Chapter Seventy-Nine
Blade
R eeking of piss, lying next to his own vomit, the piece of shit’s blood-soaked shirt stuck to his chest as he yelled like a fucking pussy.
His back to the stairs, the fucker didn’t notice me till I was on him.
Too stupid to realize he was a dead man, he spewed bullshit. “Don’t just stand there! Fucking untie me, you cocksucker!”
“No.”
“ No ? Do you know who the fuck I am? You’re so fucking fucked right now! I’m gonna kill you! Where the hell is everyone?”
“Dead.” Like he was gonna be.
Five feet of silent fury stepped up next to me.
For a split second, the piece of shit looked like he’d seen a ghost. Then he let loose with a sick laugh. “Well, look who it is. My fat fucking cunt whore of a wife.” Suicidal, he looked at me and smirked. “She’s a shit lay and even worse at sucking dick.”
The heel of my boot connected with his temple.
His head snapped back, his eyes rolled, then he puked.
I gave her advance warning. “He throws one more fucking insult at you, I’m pulling the trigger.”
She took her hand away from her face. “Don’t.”
Turning his head at the sound of her voice, he threw her a glare. “You’re so fucking dead. Wait till the boss knows you’re back in town.”
Ignoring him and his bullshit threat, she looked from his chest to his leg. “Did you… stab him in the ankle?”
“Yeah.”
The piece of shit’s glare cut my way. “You fucking did this to me, you cocksucker?”
Before I could say dick, she beat me to it. “I guess he doesn’t remember you. That’s good.”
“Doesn’t matter what the fuck he remembers.” He wouldn’t be telling anyone shit. “You got anything you want to say to this piece of shit?”
He thrashed against his restraints. “I’m gonna kill you both!”
Zero fear, she looked him dead in the eye. “Nope.”
She was a fucking lioness.
“We good to go?”
“Yep.” She put her hand back over her nose and mouth.
Before I could tell her to move out, a door slammed above us and footsteps sounded on the stairs.
I moved.
Shoving her behind me, backing us against the wall, I fucking aimed.
The piece of shit yelled. “My cunt whore wife is here, and I’m zip-tied! SHOOT THEM.”
The fucker from the drive-by and two other assholes rushed the basement, blindly firing toward Ashland’s position.
The room echoed with gunfire. The piece of shit’s head exploded. Blood spray covered the brunette, and I sent three rounds.
The assholes dropped in a pile at the foot of the stairs.
I quickly scanned her for injuries, then picked her up with one arm and gave orders. “Head down. Arms around my neck. Don’t look back.”
She started to shake.
“You’re good.” I stepped over the bodies. “We’re going to the rental, then a hotel.”
She grabbed me in a choke hold but didn’t say shit.
I hit the stairs, got us to the back door, then scanned the driveway and front yard.
No fucking assholes. No foot traffic on the street. No cops.
I double-timed it to the SUV, got her buckled in, then had my cell out before I got behind the wheel.
Dialing a number I’d memorized, I turned over the engine.
The call connected. “Housekeeping.”
“Need service.”
“Of course, sir. You’re room number, please.”
I glanced at her as I rattled off my AES ID number. “Seven-seven-one-two-five.” The black jacket and pink sweatshirt I’d gotten her were fucking history.
“Please hold, sir.”
A second later, November picked up. “Line secure. Blade, you’re a go.”
I scanned the street again. “That fucking asshole from the drive-by showed up at her place with two more shooters. All three are down. Ashland’s handled. Sweep team needs to move in now. Heading to the hotel, but we’re a walking crime scene. Need a path cleared to the room, entry access, and digital footprint wiped.” I backed out of the driveway. “Sweep team needs to handle the rental, then the room after we exfil.”
“Copy. Injuries?”
“Negative.” I hit the gas. “Alpha needs to sitrep Rawley on Ashland STAT.” I wanted that fucking handled.
“Relaying to Alpha now. Clearing entry to hotel. Rear entrance, service elevator. Room fifteen-thirteen, top floor. As previously requested, Barrett’s on standby, adjoining room. He’ll leave your suite door open. I have your position on satellite. Erasing digital footprint as you go. Arranging for pickup of the rental now. Leave it running when you exfil. Anything else?”
I glanced at a silent brunette sitting next to me. “Clothes.”
“For you or the woman?”
“Both.” I’d picked her up. Transference was a motherfucker. Holding her had been worse. Her grip around my neck, those tits against my chest, my arm under that sweet ass—my head and my cock were spinning up. I forced myself to focus the fuck up. “Boots and jackets too.”
“Copy,” November replied. “Thirty minutes on the clothes.” The hacker hung up.
I drove to the hotel.