Page 92 of Darkest Retribution

I open it, and a man dressed in all black shoves his way inside.

“I didn’t say you could come in.”

“Don’t care.” He thrusts a pile of folders into my hands. “He says you have three days for the local kills. And a week to find the other guy.”

Rolling my eyes, I walk to the couch and sit down, tossing the folders onto the coffee table. “You can go.”

I open the first folder. My heart stutters when I see a familiar face inside, but I don’t react outwardly. I just scan the contents—name, home address, workplace, the usual info.

The next folder is a man I don’t recognize. But the third one I do.

Felix Grayson.

Alex Hendricks.

Dominic Grayson.

I don’t even have to open the fourth to know it’ll be Blaze, but I do anyway. He has the same blue eyes as Dominic, although they’re slightly more vibrant. Staring into them makes me homesick in a way I haven’t been in years.

I look up. The guy hasn’t made a move to leave.

“What are you waiting for?”

“Confirmation that you can complete the jobs on time. Sounds like you’re struggling.”

“I told David I’ll have Blaze’s location by tomorrow,” I snap. “But three days isn’t enough to kill these guys.” I point back to Dom’s folder. “He’s literally the CEO of a security company. I need more time if I don’t want to get caught.”

Or to get the hell out of here before David realizes something is up.

“You’ll do what you’re told, or he’ll takeheraway.”

I roll my eyes. “What, did he tell you to say that? You’re not scaring me. And if David is as smart as he thinks he is, he’ll listen to me when I say I need more time.”

“Watch your mouth,” he says, a little too harshly and a little too loudly.

“Keep your voice down,” I hiss. “I have a sleeping kid upstairs. Actually, just get out. I don’t know why you’re still here.”

“Give me confirmation, and I’ll leave.”

“I told you I can’t do it!”

“You’re lying,” he yells. Then he pulls a gun from his waistband, pointing it at me.

What the hell is this guy on?

I yawn, leaning back into the couch cushions. “Did he tell you to do that too? Scare me into compliance? Again, it’s not working. You won’t shoot. I’m good at what I do, buddy, and my brother knows it.”

“Yeah? Well he’s getting awfully sick of dealing with your bullshit. You’ve been talking back to him and extending your deadlines. I say you need to be reminded of your place.”

And that’s when it clicks. David is a pretty secretive person. It’s one of the many things you have to be to survive in our world. Ruthless, protective of your weaknesses, and trusting of no one.Eat or get eaten.

“You’re pretty close to him, huh?” I say, tilting my head, unable to stop the smile spreading over my face. “He wouldn’t complain to some nobody.”

He puffs out his chest. “Practically his right hand man.”

“And let me guess. You want to take over my job, too?”

“I’d get shit done a lot quicker than you do.”

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