Chapter 9
GIO
“What the hell do you mean, you can’t find her? How can someone just disappear like that?” I holler at Grant over the phone.
It’s been four days of her occupying my mind. Four days of fucking dreaming of her, God damn it, yet I can’t find her. Can’t make her pay for running off on me the way she did.
“I don’t know what to tell you, but so far, she hasn’t shown up on any of the cameras I’ve tapped into. If she had, I’d know about it.”
“Do better!” I slam a fist on my desk at work, the glass of whiskey rattling beside me. “Did you try worldwide cameras?”
Grant chuckles. “How many countries are we talking?”
“All of them!”
He laughs harder. “You ever going to tell me what happened with the two of you?”
“No.” I run a hand down my face, my voice lowering. “Just find her.”
“I’ll call you if I do.” He pauses. “But I wouldn’t hold my breath if I were you. She doesn’t want to be found, Gio. You’re going to have to get over her.”
Never going to happen.
“I wasn’t asking for your opinion, Grant. Just do your job.” I hang up before he hears me break some shit.
I shove the chair back, rising to my feet, hands in my hair as I let out a frustrated groan. Not only can I not find Red, but the only lead on Bryce’s killer was a dead end.
When I paid Donny a visit in prison, he swore it was him who killed Bryce. He even told me what went down and exactly how it went down. It matched up to the video I saw, which he doesn’t know about. He’s definitely covering for someone else.
I settle back on the leather chair and shut my eyes, and she comes into my mind.
Haunting me.
Red.
I can’t eat. Can’t sleep. It’s become an unhealthy obsession looking for her the way I have. Whoever she is, she’s making it her mission to stay undetected.
And finding her is going to be mine.
ISEULT
I stay seated in the small, dimly lit bar with Kora on the stool beside me, chatting with the man we’ve been sent to extinguish, Lance, to her left.
He never stood a chance when we walked in—short, tight black dresses, heels a good five inches long, our hair perfectly curled around our slender shoulders.
Once Kora and I sat down and ordered a drink, he and his business partner were keen on joining us. Men are so predictable. Dangle a carrot, and they come running like rabbits.
I will say, I’m kind of disappointed that Orgasm Man hasn’t found me since I arrived in the city. I know it’s delusional to think he could. It’s like finding a needle in a haystack. Not as though he can see me through some magical crystal ball. But I had high hopes.
That number I gave him belongs to this asshole, Jack, who I once hooked up with.
And ever since, it’s been my mission to ruin his life.
Whenever someone asks for my number, I’m always more than happy to give them his.
Oh, and I also burned his Porsche and got him fired from his six-figure job at a bank.
Wonder if he knew it was me who tipped off his boss about the past sexual harassment allegations he had against him.
He was one of those guys who didn’t understand what the word no meant.
Was rougher than he had to be. So I broke his hand in three places, and last I heard, it still doesn’t work right.
He’s lucky I didn’t kill him, because I wanted to.
So badly. But I can’t go around killing anyone without my father’s approval.
Sanctioned murders only. Not as though I can tell my father why I wanted the bastard dead.
He wouldn’t be too happy about my extracurricular activities.
But I have two rules, and the first is never let a man get close, so sleeping with random guys when I get the itch is how I get by.
“So, what’s your name?” Lance’s business partner asks, pulling up his black-rimmed glasses on his wide nose.
He’s my father’s age. They both are. And definitely not my type. No itches are going to be scratched here tonight.
“Isabella.” I grin. “And yours?”
“Benson.” He lifts my hand to his mouth, staring into my eyes as though he can’t wait to get me out of my clothes. “It’s a pleasure to meet such a beautiful woman. What brings you here tonight?”
I twirl my hair around my finger, leaning my head into my shoulder. “My friend and I were just out having fun. How about you?”
“Business.” His mouth slants up. “And hopefully some pleasure.”
And there you have it, folks.
“That sounds like a fun time to me.” I giggle.
“Lance and I have a hotel suite right above if you two want to come up and continue the party there.”
I quickly glance at Kora, giving her a knowing look. “That would be perfect.”
“Great. I—”
His phone suddenly vibrates across the bar, and his eyes immediately land on the caller ID once he picks it up. His face goes ashen, his demeanor shifting with displeasure.
“Would you ladies excuse us for a moment? We have an important call. Lance.” He gestures with a tilt of his head, getting off his swivel stool, with Lance following behind.
“I’ll be right back,” Lance tells Kora. “Don’t you go anywhere.” He smiles on a chuckle.
“Wouldn’t dream of it.” She shoots him one of her sultry grins.
Then they’re rushing out toward the exit, until they disappear out of sight.
“We can do it right now,” I whisper to her.
“And miss all the excitement at their hotel room?” she mocks.
I reach into my handbag and remove a small tube of what appears to be mascara. Darting my eyes around the bustling place and not seeing anyone looking at us, I hand it to her.
She opens it discreetly and spills a few drops of undetectable, yet deadly liquid into Lance’s drink. It’s something new our chemist has concocted.
“I’m sorry about that, ladies,” Lance says behind us, and my pulse quickens.
Kora slips the mascara tube into her bag.
“Shall we go?” Benson asks, extending his hand for mine.
“Can we finish our drinks first?” Kora flirts with a look on her face that has them sitting right back down.
“Of course, sweetheart,” Lance says, placing his hand on the top of her thigh.
Instead of sipping on it, she downs the entire thing, and doesn’t even flinch.
“Wow, you sure were thirsty.” Lance ogles her with obvious desire.
“I was.” She laughs flirtatiously, rolling her finger up and over his knee. “For you.”
He clears his throat, a trembling hand picking up his own drink before he’s gulping it down.
“You next,” Benson tells me as he lifts his own beverage and cheers with me before he finishes his off. I swallow the remainder of my champagne, placing the glass down gently.
It’ll take a good five minutes for Lance’s heart to stop beating. Long enough for us to get to the elevators and for him to die before we even make it to their room.
Lance pays the tab, and together, we head out through the double glass doors. Benson wraps an arm around me while we wait for the elevator, and I instantly recoil.
Kora stifles a laugh, catching my expression.
“You truly are a beautiful woman,” Benson whispers across my ear.
And before I can even thank him, Lance’s hand flies to his chest, his eyes growing wide with terror.
“Oh my God! Are you okay?” Kora’s voice trembles, and that has Benson turning toward his friend.
“Lance?” Benson’s silver brows tighten.
But Lance doesn’t say a word. Silently, he drops onto the floor.
Dead within seconds. I don’t even need to check his pulse.
Kora shrieks, ever the good actress, and soon enough, we’re surrounded by a crowd, with Benson too busy worrying about his friend to watch us slip away.
“So, that was kinda fun.” Kora throws an arm around me, grinning as we stride down a busy city street, crowds of people walking by, taxis honking from every direction.
As many times as I come to the city, I never actually go catch the sights.
Kind of wish I had a simpler life sometimes.
One where I could go see a Broadway show or go all the way to the top of the Statue of Liberty.
But I can’t do any of those things. With the kind of work I do around the city—and everywhere else, for that matter—I have to minimize my exposure.
The less I’m seen, the better. Sometimes it’s unavoidable, but other times, I take careful steps to prevent being recorded, and the city is full of cameras.
“Oh my God. Look.” Kora points to a Shake Shack. “Want to get some?”
“I’m kinda tired. I want to head to my apartment, and you have to drive back.”
She knows me well enough to know I’d never invite her to stay over. I prefer to have my nightmares all by my lonesome. That way no one knows about them.
I can control the panic attacks, but I can’t control what happens once I close my eyes. I know she’d never tell anyone, but I don’t want her pity.
I feel like a total asshole for making her drive all the way back to Cherry Grove, but I know she’d never make me feel bad about it. Kora lives at the academy, in one of the spacious apartments built underground. It’s like a damn city down there.
“Oh, come on! I want a shake damn bad,” she begs, pulling my wrist toward the restaurant. “We may not get this opportunity again.”
“Fine.” I let go of her and cross my arms over my chest. “But hurry up. My feet are killing me, and I need sleep.”
“You’re getting one too.” She hooks her arm through mine and practically drags me toward the entrance. “Gotta live a little, Iz.”
If I didn’t like her, I’d have killed her by now. She’s all sunshine and rainbows, while I’m rainclouds and thunder.
But when she’s working, when she’s killing, there’s nothing sweet about her.
Kora is three years younger than me and joined Caellach when she was seventeen.
Her father is my father’s right hand, and he wanted her to be a weapon for our organization.
He has no other kids and puts a lot of pressure on Kora.
And of course Daddy Dearest couldn’t refuse his friend.
So here we are, two women in a sea of men who we have no problems putting in their place.
The guys at the academy are pretty respectful. Now. After they got their asses handed to them, which in turn earned us respect. Not that we needed it.
We step into the restaurant and order some Oreo shakes. Once they’re ready and in our hands, we continue back out onto the street. I must admit the drink is pretty damn good.
“See? Wasn’t this worth it?” She elbows me as we stroll back to her car, parked across from mine.
My mouth jerks as I continue enjoying the liquid dessert. But she catches my smile and smiles even wider.
“Okay, well, I guess this is goodbye,” she says, giving me a tight hug once we’re in front of her SUV. “We should come back to the city one night. Grab dinner at some fancy steakhouse, go dancing at a club.”
I give her an are you kidding me look.
“What? We have to enjoy our life too, Iz. Life is so fragile, you know? Never know what the future holds.” Her features tighten with melancholy.
She’s right. We’ve all lost people. Family. Friends. Colleagues. Life is made up of tiny camera flashes, but we’re too busy to ever look through the lens and grab hold of the present moments until it’s too late.
Instantly, I see my mother’s face, dark brown hair like my siblings, golden eyes. I miss her terribly. Even after all these years, there hasn’t been a single moment that I’ve forgotten. The way she’d braid my hair, always so perfect. The way she’d wake us up with the corniest song.
Wakey, wakey, eggs and bakey, she’d say.
We’d groan and tell her to quit it, but right now, I’d beg for just one more song. Just one more morning. Just one more hug.
An ache pounds behind my eyes, and I fight it.
People leave. Sometimes they mean to. Sometimes they don’t. But in the end, the reasons don’t matter, because all you’re left with is a gaping hole that hurts like hell and never quite heals.
It’s easier not to get attached to anyone. Easier to be alone. To be responsible for just yourself. It’s why I didn’t want to befriend Kora when we first met. I didn’t want someone else to worry about. But she’s like family to me now. If something were to ever happen to her…
Forcing myself, I concentrate on her, dialing down the humming of my dreadful thoughts.
“The last time we went out to that dive bar…” I arch both brows. “…I had to carry you home. You probably don’t even remember.”
“I do.” She flings a shoulder. “But that was six months ago. And, most importantly, we had a good time, didn’t we?” Her bright pink lips wind up.
I can’t help but return a tight sneer. “I guess.”
“Oh, look, she smiles. If we can call it that…”
“Shut up.” I swat her with the back of my hand. “You’re sober, right?”
We never drink and drive, but we didn’t want to mess up with Lance. He had to die before my father’s court appearance.
“Yeah, I’m good. That champagne tasted like water.”
“Okay. Go.” I grab her shoulder and squeeze. “Make sure you text me as soon as you get back home, got it?”
“Yes, Mom.” She salutes me.
“I mean it, Kora.” My pulse hitches, those thoughts slamming into my head. But I shake it off. “Promise to text me.”
She must note the harshness of my expression, because she stops smiling and places her palm against my forearm.
“Okay, Iz, I promise. Nothing’s going to happen to me.” She throws both arms around me and holds me tight. “I love you, stupid.”
“Wow, you’re a sweet friend.” I hold her even tighter, closing my eyes as I do.
She sighs. “Okay, I’m going now. I’ll see you tomorrow?”
“Yeah, probably.”
“Call me when you get back,” she tells me, and with a wave, she enters her car and starts it before heading out onto the road.
I watch her go, and then I’m crossing the street toward my own SUV, getting inside and starting the car.
The drive to my place takes longer with the traffic, and once I arrive, I slip into a parking spot, conveniently across from my place.
“Good evening.” The doorman lets me in as I thank him, and I head inside the twelve-story building that is my home away from home.
My heels clack along as I reach the elevator, pressing a button to call it down. The lobby is empty. No one here but a security guard.
The elevator dings, and I step inside, pressing twelve, when suddenly a hand shoots out, stopping the doors from closing.
“Caught it just in time,” a man’s husky voice announces.
And my heart ceases to beat.
Because I’d know that voice anywhere.
“Hello, Red.” His lips curl on one end, dark eyes capturing mine. “It’s been a while.”
My head spins, and suddenly he’s there, his body nearing mine, shooting me with a wicked glare.
Fuck.
He found me.