Chapter 28
TWENTY-EIGHT
Yuki was right. There are other ways to handle this—ones that won’t make me sell my soul and everything I’ve worked for. I’m still angry, but I calmed myself down so I can think clearly enough to handle this.
When Yuki comes to me with the location of the men in the folder, the ones who bought the guns, an idea comes to mind.
I tell him what I need, and then we are off.
Yuki said they wouldn’t be hard to find, but I know he had to pull some strings.
When this is all over, I need to give him some time off.
He usually refuses to take any, only vacationing when I do, but he needs it after all the shit he has put up with this year.
“A dry cleaner?” I ask as we pull up outside.
“A front. It helps them get into places. They also pose as electricians when they need to.” He nods at the vans to the side of the freestanding building.
Nodding, I slip from the car and fasten my suit jacket before heading toward the front door.
It’s unlocked, and the sign says it’s permanently closed.
A bell tinkles overhead as I step inside and walk through the unused storefront to a door behind the counter.
It’s shut, and when I step through it, I find a large room that’s been turned into their lodging.
There are beds with curtains and even a whole TV setup.
It’s nice for merc housing, since they move around a lot, and there they are, the four men from the car who shot at us.
They leap to their feet, their guns aimed my way.
“Hello,” I say with a friendly smile. “I would introduce myself, but I have a feeling you already know my name. I know yours as well. Truji, legal name Sam West. Andre Duboi, AKA the Hammer. Lester, legal name Leeroy Tims. Axe, legal name Remi Smith. You are mercenaries under the umbrella name MFG, who also work as military contractors when you need to. Stop me when you get bored.”
“I can’t believe our luck. Our target just walked into our shop.” Sam, the leader, chuckles as he looks at the others. “I guess we don’t need all the schematics on your house layout.”
I glance over at their maps and notice they are surprisingly accurate. “Your sources are good.”
“You’re very calm for a man with a contract on his head,” Lee comments in confusion.
“I always have a contract on my head,” I retort. “It comes with the territory. Yuki, what’s the current price bar these gentlemen’s agreement?”
“One mil,” Yuki answers helpfully.
“One mil? It’s gone down. I’ll need to rectify that. The thing is, everybody knows that despite the price on my head, I have more money and power, so they don’t bother. It’s become a running joke. That’s why whoever hired you brought in outside help. They knew nobody here would take the contract.”
“Lucky us. We can collect all of them then,” Andre says.
“I like your boldness, but you’re stupid for coming here with just the two of you,” Sam drawls as he aims his gun at me and steps closer. “You’re doing our job for us.”
“My IQ is one hundred and forty-five. I’m a genius, not stupid. I also don’t need guards. I could kill all of you before you even get a shot off, but that’s not why I’m here. I have a proposition for you,” I offer, “the kind you are going to want to hear.”
“Why shouldn’t I just kill you now and take my money for a job well done?” he asks.
“Because then you’d miss out on even more money.
The way I see it, if you listen to what I have to offer and you don’t like it, then you can kill me.
All that would be wasted is a little bit of your time.
” I move closer so the barrel of the gun presses against my forehead.
“So what’s it going to be, Sam? Two minutes of your time or kill me now? ”
His eyes narrow. “What’s your game?”
“No game. Like I said, I have a proposition.” His grip wavers, and I know I have him.
I see his finger move away from the trigger, and it’s the chance I need.
Smashing my hand up, I knock the gun from his hold and twist it until it’s aimed at him.
“You should never aim so close. It leaves you open to this.” His face pales as he stares at me, but I just smile and turn the gun again, offering it back. “For you.”
He takes it with a frown as I straighten my suit.
“For my proposition, I want you to bring the person who paid you to kill me.” I hold up my hand to stop his response.
“I know how this works—they remain anonymous. I also know if you really wanted to, you have the skill to find out who is behind it. For one, they knew I would kill you, so they set you up to fail. I know that annoys you. Secondly, I will offer a nice little sum and guaranteed safety for just this short amount of legwork. Their contract plus the outstanding ones on me adds to three and a half mil, yes? I will give you six.”
“How did you know about their contract?” Sam asks with a frown.
“As I said, I’m a genius, and I have been doing this for a long time. I am not someone you want as an enemy. You are starting to understand this, yes? So let’s be friends instead. Take the contract, bring me who I want, and walk away with my regards and money and maybe some jobs later on.”
I see him debating his options before he holsters his gun. “It seems like a good deal. Besides, I never liked their contract clauses. We kill who we are paid to, but the guy you were with isn’t in this life, so he shouldn’t be targeted. It felt wrong.” He shrugs. “Sorry about that.”
“No need.” My face goes cold. “Bring me the person I want. Two days or the contract I offered is void, and I will take my revenge on you instead of them for endangering the person I care for. Do we have a deal?”
He considers me before he chuckles. “You know, they say you’re soft, the weakest of the four families, but they are wrong, aren’t they?”
“They have no idea. They see what I want them to. I’ve been playing this game since I was a kid.” I smirk. “I’m sure you appreciate that. Do we have a deal, Mr. West?”
“Yes, we do, Mr. Xander.” He holds out his hand, and I shake it.
“Good. The first half of the money was transferred before I even stepped in here. The rest will be sent when you deliver,” I inform him.
“So sure we would take it?” he scoffs.
“Confident in my offer,” I murmur. “Two days. Bring them to the address my assistant will text you. If they are not there by midnight, then we will clear your account and take your lives as an apology. Nice doing business with you.” I turn and stalk out, leaving them to work.
When we are outside, I look at Yuki. “They had detailed plans, which means they got them from somewhere. Find the rat and get rid of them. I want to feel safe in my own home. Is that understood?”
“Yes, sir.” He nods as he hurries to open the door, and I slide in. “Where to now?”
“I need a drink,” I mutter.
“Of course.” He shuts the door, and I lean back, closing my eyes. I’m exhausted, but I won’t be able to sleep. I’ve become too accustomed to a certain set of muscular arms holding me at night, and now I just feel alone and . . . unsafe without them.
I spent years sleeping alone while my fiancé was out with whoever, but one month in Nikko’s bed and I’m reluctant to sleep without him.
The music in the club thumps around me as I relax in the booth far above and away from everyone.
I need the noise but crave peace. Yuki is working, and I dismissed him.
My guards are scattered around the club somewhere, but I ignore them.
I’m also ignoring my phone, which has been ringing for at least an hour.
My eyes are closed and my fingers play with the rim of the untouched, vodka-filled tumbler. I shouldn’t drink, I need to be sharp, but I want to dull the longing I feel. One sniff of it, though, and all I can think about is Nikko and the bottle he keeps for special occasions.
My eyes fly open when I feel the air shift, and I turn my head, my heart pounding with anticipation before disappointment makes it slow and stutter to a stop. “Faiz.”
He grins at me as he slides in next to me until our thighs touch. I move away, but he moves again, and I roll my eyes, too tired to play this game, so I stay put. He leans back in the booth and watches me.
“What are you doing here?”
“Came to see you of course,” he replies. “You look tired.”
“I am, so leave,” I snap. I don’t have the patience for this tonight.
“No. Don’t you miss me at all, baby?” He reaches out, playing with my hair at the nape of my neck.
“I miss you. I miss you a lot.” He leans into me, and I know what he wants.
For a moment, I almost consider it. It would be easy to use him to forget Nikko, but the truth is, there is no forgetting what Nikko and I had—not in another’s bed or in a hundred.
Our short fling was more meaningful than my ten-year relationship with Faiz, and there is no forgetting it.
“No,” I respond, and mean it. I don’t miss him, not even a little bit, and that thought is freeing.
I thought I would be hung up on Faiz forever, never able to move on from him and what we had.
As I stare into his familiar face, I see the thousands of days we spent together and everything we shared, but it just feels comforting now, not painful.
He falters for a moment before pressing closer, his face almost touching mine.
“I know I hurt you, baby. I know I messed up a lot. I’m young and stupid.
I was bored and needed excitement, and I thought I could find it with others.
It was only after you left that I realized how wrong I was.
I know that’s fucked up, but I can’t let go of what we had, Zia.
I just can’t. We were supposed to be together forever.
Can you really walk away from that so easily?
Look at you. You’re stressed and tired. You need a partner to help.
You need someone who understands you, understands our life. No one else ever could.”