Page 79 of Mine to Keep
When we step outside, we quicklyhead to a shopping center a few blocksaway where we parked our cars, avoidingcameras as we go.
Once we get to our cars, I give Olivia a long hug. “Thank you for everything. I wouldn’t have been able to do any of this without you.”
She squeezes me in her strong arms, her love and friendship washing over me. She steps back and pulls her keys from her pocket. “I don’t know. I think you would have found a way to get all of this done without me. Thanks for the adventure. I was missing all the action that came with contract hits.”
I grunt. “Yeah, I think I’ve had enough action to last me a lifetime.” I pull her in and kiss her on the cheek. “You’re my best friend, Olivia. I’m glad The Void didn’t off you.”
Her tinkling laugh makes me smile. “You and me both. Keep in touch, Knox.” She stops, then grins. “Sorry.Koda.” She tilts her head, studying my face. “You know, you look like a Koda. I like it.”
I bark a laugh. “Thanks for your approval. I’ll see you, Olivia.”
She gives me a two-finger salute and slides into her car.
I watch her drive away, my heart full that I have my best friend back and I’m out of the life. I don’t have a concrete plan, but I know one thing—I need to get my boys so I can feel complete.
A smile on my face, I slide behind the wheel of my car and drive in the direction of my boys. I won’t be able to fully breathe until I have them in my arms.
epilogue—allow me to reintroduce myself
Six months later…
One more job.Then I’m home free.
But I took my time. Not only because I wanted it to be right, but I had to spend quality time with my boys first. They were more important than settling a score. They needed my attention and I wouldn’t deny them anything.
But now, the opportunity has presented itself, so it’s time I close this chapter in my life and put Knox to bed for good.
Just as I did with Jake, I sit in her room and wait for her to return from her beach walk. Since she’s arrived in Puerto Rico with her gaggle of friends, she’s been taking a morning walk on the beach every morning, some bullshit about communing with nature.
Her mother died only a week ago, and after she put her in the ground, she cashed in her life insurance and headed here to celebrate. Which is good so I don’t have to leave my boys to off her.
She steps into the room, sliding off her flip flops and doing some ridiculous spin as she giggles into her phone. “This place is amazing. Kinda wish those annoying-ass frogs would shut up so I could sleep, but the beauty of this place is unmatched.”
I tick up an eyebrow as I listen to her complain about the coqui.
She’s wrong, of course. Listening to those tiny fuckers has given me the best sleep of my life, coupled with being surrounded by my boys. I could listen to them all day. She’s an entitled little bitch that will get what’s coming to her.
Between the coqui and my boys, I haven’t had a nightmare in six months. But I mostly attribute that to my boys.
“Yeah, I’ll be down in an hour,” she says, not sensing my presence. “I wanna journal on the balcony before I take a shower. Then we can do what you want. Okay. Talk to you in a bit.”
She hangs up the phone and turns to her balcony, opening the door wide and letting the breeze drift in.
I wait for her to pass the closet I’m hiding in on her way to the bathroom then step out and wrap a palm around her mouth. I press my gun to her back and shush her as she screams into my hand.
“Nice to see you again, Teresa.”
After the police found her father dead and she tried to withhold my payment, Teresa started plotting. She waited all of two days to have a hit put out on me. She must have been really pissed to put up five million dollars for my head. The Director was only supposed to take twenty five percent for himself but ended up keeping more than half.
Piece of shit.
According to the transcripts of her request, she told The Director she wanted to see that I was dead for threatening her, which is why she told him to cut my head off.
She struggles in my grip but I yank her head back. “Be fucking still or I’ll snap your fucking neck.” She slumps in my arms, though her breathing is still heavy. “I’m going to remove my hand, but if you scream, I’ll put bullets in your head. Got it?”
She nods, whimpering behind my palm.
I let her go and she steps away, holding her hand to her chest. “What do you want? Why are you doing this?”
