Page 104 of The Hitman and the Psychic

“There’s more.” I shook my head. “That was my mission. I knew the intel might be bad, but I decided to chance it anyway. I risked all our lives, thinking it was worth it.” My jaw tightened. “I was wrong, and my men paid the price.” I stared down at my hands. “After the explosion, I found Cooper gasping for breath. He begged me to help him. I didn’t even think about anyone else; there wasn’t time, and they were all down, so I just grabbed him and ran.”

I shook my head. That day would haunt me for the rest of my life. “Cooper still died. I should have checked everyone, but we were under fire and I had to get out of there. I’m sure JB blames me for everything that happened to him, and for the friends we both lost.”

“So you never saw him again?”

“No. I got transferred and left the service a couple of months later.” I glanced at Keola. “But why come after me now? After all this time? What did he say to you?”

Keola shook his head. “It was easy to see he had a big chip on his shoulder. He was complaining about all the time he’d spent in rehab because of his addiction to painkillers. Probably from his injuries. He told me he’d just lost his job and was looking for work.”

“Damn.” I shook my head. “No wonder he wants me dead. He probably thinks I ruined his life.”

“But you didn’t.” Serenity’s earnest gaze met mine. “He just wants to blame someone for what happened to him.”

Keola nodded. “I told him he could work here for a while until something else came up, but he said he had other plans.”

I closed my eyes and nodded. Serenity may not agree, but I knew I shared some of the blame for what happened to him. Still, there was nothing I could do about it now. But how had he met up with Aubree? “Was he with anyone when you saw him?”

“No.”

“Did he say where he was staying?”

Keola shrugged. “He said he had a friend he was staying with. But he didn’t say who it was.”

“Did he say anything about a trailer court?”

Keola’s brows drew together. “You know what? Yeah, he said he was living in his friend’s ‘mobile manor’.”

I nodded. “Makes sense. It all fits. His friend was probably Cash, and JB used him to get close to me. When Cash told JB I was asking questions about someone named Johnny, he killed Cash. I don’t really get it, though. He hates me enough to kill a friend? And the other thing I just can’t figure out is how he got together with Aubree.”

“Aubree?” Keola’s brows rose. “Didn’t you end things with her a few months ago?”

“Yeah, but she’s been hanging on. Now we think she may have been helping JB… Johnny.”

“Bro. This whole thing is messed up.”

I huffed. “Yeah… tell me about it.”

Serenity sighed. “We’re hoping Aubree will lead us to Johnny if we can talk to her. I say we track her down and try again.”

“I don’t think that’s gonna fly now.” I shook my head. “I really wish she hadn’t…”

“Hadn’t what? What happened?” Keola asked.

“We were supposed to meet her for lunch today, but she got a little upset over something she saw.”

Serenity’s eyes widened, and she shook her head.

Keola noticed and leaned forward. He glanced between us, his eyes lighting up. “Sounds juicy… what was it?”

Serenity licked her lips, and I could hardly take my eyes off them. Memories of her in my arms last night flooded my senses, and all I wanted to do was take her out of here and run off to a private island somewhere. Just the two of us.

“Wait. Are you two together?” When neither of us answered, he slapped his desktop. “I knew it. I saw sparks flying when you came in a few days ago. It’s like… off the charts. So what did you do? Did she catch you kissing or something?”

“Yes,” I said. “We were sitting in Serenity’s car in the parking lot. She wasn’t even supposed to be there yet.”

Keola shook his head. “Oh man… if she didn’t want you dead before, she will now.” He glanced between us. “Both of you.”

“She’ll have to get in line.” I stood. “We need to take off, but thanks for your help. At least we know who we’re dealing with now.”

---