Chapter Thirteen
“Out of the room.” Boss pointed to the door. “I need to speak with Chains alone.”
“Are you going to hurt him?” asked Lori.
Boss didn’t look ready to humor her.
“It’s okay, baby. Just business. I’ll be out soon,” said Chains.
Lori looked back at him as she left the room, the door finally clicking shut behind her. He hated being caught in this position, but he could only blame himself. When he’d taken Lori from behind the diner, it had been pure instinct. There was just something about her that called to him, demanded he keep her as his reward for a fucked-up life. He hadn’t used a level head then or when he went on his last assignment with Boss. Chains knew firsthand what happened to hitmen who left loose ends or turned sloppy. Boss demanded perfection. He was obsessed with keeping the reputation of Killer of Kings hard as nails.
“So…”
“I know I fucked up, but it won’t happen again,” said Chains.
Boss tapped a pen on the desk, swiveling slightly back and forth in his chair. “Of all people, I wouldn’t expect you to take a prisoner. I mean, fuck, after the shit you’ve been through it doesn’t make sense.”
“She wasn’t my prisoner. Not for long, anyway. We both feel the same way about each other, so I don’t see a problem.”
“Of course you don’t. But I guarantee you’ll cost me money and the lives of my men if you keep screwing around on the job. I can’t have it. I won’t have it.”
He wanted to ask what was next, but kept his mouth shut. Why was Boss stalling? Just put a bullet in his head and get it over with. Once Boss made up his mind, nothing he could say would change a thing regardless.
“I keep you close for a reason. I trust you, and you always give me your best. When I need a driver, intel, guaranteed hit, anything … I call you and get results.”
“That doesn’t have to change.”
Boss stood up and rolled out his shoulders. “Viper and Bain are off to clean up your mess right now. Even though you fucked me over, I won’t tolerate anyone trying to take out my men. The only thing going for you is getting El Diablo to sign on with Killer of Kings.”
“Because you blackmailed him.”
Boss shook his head. “I got information he couldn’t. Nothing’s free, Chains. Not in this fucking life.” He walked back and forth in front of the hotel windows, admiring the skyline.
Apparently when El Diablo was sold off to a gang as a child, he hadn’t been the only one. He had a younger sister, but she’d disappeared when he tried to find her as an adult. Boss managed to find her, but he required loyalty in exchange for the information.
“Lori’s innocent. I got her mixed up in this shit, so please leave her out of this. I know I screwed up, but I gave you a lot of good years. Surely that counts for something.” It was his last request, one more chance to try to ensure Lori didn’t get hurt.
Boss nodded slowly as if lost in thought. “I have to make an example of you, Chains. Whether I want to or not.”
“What does that mean?”
“I’ve always loved that property of yours up north,” said Boss. “And you really believed I didn’t know about it? Cute.”
Killian sat on the edge of the desk, looking bored.
“Let’s not bullshit around. What have you decided?” asked Chains.
Boss smirked, walking around with his hands clasped behind his back. “You remind me of Killian. I brought you both to America, both orphans, both used to living in shitholes. Everything went great until you found women.”
“Then why am I the one being punished?”
Boss tutted. “You want to know what I decided? Tell him, Killian.”
Killian ran a hand through his blond hair. “You said you were going to fire him.”
“Fire him,” Boss repeated. “That’s never happened, has it, Chains?”
He shook his head.
“Of course not, because I don’t fire people, I make them disappear. No potential problems that way.”
“I’ll go far away. I won’t make any problems for you or the company, you know that,” said Chains.
Boss laughed, an evil, twisted sound. “You’d love that wouldn’t you?” Then he stopped in his tracks. “Like I’ve told you before, I can’t leave you unpunished, and that wouldn’t be punishment. So, you’ll be in charge of training El Diablo. That whiny bastard will be your shadow until he meets Killer of Kings’ standards. After that point, you can choose to walk away or stay on. As long as there are no more fuckups.”
“Fuck that shit. I can’t stand that pompous asshole. I won’t do it!”
Lori burst back in the office, rushing over to him. “Chains! Take the damn deal,” said Lori.
Boss and Killian chuckled. “Better listen to your woman, Chains. She’s a smart one,” said Killian.
She looked up at Chains, pleading with her eyes, holding him tighter. Some of the tension in his muscles eased.
“Fine.” He said nothing more.
“Thank you,” she said to Boss.
“I didn’t do it for you, sweetheart.” He turned to Chains. “I did it for him. He’s always been like a son to me.”
Boss jutted his head to Killian, and the other man reluctantly got off the desk. He clapped Chains hard on the shoulder before walking to the door. “Better you than me, eh?” Killian laughed as he left.
“El Diablo will be healing up for a while. He’s a real fucking pussy. Take the next couple weeks to get your shit together. And take care of your girl. She’s been through enough.” Then he pointed to the exit.
Chains rushed them out to the elevator once given the chance. “I can’t believe he pulled this on me.”
“How are you complaining? I thought I could lose you, Chains.”
“Training recruits doesn’t take a couple weeks. This isn’t a department store. It’ll take years. That means years of dealing with that prick, having him underfoot constantly.”
“He’s not so bad. He set me free, remember?”
He growled after a lengthy silence. “I’m an idiot.”
“Why would you say that?”
“I worried about me instead of thinking about you. You’re absolutely fucking right, baby. We’re both alive, and we have each other. That’s what matters.”
They held hands. “I don’t ask for much. I just need you,” she said.
“Since I’m alive and well, which is better than I expected, we’ll still be paying for your brothers and sisters to get a good education and on their feet. You love them, and whatever’s important to you is important to me.”
“Thank you.”
“Remember when I asked you to tell me your happy memories. And they weren’t about you?” She nodded. “I understand now. Because I’ve fallen in love.”
They kissed slowly, sensually.
“Good and bad, I’m here. I’m yours,” she said.
“I’d go through all the bullshit in my life all over again if I knew you were the prize.” He cupped the side of her face, using his thumb to wipe away a tear.
“I love you, Chains. I’d still be in the same miserable place in my life if you hadn’t come in my diner that night.”
He winked. “You were right about the pie.” They both smiled, remembering the crazy memories. “And I promise I’ll spend the rest of my life treating you with the love and respect you deserve.”
She collapsed against him, and he held her tight. Together, they headed back to the cottage. Their little slice of heaven. She’d never look back, never regret a thing. She may have come from lowly roots, but Chains made her feel like a princess.
They’d saved each other, both given a second chance at happiness. Chains may be a killer, a hitman for hire, but he was hers, and she wouldn’t change a thing about him.
The End