Page 22 of Savage Hunter

He takes his eyes off my phone to look at me.

“Don’t look so surprised.”

“I’m not surprised you know her. I’m surprised the last guy I talked to actually fed me good intel.”

I’m tired of cracking skulls and making people bleed. The other man takes in my busted knuckles and the bruise on the side of my face from a sucker punch.

He stands and straightens his vest before buttoning his suit jacket. His hand extends and I take it. Strong. Firm. He wants me to know his strength. Power plays are just part of the game.

“Cross.”

“I know. Carter.”

“It’s nice to put a face to the name.”

“Likewise.”

Cross is known by a few names. Killer, punisher, and widowmaker are all words whispered behind Ryth Cross’ back. He’s also the leader of the Lords of Chaos. Everyone knows his name if they want to stay undead. Know thy enemy and all that, right? When the last guy said Cross might have intel since his ear is always to the ground, I let myself hope for the first time in over eight weeks.

“Harmonia Primrose was traded off by her mother at the Primrose Gala two months ago for a crown. She wasn’t happy with being royalty with no hopes of being a real queen.”

“I heard. I guess I have more than thirty seconds to spare after all. Let’s talk.” Cross gestures for me to take a seat opposite of his desk. “Leave us. Close the door on the way out.”

“Boss.”

A hand with a gold ring on the pink makes a motion for the hired help to get lost. They wouldn’t stand a chance against me anyway. If I wanted any of them dead, they’d already be bleeding on the floor. Cross might take a little while to beat down, but I'd make it happen.

“I can take care of myself. Leave.” He lets his displeasure at being questioned hang in the air.

The guards in suits give me a nasty look like I’ve stolen their paycheck. And maybe I have.

“I have a job for you. It requires loyalty, but if you can pledge your gun to me I pledge to help you find this woman.”

“You don’t waste time. But it also sounds like you have an urgency for something. What else are you not sharing? From the looks of it, you have plenty of hired help.” I don’t believe in easy and me strolling in here and being offered a job with the family in control of this part of Chicago in less than five minutes is suspicious.

“Alaric and Marco, my two partners, want the scourge of the Primrose queen whipped from the face of the earth as much as I do. Your name has made the rounds as one of the best assassins. Wolfe Carter, Primrose enforcer. Most say you’ve gone rogue and if seen they should put you down like an animal.”

Assassin. I never thought that word would be associated with me when I’ve been a protector all my life. Life changes a man. “An animal, huh? It’s made my searching a little harder. Those who are aware have tried to collect on that contract issued by the Northern Alliance.”

“They are good men. Nothing is personal with them. Contracts are a service they provide.”

“I see.”

I know little about the Northern Alliance but I know all three men are good people as long as you don’t cross them. Their club, Genesis, is on the East side of Chicago. It’s where people of the underworld gather to make deals, settle scores, and take out contracts. I was going there next. I could use a steady paycheck while I hunt.

But the man across from me has a different reputation. A dirtier one that fits closer to my needs, the more I consider it. If the Northern Alliance needs a job done that doesn’t sit in their wheelhouse, they call Cross and his men. The Ritual is their main headquarters. From the whispers on the street, The Northern Alliance works with the Lords and in exchange receive a piece of the city to control. And they do so with iron fists.

“About the hit out on you. I took possession of the contract this morning. You sign on to work for me and I’ll make sure it gets dissolved.”

“Is that so? You’ve been a busy man and have great foresight.”

“I believe in being prepared. We’ve wanted you on our team for a while now. None of the Lords peg you as a rogue. I like to believe the other rumor.”

“Which is?”

“You fell in love with the boss’s daughter and they took her from you and you’ve been hunting her ever since.” He gestures to my phone. “I see I am not far off base.”

“It’s not. And it seems like you have big ears. The man who led me here. Is he one of yours?”

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