Page 30 of Pretty Threats

My brows rise. No one’s ever straight up called me that. I’ve watched enough True Crime documentaries to know, but before now, no one else seemed to realize.

C’s voice is low, but his stare is trained on War. “That means he’s gonna have to fake feelings for this girl, and it better be an Oscar-worthy performance.”

War is stone-faced. Trick’s sitting back casually, but his forearm is lying across his belt. If either War or I make a wrong move, he’s ready. I’ve seen how fast he is. Even this close, he could probably shoot us both before we got to him, especially with C there to knock us back onto the couch.

There’s a bird chirping somewhere in the distance, but otherwise it’s quiet as C lets what he’s said sink in. “You get me, kid?”

War nods. “Yeah, understood, C.”

C picks up the plastic-wrapped stacks of money and stands. He tosses one onto the couch next to War and a couple to me, which I catch. My bundles are bigger because I did the actual shooting, but it’s a big payday for both of us. Not that it matters now.

C bends his fingers toward his palm in a “c’mon” gesture that’s directed at War. “Let’s take a walk.”

War stands.

As they walk away, C’s tone is different when he speaks. More like it was when we first sat down. “Part of having your partner’s back is stopping him from making a stupid mistake. Both the guys you’re partnered with are smart…”

Once C’s voice becomes too faint for me to hear, I turn my full attention to Trick.

“You’ve got advice for me?” My voice sounds colder than I mean it to.

“Of sorts,” Trick says, his voice just as cool. “Your brothers are friends of mine. They sent you to me because I’m good with computers and so are you. When we started the training drills, C and I saw you’d be able to handle high pressure situations, which is important in this line of work. Then, we realized what you are and thought about cutting you loose. Figured you might be better off as a lone contract killer. But you seemed to click with Jamie and War. Until last night’s fuckup, you guys were exceeding our expectations. I want to see you get back on track.

“But don’t let getting a second chance confuse you into thinking there will be a third. We have never had to kill an innocent teenage girl. I don’t have a taste for it. In fact, I started one of the bloodiest gangland wars in history because someone tried to force me to ignore grown men doling out vicious beatings to kids.” His eyes are glacial now as he watches me. “If you make us kill your stepsister, you’ll die, too. In the worst possible way. It’s like we told you. You’re not a kid anymore. You’re C Crue. You live and die by Crue law.”

“Did C leave us alone so you could explain that to me?”

“Yes.”

I blow out a breath and nod.

Death isn’t what I want for myself, but I’m not afraid of it, either. As I look at things objectively, the likelihood of failure of the fake-feelings op is high. Really high. And failure would get Raine killed, too. Whereas if we skip it, only one of us has to go into the ground.

“I’m surprised you don’t just kill me now, Trick. Clean. And let Raine go with a warning. She’ll stay quiet.”

Trick shakes his head. “There’s no telling how she’d react if you disappeared. There may be more than fear that keeps her from implicating you in things. Second, there are your brothers, my friends, to consider. And lastly, I chose you for the GU op for a reason. We’re playing a long game, and I want you in position to help me carry it out. If we succeed, you’ll earn enough bonuses to buy ten Corvettes and more. Don’t fuck things up. Do what we’re ordering you to do.”

Trick means what he says. All the bosses do. Loyalty in the Crue runs deep. No one turns on them. No one leaves. And they haven’t had a single guy end up in prison. Arrested, yes, but in for a stretch? No. I respect their operation. Everyone who’s seen inside it does.

Licking my lips, I shrug, then nod. “I’ll try to trick her, but I can’t see it working.”

For a long time, Raine has been the place where I lock my darkest secrets. She’s also been the inspiration for the dark deeds that led to them. It’s how I turned her into my own personal Pandora’s box, and then locked her tight and swallowed the key.

She couldn’t stop me from doing that. But she can hate me for it and does.

Raine has made me two promises. One, she’ll never betray me. And two, she’ll never be mine.

My hands rub my jeans, and I stare at the dirt and crushed leaves. When I glance up, Trick’s still watching me.

“Raine’s seen me without a mask, Trick. I can’t make her unsee it.”

His expression is neutral now, his own mask back in place and covering the killer within. “In my experience, a woman can forgive even the unforgivable if she wants to bad enough.”

15

RAINE

When Killian and War return, their expressions are grim. I’m loading the dishwasher and can tell Killian’s not happy I’m out of his room. War passes by and heads straight upstairs.

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