The night was deep and ink dark. I felt sweat curling down my arms as I strained to hold my position pressed up against the brick wall. Ahead, I saw Clint sliding along his route, his gun out and ready.

The target was in a warehouse just ahead of us. There was a drug deal going down, and we were assigned to take out some asshole who had been ripping off the mob for years. He’d been skimming some money off the top, overcharging his customers and pocketing the difference. That sort of scam didn’t last long, though, and when you got caught ripping off the Barone family, you got killed.

It’d been only a day since Emma walked out on me, and I still felt that burn like a torch in my chest. As soon as she was gone, I went and told Gian that I wasn’t going to take the promotion, and then I practically begged for another assignment. I thought working might take my mind off things, but so far it had only heightened my anger.

I never expected her to leave like that, not after everything. There was so much more I’d wanted to tell her, but Louisa Barone had appeared at the last second and swooped Emma up, taking her away.

I had no idea where they went, and I didn’t even try to find them. Emma had made her choice. She wanted to be a Spider, and that was fucking final. If I wanted to stay in the mafia, I couldn’t go near Emma, not anymore. She was my enemy, as much as I fucking hated that idea.

Clint caught my eye and nodded. He was in position on the roof, looking down a skylight after having climbed silently up the fire escape. I moved then, flitting from wall to wall like a shadow before stopping at a storm drain. I began to shimmy my way up, silently working up along the drain until I got to the third-floor window.

I locked myself in position with my legs and slowly slid it open. I climbed inside silently, coming up with my gun ready.

It was just an empty office. I crossed the floor and opened the door, heading toward the catwalk that overlooked the factory floor.

The target was down there finishing up his deal. The plan was for me to kill him while Clint kept the other men busy from up above. Once he was dead, I’d pull out, and then Clint would get out as soon as I was clear. I was in more danger, but I was the one who had proposed the plan. Clint was just going along with what I wanted.

I found the door and pulled it open, sliding on my stomach out onto the catwalk. I spotted the small group up ahead, maybe fifty yards away. I unslung the rifle from my shoulder and adjusted the scope, taking aim.

This was an easy shot. My target was a tall guy, maybe in his thirties. He wore a long, white basketball jersey and jeans, and he had this horrible gold chain around his neck. I wanted to shoot him based entirely on that fucking chain.

My heartrate increased as the thought of the kill jumped into my mind. This was it, the moment I always used to live for. I’d take this man’s life for the mob, prove to Gian that while I’d refused his promotion, I was still a worthwhile member of the mafia. I’d continue to do my job and do it well, and one day he’d understand.

I sighted the guy’s head and took a deep breath. Then I slowly let it out.

As I began to squeeze, Emma’s face came to my mind. The horror in her expression physically hurt me when she felt the blood on my shirt that night. She looked horrified, like she had forgotten what I did.

I was a killer, a fucking killer. That was all.

My finger stopped squeezing the trigger. The deal continued down below. I couldn’t get Emma out of my brain. The way she spoke, the way she walked, the way she fucked. Her tight pussy wrapped around my cock. Her lips against mine, her taste, her smell.

Fucking hell. I shook my head, trying to concentrate, but I couldn’t. My heart was pounding like crazy, and I was sweating as I took aim again, trying to steady myself.

The only thing in my mind was Emma.

After another minute, I slowly crawled back into the hallway. I stood up, slung the rifle over my shoulder, and climbed back out the window. I shuffled noiselessly down the drain pipe.

Once I was on the ground, I ditched the rifle in a garbage can and started walking back toward my apartment.

It was the first time I’d ever left a target alive. I’d never gone out for a kill and left before the man was finished.

But lying up there on the catwalk, the man’s skull in my sights, I couldn’t bring myself to do it. It wasn’t the idea of killing that bothered me. I was still a killer deep down in my heart. No, it was the idea of killing for the mob.

I didn’t want to kill for them anymore. I didn’t believe in their shit, didn’t have it deep inside me anymore. There was only Emma in there now, even though I wanted her out, even though she was the one who walked out on me. Killing Dante and his thugs had been easy, since that was to protect Emma. Ever since she came into my life, she was the only person I wanted to kill for.

The fucking mafia was going to have to deal with that. I didn’t know what I’d do, but I’d figure it out. I’d have to leave the city, of course, get somewhere far away. As soon as Clint figured out that I’d backed down, he’d come looking, along with all the other killers.

I needed to run far and fast.

I had money. I was ready. I had the skills to survive.

I’d rather live my life on the run, hiding out in the small corners of the world, than keep killing for the fucking mob. I wouldn’t use my skills for shit I didn’t believe in, not ever again.

* * *

As I stood in the middle of the apartment I’d spent the last few years in, I realized that I didn’t have much. I had a stack of cash shoved into a bag, some clothing, some weapons, a spare combat vest, and that was it.

The rest of my stuff, it was just the leftovers of a life that was long past over. I didn’t need any of it, not a single thing. I was ready to burn it all down and start over.

I’d miss Chicago. I grew up in the city, became the man I was in the city. Chicago was all I had ever known, and for a second I experienced a pang of regret inside me as I thought about never seeing the city again.

But it was better that way. I didn’t want to be tempted to go back to my old life. I had to make a clean break and be done with it. I had to decide to become a new man and really do it.

I hefted my bag onto my shoulder and checked the magazine of my gun. I didn’t know who was coming for me, but I was sure they’d be coming sooner or later. I had to be prepared.

I took one last look at the apartment. The memory of Emma came back to me. I remembered her body, her taste, the way she felt as I touched her and made her come. I should’ve had so many other memories of the apartment, but she was all that came back to me.

As I turned toward the door, ready to leave, someone knocked.

I went completely still and slowly lowered my bag to the ground. I listened and moved toward the door, my gun up and ready.

This could be it. I didn’t expect them to come this fast, but maybe Clint didn’t bother waiting for backup. Maybe that cocky bastard was coming right for me, or maybe he didn’t realize what I had done. Maybe he didn’t realize that by walking away from a kill, I was walking away from the mafia itself.

But then again, why would he knock? If he was coming to kill me, it would be smarter to kick down the door and start shooting, not bothering to give me a chance.

I looked out the peephole cautiously and then threw open the door.

Emma stood there. “Brooks,” she said, sounding breathless. “I thought you weren’t home.”

“I’m here.”

She bit her lip. “Can I come in?”

I nodded and let her past. Then I shut the door behind her. “I thought you were with the Spiders now.”

“Yeah, I was. I mean, I am.” She looked nervous and so damn sexy. I could feel my pulse quickening. “I had to talk to you.”

“What else is there to say?”

She glanced down at my clothes and at the bag on the floor. “Are you leaving?”

I nodded. “Walked away from a kill tonight. I need to get out of town before they come after me.”

“You left the mob?”

“I couldn’t kill for them anymore.” I shrugged, smirking at her. “Not after everything.”

“That’s why I came back,” she said, suddenly bursting out of her nervousness. “I made a deal for you. Brooks, come join the Spiders. I told Louisa I wouldn’t come without you, and she agreed that she’d take you if you promised to kill for her.”

I blinked, surprised. “I thought they didn’t want me.”

“Louisa doesn’t trust you, but I do. I trust you, Brooks, and I want you. Please, come with me.” She stepped toward me.

“Why?” I asked her.

“Because. I don’t want to be without you.”

I stepped toward her, moving close. I took her by the hips and pulled her against me, her smell filling my mind, her body against mine. I put my lips against her ear.

“I want to hear you say it,” I whispered. “Say it, and I’ll go.”

“I love you,” she said softly. “I’m in love with you Brooks, and I can’t do this without you.”

“That wasn’t so hard. Was it?”

She looked like she wanted to say something else, but I pushed whatever it was back by kissing her hard. Our lips pressed together, and I felt my body react to her instantly, my cock growing hard, my heart hammering in my chest.

That was what I’d been wanting to hear. I knew it then in that moment. Everything had been leading to this moment. I’d been waiting for it ever since I first saw her, ever since we first started this whole insane trip together.

I wanted her to love me, because I’d already fallen deeply in love with her.

Slowly I broke the kiss off. “I love you too,” I said. “I’ll come with you.”

“Really?” she asked, breathless.

“I don’t trust Louisa, just like she doesn’t trust me. But I do trust you, and I’ll follow you. I’ll follow you anywhere, Emma.”

She threw herself at me again, kissing me hard, our lips pressed together. I loved her taste and the feeling of her body crushed against mine. This was all I needed, the cause I could believe in. I could kill for Louisa Barone if Emma wanted me to. I could kill for Emma anytime or anywhere.

She was the only person I’d ever kill for again, and I knew it.

I couldn’t help myself any longer. My hands began to roam her body, feeling her breasts and sliding down toward her pussy.

“Fuck, I want you,” I whispered.

“Don’t we have to run?” she answered as I slowly slipped my hand down her pants, sliding beneath her panties.

“We do,” I whispered, “but you don’t seem to care.” Her pussy was dripping wet as I began to rub her clit, not wasting any time, not able to hold back.

“Brooks,” she gasped. “I can’t help it.”

I rubbed her clit in soft circles, working her body as she moaned into my kiss. I couldn’t stop myself. I knew it was probably a bad idea, but I had to feel myself inside her again. I couldn’t wait a single second.

She laced her hands behind my neck, kissing me hard as I worked her clit. Our lives were in danger, but when were we ever safe? It didn’t matter. The only thing I cared about was Emma and her body.

I pulled my hand from her pants and then lifted her up, wrapping her legs around me. I carried her into the bedroom, not pausing to stop kissing her, before throwing her down onto the bed.

She laughed up at me as I hungrily began to undress her. I tore off her shirt and then ripped off her pants, tossing her clothes aside. She sat up and helped me toss my vest and my shirt aside, careful of the bandages. My wounds were healing well, but they were still sore. She unbuckled my belt and took my pants and my boxer briefs off.

I stood in front of her as she knelt on all fours on the bed. She took my cock between her lips slowly, sucking my tip, working my cock between her lips. I watched her body, her fucking incredible body, as she slowly sucked my length, working my thick cock.

I loved the feeling of her tongue against my hard dick as she slid me deep into her throat. She knew how to work me, what I liked. She sucked me like a starving woman, working that cock. I pressed her head down farther, pushing my cock into her throat, grunting as desire filled my body.

I pulled her back and lifted her up onto her knees and then kissed her hard. My fingers roamed down between her legs and found her swollen, soaked clit as I began to work her again, working in slow circles. She moaned into my mouth again as I pressed my fingers deep inside her tight little pussy, fucking her like that.

She began to work my cock with her hands as I fucked her pussy with my fingers. She used her spit to slide along my length, working me, making me grunt with pleasure. I fucking loved the way she felt working that cock, and the way she moaned only made my cock rock fucking hard.

I pushed her back and then grabbed a condom from the side table. She looked up at me, her eyes filled with lust. I got onto the bed on top of her and kissed her, our bodies pressed together. I wanted to take all night, wanted to work her pussy until she was inches away, but we didn’t have time. I needed to fuck her, needed to fill her pussy up, but we couldn’t wait.

“Fuck me,” she gasped finally. “Brooks, please. Fuck me.”

I grinned at her and then ripped open the wrapper, kneeling in front of her. I rolled the condom down my length and then grabbed her legs, pulling her closer.

“I was thinking about this when you knocked,” I said. “I’m always thinking about this fucking pussy, Emma. You don’t know how hard you make me.”

I pressed my cock against her pussy and slowly pushed myself deep inside her.

She gasped, grabbing the sheets. “Oh my god,” she moaned. “That never gets old.”

I smirked and began to slowly slide in and out of her. It was soaking and slick as I pushed deeper and deeper. I leaned down and kissed her, working my hips, rolling my cock in and out of her.

“I’d risk everything for this,” I said to her. “I’d risk my life for you. Ask and I’ll do what you want, forever.”

“Right now I want you to make me come,” she moaned. “I want you to fuck me.”

“I can do that,” I whispered. “I can make this pussy come nice and hard, you dirty fucking girl.”

I pressed myself deeper inside her and she gasped. I grabbed her hips and began to fuck her deeper, harder, our bodies pressed together, sweat beginning to bead along my skin.

She was moaning wildly, her eyes half closed as I fucked her deep and hard. We weren’t wasting a single second. We were just fucking like animals, both of us needing it instantly. There was no slow buildup, nothing tender about us.

I fucked that cunt rough and hard, pressing deeper and deeper inside her. She worked her hips against me as I pushed deep inside her, thrusting in and out. Her pussy was like a vice around my cock, working my length. It made me fucking crazy as I fucked her harder, deeper.

“This fucking pussy is mine now,” I whispered.

“All of me is yours,” she moaned. “Every inch of me.”

I leaned back and grabbed her hips, fucking her harder. I began to work her clit with my thumb as I fucked her, deep and rough. I was an animal lost in her body, and the only thing I could see was Emma.

That was all there was for me anymore, just Emma.

I could see her whole body starting to tense. Her moans were louder, reckless, as she said my name again and again.

“Come for me,” I commanded. “Emma, come for me. Come on this big cock.”

“Yes,” she moaned. “Yes, yes, Brooks. Fuck me.”

I worked her and she rocked her hips, losing herself, working my cock deep inside that pussy. She slowly came hard on my cock, her whole body tensing and shaking.I grabbed her hips and held hard as I kept fucking her, watching her come. Her whole body tensed, and her moans were wild and loud, as she was out of her mind with sex and orgasm.

Watching that face pushed me over the edge. I fucked her rougher, savagely and deep, and came deep inside her pussy.

I grunted with pleasure as I came, a burst of pure bliss filling my mind. I filled that pussy up as I came, rocking my hips, fucking her rough and deep.

Slowly, both of our orgasms ended and we drifted back into the real world.

I collapsed down next to her, panting. She giggled and touched my hair. “That was intense,” she said.

“Yeah,” I agreed, “it fucking was.” I sighed, sitting up. “We need to leave, though.”

She pouted. “Are you sure? We can’t just stay here, risk our lives a little bit more?”

I laughed and kissed her gently on the lips. “Unfortunately, as much as I want to stay right here with you, we need to get moving. Did Louisa say where we need to be?”

She sighed and started to get dressed. “I know where to go. Don’t worry.”

I nodded and tossed the condom in the trash before putting my clothes back on. I watched her out of the corner of my eye, barely able to conceal a smile.

Not too long ago, I was packing to leave this city alone. I was ready to start a new life and to leave my old one behind.

Now, I was doing that same thing, but this time I was leaving to start a new life with Emma. I was giving it all up, but I was giving it all up for her. Really, I’d always been giving it up for her, even if she didn’t know it.

She was the reason for all of this. She was the reason I was leaving the mob and was ready to start a new life, a better life.

When we finished dressing, we walked out into the living room. I grabbed my pack and threw it over my shoulder. She smiled at me.

“Are you ready for this?”

I nodded and pulled her against me. “Better question is, are you?”

“I think so.”

“Sure you can handle this?” I asked. “Are you sure you can handle me?”

She smiled. “I think so.”

“Good.” I kissed her once. “Let’s get the fuck out of here.”

I walked to the door, threw it open, and we left the apartment together. We walked down the stairs, went out the front door, and went out into the city together.

I didn’t look back.

There was nothing left back there.

I felt Emma take my hand, and I laced my fingers through hers. That was all I needed.