Page 105 of Madness & Mayhem

She laughs, walking back with two bottles in her hand. “We have to take advantage of our time together.”

I glance at Reign just as he looks over at me. I smirk at him, and he shakes his head, reaching out and grabbing onto my arm. He pulls me toward him, wrapping his arms around my shoulders. Settling his chin on top of my head, he lets out a sigh, though I know he’s happy to see them.

I am. I missed them. So fucking much.

I glance at each of my friends, my heart warming. Even with us across countries from each other, these are my people. My family. The people who have killed with me, some who have died for me, and others who bleed for me.

All of them are my ride or die, and I know nothing will ever break that bond.

Nothing.

epilogue

LAKYN

One year later

“I’m going first,” I whisper.

I can feel Reign tense beside me. Glancing over at him, all I can see is his white mask, dented and dinged over the years. Our eyes connect through the small holes in our masks, and I watch his narrowed ones, glaring at me.

“This isn’t your job, Lakyn. Let me handle it,” he growls lowly.

My jaw clenches behind my mask. “It’s always your job. It’s never not going to be your job. But maybe I could sometimes take the lead? Why else am I with you? For the joy ride?”

He growls low in his throat. “You wanted to come with.”

“Because I want to be a part of this!” I whisper-shout.

“You are.” He leans closer to me, until our masks are almost touching. “You come with me almost every time. I let you fucking help kill the person. What else do you want from me?”

I take a deep breath. We’re getting nowhere. He’s hardheaded; I’m hardheaded. He wants to be in control, wanting to spoon-feed me bits while protecting me. I don’t need him to protect me. I don’t want him to stand in front of me.

I want him to stand beside me.

“I want to take the lead. Sometimes, not all the time, I want to take the fucking lead. You want me here? Then let me do it, just once. Maybe twice. Give me a little something to let me feel like I’m not your backup but instead your damn partner.”

We stare at each other, hunched between the bushes, arguing at possibly the worst time ever. Ready to go in for a kill but instead we’re quarreling about bullshit.

Sounds like us.

He’s silent for many seconds until he shifts in place. “Fine. You want to take the lead? Grab your knife, baby Lake. But you make one wrong move, and you’re fucking grounded from this shit.”

I roll my eyes behind my mask.

Yeah. Try me.

Instead of barking at him like I want to, I lean forward, knocking my forehead against his. “I love you, Reign,” I sigh.

His gloved hand reaches out, and he squeezes the back of my neck. “I love you, too, baby. Now, let’s get this shit over with. We’re five minutes over time.”

I nod, knowing it’s the truth.

His killings have been strictly work related. He doesn’t kill just for the thrill, though there have been times we’ve slipped back in those old characters and spilt blood just for the hell of it. Though these jobs are part of his business. A hitman of sorts. Random jobs that he fills. He’s the one who’s at the top, yet he likes to get his hands dirty.

And so do I.

Reaching around behind my pants, I grab my knife, shifting to a stand and making my way around the bushes. The small one-story rambler in front of us is home to a man in his early forties. From what Reign said on the way over here, he works for a politician in Maine. He ended up sleeping with his wife, and it was immediately figured out.

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