Chapter Ten
He left before she woke up. She’d only worry, and he didn’t want any emotional distractions—not today. Lori would be safe at the cabin, and he’d find out where he stood with Boss before he returned to her. He couldn’t punish him for having a woman, not when he gave his blessing to at least four other hitmen on his payroll. As far as he knew, being committed to a woman didn’t affect their performance on the job. Same would ring true for him—he’d prove it if he had to.
Once he hit the main highway, his GPS said he’d be at his destination in just over an hour. He turned on the satellite radio, and cranked the music. Yes, he hated Xavier for breaking into his house, but Boss had planted a file there. It had been part of his plan. Maybe Chains was more disappointed in himself than angry at Xavier. He really didn’t expect that bastard to jump through all Boss’s hoops successfully. And he never thought Lori was in danger. The security system had been activated, and Chains had only been gone a few hours. He needed to be smarter.
He zoned out as he drove, his mind going in several directions. El Diablo was more like him than he cared to realize—both forced to survive with the odds against them, both sadistic enough that Boss wanted to recruit them. Chains remembered when he first met Boss. He swore he’d met the devil himself. The owner of Killer of Kings was in his home town on a contract hit with a couple of men. One of them was Viper.
Chains had worked his way up the ladder, working for a powerful Bratva doing hits and shakedowns. He was able to maim and kill with no remorse, a sought-after quality in his line of work. From an early age, he’d gone numb in the emotions department, a safety mechanism thanks to his shit childhood.
Boss had been there to kill the man he worked for, the kingpin of the organization. Chains was young, but he still managed to put up one hell of a fight. That was as far as he got, but instead of making an example of him, Boss ended up offering him a position at Killer of Kings.
It hadn’t take Boss long to uncover every detail of his miserable life—crooked orphanages, unspeakable abuse, and a life of crime and violence. But he saw deeper, saw Chains’s skills and the person underneath all the bullshit. He had pity on him.
“What’s with the scars?” Boss asked.
They were on a plane to America, Chains leaving everything behind. Boss had the seat beside him at the front of the plane—the very best money could buy. Chains rubbed his wrist, looking down at one of the permanent reminders he wanted wiped from memory. “Chains.”
Boss nodded. “You survived. That’s what counts,” he said. “Bottle that shit up and use it to your advantage.”
They never spoke more about his sins or any of the horrors he’d endured. Boss probably knew it all anyway. Now he saw something in El Diablo.
Once he neared his location, Chains sat straighter, more on alert. They were meeting at a shipping yard, mountains of colored containers creating a maze of metal.
He dialed Killian. “You on site?”
“Just pulling in. Keep on the down low. El Diablo will be going for the yellow office trailer near the dock.”
“It looks like business as usual around here. Boss prepared for the collateral damage?”
“We’re professionals, eh?”
He hung up and drove around back. His trunk had everything he’d need if things got ugly, but the whole point of this venture was to blackmail Xavier into a job at Killer of Kings. Even if things went down without a hitch, which was unlikely, he still had to explain himself to Boss. He hadn’t lied, just failed to offer every detail of his life. Lori was his business, no one else’s.
His custom holsters were full, his jacket hiding all the heat. He parked and walked around the area. The place was bustling—trucks backing up, cranes loading containers, and every sort of bell and whistle. With all the dock workers, there would be a bloodbath if Xavier decided he wanted nothing to do with Boss’s offer. He patrolled up and down the aisles between stacks of metal containers. Everything had gone too smoothly. El Diablo was either a genius or a fool for making it to the end of Boss’s trail of breadcrumbs.
He didn’t have a good feeling about any of this. It wasn’t Boss’s style. His instincts were screaming at him to get out.
If Xavier was indeed like him, then he was smarter than this.
Chains walked to the edge of the dock, looking down at the water lapping the sides. He’d left a cell phone with Lori for emergencies, and he called it to ease his mind.
“Took you long enough.”
His blood turned to ice, his muscles tensing. He kept still, the horn from a boat sounding off.
“Nothing personal, Chains. But, if I were you, I’d make sure you play nice.” Of all his men, Boss had to send Bain. He was a sadistic bastard.
“If you touch her—”
“Relax. She doesn’t even know I’m here,” said Bain.
He paced back and forth. “I don’t get it. What point does Boss want to make?”
“Keeping a woman hostage in your basement is kind of fucked up, no?”
“Does she look like a prisoner?”
Bain exhaled. “Look, I couldn’t give a shit, but your extracurricular activities are making you sloppy. Did you put on false plates when you drove Boss to that poker game the other day? You think company vehicles aren’t tracked?”
He paused. Fuck, he’d been so worried about leaving Lori alone in the basement that he’d been making stupid mistakes. He’d used the same car to drive Lori to the damn cottage. So much for his hidden retreat.
“We weren’t tailed.”
Bain scoffed. “You willing to bet her life on it? Having a woman in our line of work complicates everything. Makes you a liability. You have to be on top of your game every second.” The line went silent. “According to Boss, you’ll have unwanted visitors within the hour.”
“I’ll leave now.”
“You leave, Boss gives me the go ahead to torch this Popsicle stand.”
Another test.
Boss wanted him to be one hundred percent loyal to Killer of Kings. The man had a hard-on for control. If Chains sacrificed the mission or Boss’s safety, Lori’s life could be in danger. If he stayed, her life was in jeopardy as those mobsters looked for revenge. He couldn’t win this.
“You wouldn’t dare,” he said. “Do you know who the fuck I am?”
Bain laughed. “You know exactly what I’m capable of, so don’t test me. Boss said to break her legs first. That’s if she survives the fire.”
“You’re a real piece of shit,” he said. “I’ll stay. Don’t go near her.” Then he added. “She’s all I have, Bain. If anything happens to her … I know where you live.” He hung up the phone.
No problem. Get El Diablo to sign on with Boss, then race back to the cottage before anyone could get there. He took a deep breath, knowing this entire mess was due to his inability to separate business and pleasure. All these emotions were new for him. He was used to going in headlong, not caring about consequences or worrying about getting hurt. Boss kept him close because he had nothing to lose and everything to gain. Things were different now.
Thanks to Lori he cared more about survival. She was his salvation. Or would he lose her, destined to always end up with the short stick in life?
At this point, he didn’t care about appearances. He pulled out a Glock, holding it just inside the lapel of his leather jacket. His heart still raced, a powerful sense of betrayal making him see red. How could Boss do this to him after so many years of loyalty? Chains was a fool to think that monster could actually care about anyone but himself.
He found the trailer and didn’t bother hiding until Xavier showed up. He opened the door and barged inside. There were two men sitting having coffee.
“Break time’s over. Get out.” Usually his size and appearance were enough to get results without having to get physical. When they didn’t move, he repeated himself in Russian. Then they scurried out with no argument.
Chains sat down on the swivelling chair of the main desk, lifting up both legs to get comfortable. What was so damn important that El Diablo would go on this goose chase? The final file should be here, in this specific trailer. Chains pulled open the top drawer and saw an envelope marked “Top Secret”. He grabbed it out and tore off the seal. He wanted to know exactly what the fuck was going on around here. He slid out the paperwork and examined it.
Interesting.
Boss was skilled at finding the slightest weakness to use against a person, and it appeared that even the Colombian devil had an Achilles’ heel.
He waited, leaning back in the chair, wishing he could be heading back to the cottage. Anyone who hurt his woman would suffer severely. It wasn’t much longer when he heard the handle rattle. He pulled out his gun and aimed it at the doorway, his arm crossed over his chest as he palmed a second.
The moment El Diablo’s head popped into the trailer, he had instant recognition. They’d spent quite a bit of time together last time Boss had him tail the hitman. He’d do just about anything for money or pussy, and it surprised him he had this sensitive spot to exploit. It was probably why he had had pity on Lori.
He released the handle of the second gun, still aiming the first, then wagged the envelope in the air. Xavier immediately slipped inside, slamming the door shut behind him.
“That’s not for you, big boy. Hand it over.”
Chains smiled. “I’ve already read it.”
Xavier licked his lips, his dark eyes unreadable. “What do you want?”
“All I care about right now is my woman.”
He nodded. “Oh, I get it. This is about that girl I set free from your makeshift prison. You’re a real piece of work, buddy.”
Chains sat up straight, bringing his legs down. “Listen, it’s not what you think. She came back to me. I’m going to marry that woman.”
“I think both of you need some counseling.”
“I have something you want, but you’re not getting it so easily,” said Chains.
“I can shoot you right now and take it.”
He smirked. “I’d love to see you try.” He opened his jacket, revealing his one-man arsenal.
“Tell me what you want.”
“The reason you’re here. The reason this exists.” He shook the file in the air. “It’s all because Boss wants you working for Killer of Kings. Consider this his recruitment.”
“Do I have a choice?”
“You can choose to walk out the door, but you don’t get the information, and Boss won’t be all too happy.”
“And that’s it?”
Chains exhaled. How much should he tell this fucker? He cared enough to release Lori in the first place, and after reading the paperwork, he knew the devil had a heart. “Boss won’t let me leave until you agree to sign on. I need to leave.”
“Hot date?” Xavier winked.
“Someone I pissed off is heading to my cottage right now, looking for revenge. Considering my woman’s there alone, I’m real motivated to get this shit moving along.”
“She locked in the basement again?”
“Fuck off, Xavier.”
“El Diablo to you,” he said. “I have nothing to do. How about we take a ride, and then I’ll come talk to your Boss.”
“Don’t play games with me. You’re going to work for Killer of Kings?”
“I’ve seen your place, so I know they pay well. What can it hurt, right? Consider our road trip a way to put water under the bridge.”
“Okay, let’s do this.”
****
Lori woke up and showered. She didn’t expect Chains to be in her bed. And she needed to get used to him coming and going without constantly worrying about him. He was all she had now, and the way he made her feel … she couldn’t lose that.
After having a light breakfast, she noticed an SUV parked down the road, partly shrouded by brush. Had it always been there? Chains’s car wasn’t in the driveway.
He said they were at his cottage because it was too dangerous at his home right now. She was safe. The man who’d released her was supposed to be a madman, and the threat of him returning was enough to make Chains pack up and leave his house.
She glanced over at the kitchen table, looking for the cellphone Chains had left her. It wasn’t there. She wandered around the cottage, checking the counters and ledges, even inside drawers. Where had she put it? Great, if something happened she had no contact to the outside world. She took a deep breath, calming herself. He said he wouldn’t take too long, so she could wait. This was a little piece of paradise, so who was she to complain?
Lori put on her jacket and shoes, stepping out onto the wraparound porch. The view was spectacular, one side thick forest and the other looking down onto a valley. The air smelled of pine and black earth, a welcoming contrast to the stench of the city where she grew up.
She’d never been one to exercise, too busy working, then too tired to care. Maybe she’d take up hiking. Lori ventured down the steps, running her fingertips along the wild flowers. She felt so free, so happy. Chains had turned her entire world around. It may have started off a little unorthodox, but she couldn’t complain now.
Lori picked up a good-sized walking stick and used it as she entered the forest. It was a different world under the forest canopy. The birds sang, and squirrels scampered in the branches above her. She could hear the faint sound of a creek in the distance, so she kept going, hiking deeper and deeper into the forest.
She wasn’t sure how much time passed, too enamored by the beauty of the nature around her. Lori had never had time for fairy tales, but right now she felt like she was in the middle of one. She’d lived such a sheltered life, so much still to learn and explore. When she heard branches cracking far behind her, her nerves picked up. She looked back and saw nothing, but realized she’d hiked far enough that she’d have trouble finding the cottage again.
Should she be more afraid of wild animals or El Diablo? She crouched down behind some briars, peeking down the beaten path again. A swath of fabric made her breath catch. Was she seeing things?
Then she saw him. Lori would recognize that face anywhere. His dark hair was pushed mostly off his face, his black eyes focused. Chains was right, he’d come looking for her. This time she had a feeling he wouldn’t be so generous.
A sudden wave of dizziness left her head swimming. There was nowhere to go, and even her cellphone had vanished. When he kept coming closer, no longer trying to hide, she decided to take her chances. She got up and started running. The branches and twigs of the unbeaten paths scratched at her exposed skin, but she couldn’t slow down now.
“Hey, stop!”
Yeah, like that’s going to happen. Lori wanted to live. She needed to survive until Chains came home. Her mind was a mess. Where would they be safe? Would life with him always be like this?
When she stopped to take a breath, peering behind her, she noticed two men coming from another direction. What the hell? She’d never seen them before. Had Chains sent them to protect her? Were they hunters? She decided anyone was better than El Diablo. A stitch in her side slowed her up, but she moved in the direction of the strangers. She braced the trees as she roughed it through the overgrown paths.
“Lori, stop running!” El Diablo was catching up on her. Damn, she was out of shape.
The other men started to come into better view. They looked like they belonged in a night club, not the middle of the wilderness. That’s when she noticed they had handguns, and once they got a clear view of her, one of them aimed and fired. She screamed and ducked down, not knowing which way to run. So much for her carefree romp in the forest. The only thing she could do was venture deeper, away from all these murderers.
Another bullet whizzed by her head. She was too hyped up on adrenaline to cry or scream. Her focus was survival.
The next time she turned to gauge their distance, she saw the violent spray of blood come out the left side of the lead man’s head. He collapsed heavily to the forest floor. The other guy briefly looked down at him before continuing the pace, right toward her.
What’s happening?
Lori had been so transfixed on the nightmare in front of her that she hadn’t focused on El Diablo coming from her other side. He bent down and grabbed her, hoisting her effortlessly to her feet. She used all her strength to kick and punch him, struggling like a wild woman, but he wrapped a solid arm around her body, pinning her arms to her sides.
“Relax.”
“Let me go!”
The other man was getting closer. Were they together? Would they torture her? Kill her? When El Diablo’s chest rumbled in laughter, she thought he’d lost his mind.
Then she saw him.
Chains.
He came up behind the other man, wrapping an arm around his neck, and knocking the gun out of his hand. It disappeared in the leaf litter. “I thought we made ourselves clear, motherfucker. The city is Killer of Kings’ turf, and now you’ve just crossed the line.”
The man gurgled, his face turning red.
“You shot at my woman.” Chains let him go, shoving him to his knees. “Grab your gun. I fucking dare you.”
The guy got to his feet, and Chains punched him in the face, once, twice, and a third time. They started going at each other, kicking, punching, and shoving with skills she’d only seen in the movies. As the other man stumbled back, he reached for the gun, but before he could aim, a bullet when right through his hand. He screamed and hugged his arm, blood leaking down.
Lori gasped.
“Nothing to worry about,” said El Diablo. “Your boyfriend’s got this handled.”
She remembered when he’d murdered Carlton for hurting her. He was a killer. And he was hers. Chains grabbed a gun from his shoulder holster and put a bullet in the man’s head, right between the eyes as if he’d done it a thousand times—maybe he had.
He started coming for her, and instead of feeling afraid or sobered, she only felt relief. A shadow appeared from behind a tree on the path Chains had taken. A third man? He didn’t have time to turn all the way around when a bullet stopped him in his tracks. Chains crashed sidelong against a large oak, pointing his gun despite his injury.
Chains didn’t need to fire back, because the third man dropped to the ground. They all stared, everyone frozen and silent, not daring to move a muscle. Where was the other gunman? Who would be shot next?
El Diablo used one arm to hold her, getting his free hand onto a handgun.
“I told you it was nothing personal.” A huge man dressed in black came out into the open, his arms covered in ink. “But weren’t you supposed to deliver the package to Boss at the docks?”
“Would you take a chance with Scarlett’s life, Bain?” asked Chains.
“Yeah. Guess I wouldn’t.”
“At least my cabin’s still standing. I was expecting a pile of ash.”
“Nice piece of land you have here.”
Bain pulled out his cellphone and turned around as he talked to someone. She could only make out a few words like “handled” and “three of them”.
She struggled in El Diablo’s grasp, and he released her. Lori rushed over to Chains, throwing herself in his arms. Even his scent brought down her nerves. He winced.
“You’re shot,” she said. Lori wanted to examine him, but he only held her close to his chest. He kissed the top of her head.
“I’m okay. What about you? Did anyone hurt you?” he asked.
She shook her head.
“I’m so sorry, baby. All I could think about was getting back to you.”
Bain put away his phone. “Boss is waiting to see the three of you. I wouldn’t keep him waiting too long. I’ll be meeting Viper in the city to make an example of whoever sent these bastards. Boss’s orders. They don’t know what’s coming.”
The way he said the words made her shudder. Whoever he was after was not going to have a good day.