Chapter Twenty-Five #2
“Exactly. If we don’t show up, they’ll know something’s wrong.”
“Or?” Ace folded his arms over his chest. “They’ll think you took the money, left town with Reyna. When they can’t find your transport guys, they’ll assume you killed them.”
“We didn’t fucking kill them,” Mickey blurted. “When they didn’t answer our calls, we came up to check and found them. You wanna know who took out those two? Ask the fucking girl.”
Interesting.
“Look.” Joe inhaled a breath. “We can arrange something that gives you a profitable deal. We’ll talk to my guy and work something out.”
The corner of Ace’s mouth curled. “That’s one idea.” He circled the men and pointed to Cypher. “You got another one?”
“I got a few,” Cypher said. “The emails are going to solidify their suspicions that you three killed the guys at the camper, took the girl, and made off with their money.”
Joe knitted his brows. “What emails?”
“The ones I’ll create. This is going to be ongoing dating back for the last year. This won’t be some spur of the moment shit. This is going to be a long, cultivated plan that you’ve been working on. I’m gonna hack into your system and rewrite history. It’s gonna be a great fucking story.”
Joe’s face paled. Without the threat of his bosses retaliation, he was a dead man walking. And he knew it. But like any desperate man, he wasn’t above throwing a Hail Mary.
“It won’t work. He’s got tech guys…”
Cypher didn’t even let him finish his sentence. He bent down, putting them at eye level.
“I bet he does, and they’re probably fucking good.” Cypher paused, angling his head with a menacing glare. “I’m better.”
“Let’s make a deal,” Mickey said with desperation lacing his tone.
Wraith had enough. He didn’t even wait for permission. He stalked forward, pulled his gun from his waist, and aimed directly at Joe and fired twice. Then he turned on Mickey and fired once, straight through the heart. When he glanced over at Reyna, she cowered.
Ace made his way to the woman, grabbing his gun. “You deserve the same fate as them. You know that, right?”
Reyna’s tears streamed down her face. “I’m sorry. B-but I’ll do anything.”
Ace drew in a breath. “Most of us don’t get off on hurting women. It’s a different kind of brutality. That kinda blood on your hands has a way of sticking with you. We don’t do it.”
“It’s chivalrous, really,” Gent taunted. “And we never get credit for it.”
Ace arched his brow, staring down at Reyna. “Some might say it’s your lucky day.”
There was a clicking in the background descending from the stairs. Soft steps, unrushed.
“Oh, I wouldn’t say that, Ace.”
Wraith resisted the urge to smile, hearing the familiar feminine voice.
Jessie, dubbed as Inez’s secret weapon. She was only brought in for special assignments. Wraith didn’t know who made the call, but clearly Inez had been debriefed on the situation.
“I’ll take it from here, boys.” Jessie smiled.
“How long you need?” Cross asked.
Jessie’s heels clanked on the concrete as she made her way closer to Reyna. She stopped a foot away and bent down putting the women at eye level. Reyna had the good sense to scoot back but she only got as far as the wall.
“Fifteen minutes work for you?” Cypher asked and she glanced over.
Jessie’s gaze traveled down his arms and across his chest. Wraith watched the silent interaction. They’d met before but there was a different vibe. What the fuck am I missing?
“Well, let me make sure I have everything right,” Jessie angled her head toward Reyna.
“I don’t know Cleo, personally. But I know women like her.
Kind, very sweet, a little naive and too trusting.
In fact so trusting, they’re blinded when it comes to seeing evil cloaked in a pretty package.
” Jessie’s gaze scanned Reyna. “You befriended Cleo and tried to lure her through the guise of friendship because you knew she’d take the bait.
They always do, right?” Jessie nodded but Reyna remained silent, shaking slightly.
“I give you credit for doubling-down and showing up tonight. That must’ve been some hefty payout you were promised, if this plan had actually worked.
I mean, it takes balls to come to her house and once again, prey on her kindness in hopes she’ll open the door.
You were banking on Cleo being completely oblivious to the realization of what her fate would’ve been had any of your plans worked.
” She paused and her gaze darkened. “There are two types of predators. The ones you see coming, and the ones you don’t.
” Jessie leaned closer, whispering. “I see you, the worst fucking kind.”
Wraith clenched his jaw. He was getting a visual of what Cleo would’ve been up against had she been taken. It would’ve been like reliving her past. The thought was too much to bear. Fire raced through his veins and he stepped forward.
“Don’t worry, Wraith. I got this.” Jessie slowly stood and shifted her gaze to Cypher with a small smile playing on her lips. “I’m going to need a little more than fifteen minutes.”
Jessie would make Reyna suffer and for that? Wraith was indebted to her.
“Need it clean, Jessie,” Ace said.
She slowly nodded with her eyes trained on Cypher. “I know the assignment, Ace. You wouldn’t happen to have an extra tarp lying around, would you?”
Cypher walked over to the corner of the room then across the basement to Jessie. When he handed it to her, she smiled.
“Thanks, Cypher.”
The brother lowered his chin and walked back to the group. Cypher was a man of little emotion but there was something off from his usual demeanor. Wraith watched his brother stare intently at the dark-haired assassin.
I’m definitely fucking missing something.
Jessie opened the tarp, laying it in the center of the room. “I’ll let you know when I’m done, boys.”
Ace gestured for the members to follow. Wraith walked up the stairs, alongside the others. When they made it to the yard, he heard a faint scream before Cypher slammed the cellar door closed.
Justice fucking served. For everyone.
They were headed back to Cleo’s house when Ace sidled up next to him. “Inez wants us to bring in the girl.”
Wraith stopped, turning to his president and all the members gathered around.
“This is a good thing, Wraith.”
He furrowed his brows, and Ace immediately held up his hand. “She brought in Jessie. If Inez wanted a clean sweep, that girl would be in the basement too.”
True. There was no getting around it. If Inez gave an order, it was followed. But he was hoping for more time so they could get information.
“I’ll have Cleo stay with Grizz and put all the prospects on watch.”
Ace shook his head. “Inez wants Cleo there.”
“Why?” He snapped.
“Didn’t say, and when I suggested she stay here, she demanded we bring Cleo.”
Wraith gripped his hips, sharing a look with Cypher and then Ghost. But it was Cue who stepped up.
“She’s been through a lot tonight, Ace.”
“I fucking agree, Cue. Do you want to be the one to explain to Inez why Cleo isn’t there?”
Cue’s jaw squared and he stepped back, pacing in a circle.
Wraith wasn’t concerned about Cleo’s safety. Inez would never hurt her but the same couldn’t be said for the mystery girl. Inez didn’t like strangers, especially those who brought chaos to their world.