Page 123 of Ricochet

CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

Colin glared at the beautiful sky marred by black billowing smoke clouds. If there was ever a chance of getting a promotion, it was gone. Not because of how he’d handled anything up until this point, but because he and Deacon had gone to blows.

Not the smartest move when recovering from surgery but lately, he hadn’t made the smartest decisions.

Like letting Deacon live.Though it wasn’t like Colin could shoot him unprovoked. The pressure building in his chest was too much to take. There was so much bad history that Deacon had been responsible for in his life, and now that he was angling for his girlfriend, Colin had snapped and cold-clocked the fucker.

Damn it felt good. Until he remembered that he had a hole in his side and was only a few days out from surgery.Then it hurt like he couldn’t believe. But the throbbing pain that had almost taken on a life of its own wasn’t his problem. Colin had taken his eyes off the prize, and that was keeping Adelia safe. All because Deacon, who had once been a confirmed kill by the CIA, who likely had a star on the wall, was very much not dead.

Deacon’s deep laughter rumbled. “Think I needed that.”

“Fuck you.” Colin’sside had its own pulse, and he focused on breathing to calm his heartrate.

“Ah, give it a break man.”

Finally, his pain levelled off, and he tore his gaze from the smoky sky. “That’s neat some trick.”

Deacon stroked his chin. “I’m like Houdini.”

“If Houdini was an asshole that everyone wants dead.” Colin couldn’t imagine how or why this was happening, but he did know they needed to move boots.He walked off the grass and Deacon fell in stride with him as they both tucked their weapons away. “Where the hell have you been for the past two years?”

“I’m in the private sector now.” Deacon wiped his brow with the back of his hand. “Surprised the all-powerful Delta team hadn’t been briefed.”

Colin scowled. “Why am I not surprised?”

Sirens blasted in the distance. One of the perks of thisneighborhood was that the traffic flow was easy to control. It also meant that they could hear the cops long before they arrived. He wondered how many neighbors had watched from their showdown the safety of their houses, and what Titan HQ would have to do to clean it up. Colin pinched the bridge of his nose. Forget a promotion. He might be demoted to Bacon’s intern.

“Whose side are you on?”Colin asked.

“Payroll would be a better question.”

He ground his back molars. “You’re working for Mayhem?”

“I work for everyone if the price is right.”

“Those fucking assholes.” There wasn’t a reason to let Deacon live. Yet, Colin didn’t have a reason to murder the man, and now they were walking down the street like best buds sharing best practices and there wasn’t a burning house behindthem. “What do you want with Adelia?”

“I want to know what she knows.”

“Know? Adelia?” Colin snorted. “Mayhem wants her dead. I’m surprised you didn’t take her out, no small talk.”

“Well,” Deacon mumbled. “I like to switch it up sometimes.”

“Aren’t you the creative bastard?”

“Keeps me fresh on my toes.”

“Yeah, I bet.”

“You can’t figure what to make of me right now, can you?” Deacon snickered.“Don’t blame you.”

They slowed along their sidewalk escape, two standout peas in a suburban manicured pod. The fire and ambulance sirens they’d heard in the distance now raced down the well-maintained street—and Colin stopped, his side throbbing. “Did you shoot me, asshole?”

Deacon laughed. “Think you’d be alive if I put my cross-hairs on you?”

Fair enough. Adelia didn’t believe Mayhem shothim, and she’d offered a decent argument. Deacon denied shooting him, and he was the kind of jackass who would own his shots. Who else was there?

“What are you muttering about? Or are your pain meds wearing off?”

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