Page 11 of The Echo of Forever
“I’m fine. Don’t bring me anymore pills.”
“Alright,” she conceded. “But all you have to do is ask, and I’ll get whatever you need.”
If it were up to my parents, I’d be a fucking junkie by now.
“Hire someone to take me out of my misery.”
She laughed and turned the dimmed lights off completely.
“Give the Cannon job to someone else, and I’ll do that for you.”
I slid down into the water, this time all the way. For a while, I just held my breath.
Nothing.
When I came up, I avoided my mother’s questioning gaze.
“Never mind,” I said, reaching forward to let the water out. “I’ll do the job.”
I stood, stepped out of the tub, and into the standing shower, flicking the water to the hottest setting.
“You can leave. Put your key on the counter.”
The woman snorted.
“I’ll go, but I’m keeping the key. And don’t think about changing the locks. Remember who owns this building. And your father and I expect to see you at this year’s charity gala.”
She disappeared without waiting for my rebuttal, and I showered in complete silence.
Afterward, I did my skin care, brushed my teeth, and climbed into bed butt ass naked.
But sleep didn’t find me like I’d hoped.
Instead, after an hour of lying there staring at nothing, I got dressed and drove into the part of town where Demetrius and his family lived. Not far from their office buildings, right in what the Collective called a neutral zone.
No killing allowed, unless authorized by the one at the top—whomever that may be, none of us were high enough in the food chain to know.
According to the report, the Cannon compound had ten members of their family living on it. Along with an entire staff, security team and their families as well.
I drove in a circle three times, looking for any weak points of entry, but found none. They were a thorough bunch, I’d give themthat.
On my third and last twirl around their massive property, a figure stood in the middle of the street. I smiled and came to a gentle stop directly in front of the man who clearly wanted me to know he was watching.
The lights gave me the perfect view of Demetrius Cannon, and those two distinct words filtered through my mind again.
Beautiful.
Stunning.
I got out and leaned against the hood, tipping my head to the left.
“There’s a price on your head and I came to collect,” I said coolly.
He…smiled.
Nothing but straight white teeth were inside his beautiful mouth, protected by lips that had no right to look so goddamn delectable.
“Not yet,” he finally said, his voice a deep undercurrent that threatened to steal my breath. “You aren’t here to collectyet.”
