Page 66 of Saving You Losing Me

Even in death, the bitch is trouble and I yell, “Dead. Go and tear down the gates of hell. You’ll find her setting up home there.”

We return the fire and sink a few holes in their cars, a few stray bullets nicking the skin of a couple of his men. Either the fact we were prepared or my words hit home causes them toretreat and as they squeal away, the scent of gun smoke is heavy in the air.

“What the fuck was that about?” Razor moans as we set about repairing the damage the bullets caused.

“Fuck if I know, but she was obviously on that plane without their knowledge.”

“This is serious shit.” Razor hisses and he’s not wrong. Whatever Tanya was involved in has brought serious heat to our door and I’m grateful for the heads up before anyone was seriously hurt.

I motion to Razor, Diesel and Billy to follow me to my office. Something is going on we need to know about and we leave the rest of the guys to clean up and head for a private meeting.

It’s not long before a sharp knock on the door interrupts us and a prospect shows Jet into the room.

“I could have done with you earlier.” I say, rolling my eyes and note the serious expression on his face as he takes a seat. “How did it go?”

“Thanks to your early warning, we were ready for them. They came here looking for Tanya and wouldn’t take no for an answer. Tried to blast their way in here, so we let them have it. I think they got the message.”

The others laugh, but Jet’s expression is grim.

“Michael’s dead.”

You could hear a pin drop in the room before I say grimly, “You?”

“No, more’s the pity. I think you’ll find those guys have nowhere to go and may leave you alone for a while. When they return to base, they’re gonna find it a smoldering pile of dust.”

I whistle. “Man, this is turning out to be quite a week. First the plane and now the mansion. Are you sure we’re safe? I mean, a Reaper comes to town, and it’s destroyed within hours.”

The guys laugh but Jet’s face is like stone. “I may have torched the place but I’m not the one responsible for slaying the dragon.”

Now I’m interested. “Then do you know who did?”

“His wife.”

The room falls silent and the guys shift nervously. I say and do nothing, his words taking time to register in my fucked-up mind. Razor is concerned when I hiss, “Leave us.”

The guys don’t question and move quickly out of the room, but Razor hesitates and throws me a worried frown and I yell, “That includes you, Razor!”

He doesn’t look happy but does as he’s told and the room is soon empty except for Jet and me.

When the door closes, I say tightly, “What happened?”

I clench my fist as I wait for the whole story, but there is ice running through my veins at the mention of my biggest mistake.

“She overheard him issuing orders for Tanya and Riley. He ordered a hit on them and she tried to get away. The fucking coward took his anger out on her, and she had no other choice. If she didn’t kill him, she’d be dead right now and lucky for her his own gun lay not a foot away. Shot him right between the eyes, which I’m not gonna lie, impressed me no end. That woman was scared and fighting for her life and yet killed the man like a trained assassin.”

I can’t breathe as so many emotions are slaying me inside. Clara was fighting for her life and I’m conflicted. On the one hand, what did she expect? It’s well known around here what that man is capable of and I heard he was free with his fists, but never once considered he would hit a woman. His woman—my woman. It still hurts like hell knowing she always will be. She took my soul and left me empty inside.

Once upon a time, I truly believed we were soulmates. That nothing could tear us apart until she did the honors herself.Soulmates turned to soul enemies on the back of whispered words during a two-minute conversation that has defined my future.

Now it’s coming back to haunt me because I watched her walk away. I should have put up more of a fight, but I was too proud and now she is in trouble it’s probable I will be the one this time to turn my back on her.

Jet is waiting for my reply and I say gruffly, “Where is she?”

“Lucy’s apartment. She’s cut up pretty bad and covered in blood. Her clothes are ripped, and she’s a mess. Luckily, her kids are sleeping over at a friend’s, but they have nowhere to go and she’s frightened for them.”

“Why?”

He barks angrily. “Why do you think? She’s lived with that man long enough to have been stripped of all emotion but one—fear. She’s fearful of recriminations and fearful that she’s just killed a man. She must be thinking the cops are due any minute to arrest her, and then where would her kids be? She’s got nothing and is worried that once word gets out, they’re not safe from Michael’s enemies.”

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