Chapter 3
“Will you—” I duck under the bowl flying at my head. It shatters against the board behind me, and I sigh as I glance from it to Taylor. “That was my favorite cereal bowl.”
“I know,” she snaps, crossing her arms. She is a bigger version of Lauren, attitude and all. They even look the exact same, especially when they are mad.
She gave me the same look when we met when we were five and I called her an idiot. She kicked me in the shins and glowered at me.
We have been best friends ever since, more like sisters, so when her parents died unexpectedly, I took both her and Lauren in, giving them a home and helping her raise her little sister.
I bought us a house, carving out a safe and stable life for them. They are my family, the only one I have.
“You cut off a man’s hand in front of her,” Taylor scoffs when I just stare.
Rolling my eyes, I hop onto the counter, ignoring the broken bowl, and sip my coffee. “It wasn’t in front of her, just in her vicinity,” I mutter.
“Bexley fucking Adams,” she growls. “You promised me, no more adult shit. She’s seen enough. I want her to grow up norma—”
“Taylor.” I sigh, and she drops her arms. “That kid was never going to grow up normal. She has seen more shit than most adults, but normal is overrated. Plus, she’s turned out well so far, but if you think I will apologize for harming the man who touched her, then you do not know me very well.”
“I love that you are willing to kill to protect us, Bex,” she starts. “I just wish you didn’t have to and that she didn’t have to know this side of life.”
“Don’t we both,” I agree. “She never stood a chance. I would say I would try to change, but everything I do is to keep our family safe, and I will not apologize for that. This world will eat us alive if we aren’t careful.”
“I know,” she whispers, but she doesn’t really. I have sheltered her from the truth of what I’ve had to do to keep us together and safe. We were not born with money, and when her family died, she had nothing.
Nothing good ever comes of three kids alone on the streets. It made me who I am.
“Taylor, you shouldn’t reprimand her,” Lauren comments as she walks in, holding a book in one hand. “I am not scared of Bexley or her actions.”
“That’s what worries me,” Taylor replies.
Lauren looks from her to me. “You said yourself that without Bex, we would either be dead or something worse. There are people out there who kill for fun and even eat other people.” She shrugs. “The way I see it, Bex is the lesser of evils.”
“Jesus Christ, stop watching TV with her,” Taylor begs her sister.
“It’s called the internet, dummy.” Lauren sighs, like she is the adult in this situation, and looks between us.
“Now, don’t forget that someone needs to buy some groceries.
Oh, and clean up that bowl before you cut yourselves.
I’m not helping drag Taylor’s fat ass to the sofa when she faints again when she sees blood.
” She grabs an apple and leaves, and Tay and I share a look.
“She takes after you,” we say at the same time and share a smile.
Shoulders slumping, she approaches me, leaning into my side. “I’m fucking this up, aren’t I? Raising her?”
“Nah, she’s a good kid,” I assure her. “Smart, funny, strong . . . She’ll go far. You’re doing incredible, Taylor, and for what it’s worth, I will try to keep her exposure to killing to a minimum . . . maybe.”
“How about only one murder a week?” she teases.
“At least three,” I counter.
“Two,” she says, and I grin.
“Fine, but you have to clean this up and get the groceries.” I hop down then, over the bowl. “I have to work.”
“Remember to leave your damn clothes outside. I washed the floors today!” she yells after me. I wave her off and lean over the sofa, kissing Lauren’s head.
“Be good for your sister. She’s struggling,” I murmur. “Look after her for me.”
Lauren looks up at me and nods. “She always gets like this when she is on her period.”
I can’t help but laugh and ruffle Lauren’s hair. “Too smart for your own good.”
“Be safe, Bexley.” She frowns. “I will make sure Taylor is okay while you’re gone.”
“What would I do without you, huh?” Heading to the door, I shove my feet in my boots and make my way to the garage out back. I scan my hand and input the code no one else knows, especially Lauren, then step inside, letting the door shut behind me.
Lights turn on as I walk down the aisles of weapons and supplies. I can never be too prepared. Whistling to myself, I select a handgun and a couple of blades. Hopefully this will just be a civilized talk, but you can never be too careful.
One wrong move in this game and you’re just fucking dead.
That won’t happen tonight, or any night after.
I will never leave my family.
I will never make them grieve for someone again.
It’s a promise I made, and one I intend to keep.
Just because I’m here to talk, doesn’t mean I’m going to knock nicely.
The casino sits in the poor end of the city, known as Hell’s End for its connections with the mob and gangbangers. It’s a haven for sinners, but it isn’t open this early in the evening. That doesn’t stop me.
The man guarding the front flies through the door, smashing it in. Gangbangers jump to their feet and aim their guns at me. When they realize who it is, more guns are drawn. Ignoring them, I walk through the entrance of the casino and wait, looking up at the second floor.
“Knock, knock,” I call loudly. “Anybody home?”
It’s silent for a moment, and then he appears, leaning over the balcony, and he groans when he sees me. “Lower your weapons, you idiots, unless you all want to die.” He heads down the stairs, not stopping until he’s in front of me. “Karma.” He nods.
“Jakob.” I smile, knowing it’s not a nice one. “I thought we would discuss what happened earlier today.”
“Come.” He turns his head, and I follow him into the bar area, where we sit at a sticky table. He leans back, looking tired. “I didn’t know you were involved in any way. I swear it. My men never returned. Your handiwork?”
“Not mine, probably the Sai family. Really, what were you thinking, fucking with them like that?”
His bald head shines under the light, covered in ink, and one of his ears is blown into a cauliflower since he made his name through street fighting and worked his way up.
Compared to the likes of the Sais, he’s a small fish in a big pond, but on these streets?
Yeah, enough people fear and respect him.
I’m one of the latter. We have always had an understanding—he doesn’t fuck with me, and I don’t fuck with him.
In another world, we could have even been friends.
He waves his hand to order us a drink then rubs his head.
“I just wanted to make them aware that they couldn’t fuck with us without repercussions,” he admits.
“They moved in on our territory without even a warning. I know they think they are untouchable, but I just wanted to prove they aren’t, not start a war. ”
“It’s like a chihuahua nipping at a giant’s ankles,” I scoff. “We have survived the streets because we play it smart and lie low, and that wasn’t smart.”
“Well, I never said I was smart,” he mutters as two tumblers are placed before us. I sip mine as he rubs his face. “I fucked up, didn’t I?”
“Kinda,” I reply. “I’m glad your men are dead though. I was going to finish them off. They touched something that was mine. A neutral.”
He winces. “I’m sorry, Karma, for what it’s worth. I can’t get the right staff these days. They are all too fucking eager to earn their name, and they don’t know the rules we grew up with.”
“Teach them,” I tell him as I drain my glass. “Or next time, I will,” I warn as I stand. “The next time I’m here, it won’t be for a drink. Understand?”
He nods, looking at his glass, and I sigh at how forlorn he appears.
If he disappears, another person will take his place, and I’ll have to break them in all over again.
“Go apologize and beg for forgiveness. Lose your fucking dignity. It’s better than losing your head,” I tell him.
“Or stay silent and let them come here and kill you. Your choice, but we both know a family like Sai doesn’t forget, and they definitely don’t forgive easily. ”
I stride toward the front door I kicked in when his voice stops me. “Karma. Thank you for not killing us.” He smiles. “Back in the day, I wouldn’t have offered the same niceties, but I guess that’s why they call you Karma.”
“No, they call me Karma because I’m a bitch.” I smirk.