched closer, the man unaware of my approach. By the time I was mere feet away, he still hadn’t noticed. So far—legs one, enemy nil.
Elegance wasn’t the priority, but efficiency was. With a swift, silent strike, I took him down. His body crumpled, a single surprised exhale escaping his lips—his only protest. It felt like a drill I’d rehearsed a thousand times.
I moved fast, stripping him of his cap, gloves, and jacket and putting them on before dragging his unconscious form toward the trunk of his car. The effort nearly bested me, my muscles screaming louder than my leg, but I wasn’t about to give in. Two–nil.
