Page 13 of Forever Midnight

“He doesn’t belong here,” I finally say. “He’s out of place.”

“I noticed,” Eros answers.

I’m tempted to admit that when I look into Tru’s eyes, I feel like I’ve stared into those same eyes a million times before, but that borders on obsession. I don’t even know the man.

Only minutes later, we round a corner and duck down when we spot Tru crouched behind a crumbling brick wall, his attention fixed on a group of men I recognize as being part of the Malice gang.

“He’s still fucking around with Malice,” Eros whispers.

“It doesn’t make sense.”

“He must have a reason. He obviously knows how dangerous they are, but he keeps going back for more.”

“I have a feeling we’re going to be needed again tonight.”

Eros snorts a laugh. “Got all the time in the world.”

As Tru steps out from his hiding place, determination all over his face, I brace for trouble. I have no idea what this man is up to, but I’m about to find out.

ChapterSix

TRU

Iapproach the group of thugs with far more bravado than I actually feel. “Vinni.”

He stops talking and turns in my direction, eyes narrowing. “Who the fuck are you?”

“I need information that only you can give me,” I reply, ignoring his question. “Does the name Lucia DePalma mean anything to you?”

Vinni lunges at me, but I jump back, obviously quicker than the muscular older man. “Who thefuckare you?” he demands again.

“I’m the guy who’s gonna put a bullet between your eyes if I don’t get the tapes.”

Vinni laughs now, the three men around him following his lead. “Oh, you’re gonna take me out, big man? You won’t even finish your sentence—”

I pull the gun out, pointing it at him before he can finish closing in on me. Narrowing my eyes, I pull the hammer back, focused on Vinni’s ugly face and using the pain and humiliation this group caused my sister as fuel to follow through.

“I want the tapes, Vinni. I won’t stop until I’ve got them.”

Vinni, clearly not intimidated, turns to his buddies. “This guy thinks he’s gonna threaten me. Fuck you, man. You ain’t getting those tapes until we get Lucia back. She signed a contract, man.” His face twists angrily. “Now we gotta teach you a lesson too.”

The two men with him descend on me so fast that in a panic I pull the trigger, nailing one of them in the thigh. He falls to the ground, but the other one closes in on me and grabs my gun before I can react.

Pain radiates through me as the man’s fist makes contact with my cheek, easily knocking me to the ground. Ah hell. I fucked up. I’m about to get my ass kicked, and if I make it to morning, it’ll be a miracle.

But then everything around me shifts. The weight of the man attacking me lifts away, and the sound of cracking bones and pained groans fills the air around me. Rolling onto my back, I spot Midnight and his friend taking on my attackers, and then he’s next to me, scooping me off the cold ground again, just like he did a month ago, and carrying me away.

This time I don’t have it in me to fight him off and maintain some respect. I simply sink into his arms, thankful that because of him, I’m going to live to see another day.

“Vinni got away,” I hear the other man say as the scent of fine leather surrounds me.

“We need to find out what’s going on.” That’s Midnight’s voice.

My eyes flutter as I struggle to keep them open, my head pounding and ears ringing. Midnight’s hand brushes hair off my forehead.

“Stay awake for me, brave one.”

Brave one? Why does that endearment feel so comforting? I grip Midnight’s arm, my tongue stumbling over a thousand words I want to say, but the only one that comes out is, “Thanks.”

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