Chapter Twenty
Eros
I killed the engine of my bike, then tossed the cigarette to the ground. I’d been planning to quit for years, but it seemed like every time I tried, shit like with Janea happened, and I get stressed the fuck out. It was the only thing that calmed my damn nerves.
I looked around the warehouse property, but I saw nothing out of the ordinary, but I didn’t expect Nikki to show herself immediately.
However, as soon as my feet hit the gravel covered ground, I knew Nikki was here, somewhere waiting for me.
I could feel her looking at me through the scope of her rifle.
The more I’d thought about her faking her death the more pissed off I became.
Why the hell would she do something like that?
“You can come out now!” I shouted, looking around the abandoned building. “I know you’re here!”
Outside the warehouse door, I tossed the black duffle bag, heavy with Nikki’s cash, onto the ground before sinking onto a wooden crate, anticipating her arrival.
I hadn’t seen this woman in years, mourned her death, now she was trying to kill the woman I loved.
I wanted this to end without her getting hurt, but if she didn’t pull out of the contract, I wouldn’t hesitate to kill her.
It would be the only way to keep Janea safe.
“Nikki, come on!” I shouted again. “I don’t have all fucking day!”
A few minutes later, her footsteps sounded behind me, and I looked up as soon as she stepped through the door.
“I told you my name is Nyx now,” she said.
“Let’s get this over with.”
“Long time no see, Nikolaus.” She smiled, but it wasn’t the same one I used to love seeing on her. Her eyes no longer held that gleam they used to.
She was still as beautiful as I remembered, but a little more hardened around the edges. I wasn’t sure if that was from the military or from her time working with the Vipers. I was sure that being a hired killer wasn’t easy and would take a toll on the most seasoned killer.
“I hate I kept you waiting,” she said sarcastically. “Now, where’s my money?”
“It’s Eros and have a seat.” I motioned to another crate, sitting not too far from me. “We have some shit to get straight first.”
“I rather stand. I didn’t come to talk to you. Getting my $500,000 is all that matters especially if you want Ms. Thorne to live.”
“Sit the fuck down, Nyx. Like I said I don’t have all fucking day. And while money may be all that matters to you, that’s not what matters to me. Now sit.”
She huffed but grabbed the crate and pulled it in front of me. She placed her rifle on the ground at her feet, then crossed her long legs over the other before folding her arms across her chest.
“I missed you too.”
I blew out a breath, ignoring her comment. “Why?”
Why had been all I wanted to know since I found out she was alive. Did she owe me an explanation? No. But I hoped with our history she would give me one, anyway.
“You need to be more specific.”
“Don’t come at me with that bullshit, Nyx.” I leaned forward, planting my forearms on my thighs. “We fucking mourned you!”
“You mourned me?” She chuckled. “That’s funny. Why the hell would you mourn someone you didn’t give a shit about?”
“Of course, I did!”
She scoffed.
“What kind of person do you think I fucking am, that I wouldn’t feel that loss?” I asked. “You meant so much to all of us! To me!”
I felt so much rage moving through me. Of course, I mourned her “death.” She was an important part of my life.
“You mourned me so much but didn’t even attend my funeral.”
“Because I couldn’t. What the hell, Nyx?” I tossed my hands in the air. “Why did you join the Vipers and let everyone think you were dead?”
“What do you want me to say, Eros? I took a fucking job. Dawn Nicks had nothing else to live for.”
“You had people who loved you, Nikki.”
Her eyes softened and filled with tears. It was the first time since she’d been here that she looked like herself. The killer was gone and replaced by the woman I spent most days and nights with. “But you didn’t.”
I sighed, running my hand through my hair. “You didn’t do that shit because of me.”
She glared at me. “The reason I’m a Viper has nothing to do with this meeting now does it?”
She was right. And it looked like I wouldn’t get a straight answer. The woman who I knew was dead just like she said. Now, my purpose for being here was to protect Janea. She was all that mattered.
“Here’s your money.” I pushed the bag toward her with my foot. “The hit is off.”
She looked down at the duffle bag, then her gaze slid back to me. “You know this isn’t how these things work, Nikolaus.”
“It’s Eros. It’s what you asked for, Nyx. Take the money and leave her the fuck alone.”
“This girl must mean a lot to you if you’re willing to go against the Vipers? Go against me?”
“Doesn’t matter why I’m doing what I’m doing. What matters is I have your fucking money like you asked. Now leave her alone.”
She grabbed her rifle from the ground, then stood. “I don’t want your money, Eros.”
I jumped to my feet and got into her space. “Then why the fuck did you come?”
A smile crept across her face. “I wanted to see how much she meant to you. Now I know. See you around, Eros.”
When she turned her back, I pulled my gun then placed it against the back of her head. She chuckled, then raised her hands in the air. “You won’t kill me, Nikolaus. You don’t have it in you.”
“Drop the rifle and turn around,” I ordered. “Slowly.”
“What are you going to do, Nikolaus?” she asked with humor in her voice. “Shoot me?”
“Turn around!”
She laid the rifle down, then turned around slowly with her hands remaining in the air. “You can’t kill me.”
“For her, I can.”
Nikki’s eyes widened, and I squeezed the trigger. Her body crumbled to the ground at my feet. You’d think I’d feel sorrow. But I didn’t. Only relief.
After sliding my gun back in the waist of my jeans, I pulled out my phone and dialed Knox. “We’ve got a problem,” he said as soon as he answered the call.
Fuck, when don’t we have a problem?
“What is it?”
“Janea’s missing.”
My heart stopped inside my chest.
“What the hell do you mean she’s missing?” I asked, as I grabbed the duffle bag, and raced to my bike.
“I don’t know all the details, Prez. Just get here as soon as you can.”
“I’m on the way. I need cleanup at the warehouse,” I said, then ended the call without waiting for his response.
What the hell happened?