Page 73 of Duchess
The call came in soon after and that’s when Emir Killic’s voice resounded in my head. “Since you like to play games, here’s one for you. If you don’t come and play with me, you’ll find your boyfriend splattered along Venice Beach.”
The phone fell silent, and I knew instantly that there was no way out of this one. Emir Killic was a cold-blooded killer. He’d used Caleb to lure me in, and in doing so he created his own demise because I wasn’t going to be deterred so easily.
No.
I was going to break every bone in his fucking body for this.
"How the fuck are we gonna get up there?" Obsidian whispered.
"By shooting at anybody who gets in our way." Paramore responded just like I knew she would.
Roulette came up beside us. "Wolf is on his way. We just need to keep them occupied until he arrives."
I registered what she was saying, but in the back of my mind, I knew I'd kill anything that got in my way. "Shoot to kill," I whispered.
"And leave Emir Killic for me."
Roulette grabbed my arm. "Are you sure you want to do this? That man up there, the one you've had a sudden change of heart for, wanted you dead at one point."
"Listen, love is a shitty ass feeling. But Caleb protected me from this monster until now. Even though I stole from him, I destroyed his shipments, and we killed several of his own, or don't you remember? If this is the only way I've got to pay him back, I’ll do it. I owe him that much."
“So you love him?” Roulette questioned.
“If you want to call our love/hate relationship, love. Then, yes, I love the asshole.”
Both Roulette and Obsidian looked at one another, but even if they didn't understand, I wasn't looking for their permission. I was asking for their loyalty.
"Watch your backs," I called out. "Shoot anyone who shoots at you and make that bullet count."
Paramore signaled for half the girls to follow her to the back of the building, the other half, including Roulette and Obsidian, followed me towards the side. It was easy to find an entrance since the building was under construction, but it was also just as easy to get hurt while going in blind.
"Watch your steps," I whispered as we propped open a side window and I slid in first. My boot slipped on a metal object, and I froze as the noise ricocheted throughout the empty lot.
"Fuck," I cursed as Roulette slid in beside me. "I can't see shit."
"Well, that was a way of announcing our arrival."
I shot her a sharp look that told her,don’t test me right now,and raised my weapon, sweeping it ahead and clearing the room. Without a word, the girls fell into step behind me. Roulette covered my six, her breath steady and close. Obsidian took the left flank, eyes sharp. Demise and Stiletto brought up the rear, all remaining in the shadows.
We moved in silently through the wide hallway, our boots crunching over broken plaster and loose grit. The air was filled with concrete dust, half-slung tarps lay over equipment, scattered bags of cement, and a thick film of white, coated everything in sight.
I motioned with a tilt of my chin toward the metal door at the far end, where the stairwell exit illuminated the hallway, and just as we neared the door, a single gunshot split the silence.
Every instinct locked into place.
Showtime.
"Move, ladies, move!" I yelled as we all gathered in the stairwell. The shots rang from the back, which meant Paramore was doing her own damage.
I looked at Obsidian. "Stay down here with Stiletto and Rainbow. Make sure to keep alert, don't allow anyone up this stairwell who isn't a Harlot or a Hellbound Lover. Roulette, Demise, you're with me."
We ran up the stairs two at a time, gaining as much time as we could.
Our priority was Caleb and getting him off that damn ledge. I'd deal with Emir when it came to it.
Suddenly, a heavy-set man appeared at the top of the steps, and without thinking, I lunged at him, hugging the stairwell and lifting my body, I sent a full force kick to his face. The man stumbled back as I ran past him, shooting off a bullet to his head.
“Damn,” Roulette whispered behind me.
