Page 26 of Vengeful

"I'd rather not." I chanced a glance back over my shoulder. "I should have figured you'd be lurking around here somewhere."

"And yet, you seemed oblivious. Drop the knife. I won't ask again."

"You're not going to blow my brains out," I told him.

"Don't count on that. The last time I saw you, you pissed me off. I've been looking forward to an opportunity like this. I'm not sure why I shouldn't take it."

"Is that any way to talk to an old friend?" I asked.

"That depends what you're doing out here," Kent replied. "Don't try to tell me you're here for a bushwalk."

"Why not? I like it out here." My hands raised, I slowly turned around. The same age as me, Kent and I had always had an interesting relationship. We were always in competition with each other, but at the same time we were relatively close. We both played every sport we could get our hands on and loved beating each other at it. Neither of us excelled the way my brother Walker did, but we weren't bad either.

If I was honest with myself, I'd admit that Kent's greatest strengths were my greatest weaknesses and vice versa. Whenever a coach would put us in roles we had to support each other in, we were almost unbeatable.

"Slade Lincoln, out for a bushwalk. Now I've heard everything." He lowered the gun, but only slightly. "With a knife covered in blood in one hand and two of my men dead. I was never that good at maths, but two and two make suss as fuck to me."

"The fact you're out here with them is pretty suspicious too," I said. "Who hired you?"

He responded with a sardonic smile. "Who said anyone hired me? I might also be out for a bushwalk."

His companion made no effort to hide the fact he approached. Any louder and he'd be heard in Sydney. He stopped beside me, gun in his hand.

"Isn't this cozy?" I jerked my head towards him. "Who is this guy?"

Kent's gaze didn't waver from me. "He works for me. I'd appreciate it if you didn't kill him."

"Funny, I was hoping you'd say the same thing to him about me," I said. I raised an eyebrow expectantly.

"You know this motherfucker?" the asshole growled.

"Yeah, Dave, relax," Kent told him.

"He killed two of—" Dave started.

"I know," Kent snapped. "He didn't know it was us, right Slade?"

"Not a clue," I said honestly. "You still haven't told me why you're here and who hired you. Actually, it doesn't matter. Whatever they paid you, I'll double it."

Guys like Kent only had loyalty to their bank accounts. We might need his help to deal with the other teams. Chances were, they were led by men not as easily influenced as someone I've known since I started school. Men who might actually be loyal to their employer.

"Why?" Kent looked even more suspicious. "Why would you do that? Are you a billionaire now?" He looked at me sideways.

I smirked. "No, but my girlfriend is. You were sent here to deal with Lila Bell?"

"In a manner of speaking," Kent said. "I guess we're working with her now."

"No way, we have a job to do," Dave argued.

"Plans change," Kent said evenly.

"I'm not going to—" Dave's words were rudely interrupted by Kent turning his gun and shooting him in the centre of his forehead.

"I fucking hate when these hired assholes argue with me," Kent growled. "Dave was really getting on my nerves." He put his gun away and spread his hands in front of him. He raised an eyebrow until I lowered the knife and slipped it back into my boot.

"You should keep some better company," I told him.

"Like yours?" He laughed. "That's fucking hilarious, dude."

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