Page 78 of City of Salvation

I chewed on my lip. Had Dex asked Boe to follow me? He said he’d asked Torque to take me home. Then again, he probably knew I wouldn’t listen to him. Maybe Boe was the backup if I decided to do my own thing?

Part of me wanted to text him and ask, but I’d tried calling earlier, and it went straight to voicemail. Clearly, he didn’t want to hear from me, since he’d turned it off.

“Where to, miss?”

Something still didn’t feel right, but I wasn’t entirely surewhatwas wrong. Trusting my gut, I spouted off an address near my house before shooting off a text to someone else I wasn’t entirely sure would answer. Then I sat rigid in the seat, hoping I was overreacting, and dreading if I wasn’t.

The bright lights of Val’s corner store came into view, andmy shoulders relaxed just a bit. Boe’s motorcycle sped up when he saw where we’d pulled in.

I could have gone to Lotería, but I wasn’t sure who would be there tonight. Robert had already left for California, and Ryan had left earlier, too—something about a meeting.

The car hadn’t even pulled to a complete stop before I was leaping out and running into the store, the rumble of the bike growing louder.

“What the hell, Nikki?” Val called as I barreled through the door, causing the bell to go crazy.

“Pretty sure this is another attempted kidnapping,” I answered, slipping into one of the rows of alcohol, crouching down, and watching the mirror up in the corner, being mindful of staying out of the reflection.

If I weren’t so focused on getting out of this situation, I would have laughed at how ridiculous it was that this was happening to me again.

“What the hell do you mean,another,girl?” Val shouted, reaching for the weapon stored under the counter.

The bell erupted into a new round of furious ringing, announcing Boe’s arrival. His chest rose and fell as he stomped over to Val. I had to bite back another panicked laugh at how she peered at him over her gossip magazine, staring him down like he was shit on her boot. Boe flinched when she spoke.

“What the fuck do you want?”

“Where’d the girl who ran in here go?” he asked, piss-poor attitude back in full force.

“Why the hell would I tell you where a girlrunningfrom you went?” she asked pointedly, arching a brow.

A slam echoed through the store, Boe’s hands hitting the formica top. “Listen here, old bitch. I’m taking the girl. Either you help or,” he pulled out a gun, pointing the barrel to hertemple, and I slapped my hands over my mouth, “I blow another hole in your fucking head.”

There was no way I was letting Val get hurt because of me. “Hey, asshole. What the hell is your problem? I told you I could get home on my own,” I yelled, stepping out into the aisle, praying that Val was smart enough to get the fuck out of there.

Boe turned, and I found myself staring down a barrel at fifteen feet away.

“You’re not as dumb as you look,” he said, licking his lips, eyes crazed.

“Thanks for the glowing compliment. That in reference to my ability to make it home, or knowing you are shady as fuck and not getting on the back of your bike?” I stepped toward the back, hoping to draw him away from Val.

“You must have a magical pussy, because Dex refused to turn you over to the Russians,” he said, taking the bait and moving closer. “Dumbass doesn’t want to get the weapons and manpower they’re promising. He’s willing to sacrifice his brothers over one fucking piece of snatch.”

Boe’s words did more damage than the gun could have ever done. Guilt over what my past had brought to Dex’s doorstep threatened to overtake me, but I tried to hide my panic.

“My snatch is great, but ever think if everyone else isn’t in agreement with you, maybe you’re just wrong?” I asked, grabbing for a bottle heavy enough to do damage.

“You’re not even a fucking Old Lady,” he yelled, spit flying. “Presnevershould have let this go. I’ll do what the rest of them don’t have the balls to do.” He took another step, closing the distance faster than I could come up with a plan.

“Fuckface, no weapons in my store,” called Val from behind Boe.

I was about to yell at her to get out of there when a shot rang out, and I ducked out of the way. A pained groan fell from Boe’s lips as he lay on the floor in a puddle of red wine and blood. My brain was struggling to decipher what the hell had just happened.

“Oh, good, you had enough sense to jump out of the way,” Val said, completely unfazed.

“You shot at me,” I heard myself say, still in shock.

Her frail shoulders shrugged, not an ounce of remorse. “Call us even now.”

My mouth fell open, searching for a retort, then I shrugged, too. “Honestly, fair. Is he dead?” I asked, toeing him with my boot.

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