Page 25 of Blood
Asher is still there, firmly entwined in Kings’ business. If I’m in danger, he is too. The only reason I can think that someone in the Kings would have ordered a hit on me is to get to him.
“My brother. He’s high up in their ranks. He could be in danger. We have to go back. I know where he lives, so I can help.”
“We can’t, Everleigh. It’s not safe. The Kings will be looking for you.”
“I don’t care! This is my brother. Other than my parents, he’s the only one who’s ever looked out for me. And now that they’re gone, he’s all I have.” My voice cracks on the last words, and I swipe at the tears that are threatening to fall.
Wolf’s jaw clenches again. “Dammit, Everleigh! I brought you here because the first time I saw you, there was something I needed to keep safe. I don’t fuckingdothings like this. But now I’m the one looking out for you, and you need to fucking listen to me when I tell you things to protect you.”
19
Wolf
Shepleadswithmeand dammit, this girl is making me soft. It only takes a few minutes before I’m reluctantly agreeing to return to the city.
It’s a risky proposition. As soon as the Kings of Blood know where we are, both of us will be in danger. Me, because I failed to do my job and kill Everleigh after taking their money. Her, because, for some reason, the Kings want her dead, and they don’t change their minds.
Nothing she’s told me so far explains why they’d want her out of the picture. From what I can see, she’s a sweet girl, if a bit sheltered. Her only connection to the gang is her brother. I can understand her concern; if they came after her, they might come for her brother next. But even that doesn’t add up. Wouldn’t they take him out first? Everleigh seems like an easier loose end to tie up than her brother.
The unanswered questions make me uneasy. I still think we’re safer far away from the city. It’s why I brought us here in the first place.
I don’t have family, not anymore, and I don’t have friends. When you live a life like mine, those are just a liability. If it were up to me, we’d disappear altogether.
This is all new to me, not having everything be completely dictated by my whims. I’m a man who takes what he wants. Money. Lives. Women. I use what I need and don’t form attachments. Getting attached only leads to pain when those connections are inevitably severed, especially when it’s your own fault. Yet here I am, giving Everleigh exactly what she’s asking for. She begged me to fuck her. I wanted her to want me last night, and when she spoke those words, I almost came before I was inside her sweet cunt.
And now we’re here again. Everleigh’s asking for something, and I’m about to roll over like a goddamn golden retriever to give her what she wants.
She’s in a pair of baggy shorts and a t-shirt when we walk out of the cabin to my car. The clothes she was wearing when I met her were destroyed after our time in the woods, and this is all I had to offer. It’s better than nothing, I suppose. She pulls at the front passenger door.
I shake my head. “Nope. In the back.”
“But Wolf—”
“Back seat.” I cut off her whining with a swat to her bottom. “Don’t make me take you back inside for a reminder of how to behave. You’re lucky you’re not riding in the trunk.”
She pouts but obeys. I pull a seat belt across her lap before climbing in the front seat and starting the car.
Everleigh is silent through most of the drive. So am I, and since I never listen to music when I drive, the car is dead silent, with only unanswered questions hanging in the air. When I stop at a small convenience store on the side of the highway, she finally looks at me, a question in her eyes.
I shake my head. “Stay here. I’ll be right back.”
I don’t need the questioning eyes of the workers when I bring in a girl who’s wearing ill-fitting clothes and looks like she’s been on the run. Plus, security camera footage can be hacked easily. We’re walking right back into the Kings’ den, but we don’t need to give them a heads up that we’re coming.
She gives a slight nod and sinks down a bit in the seat.
I lock the car and walk into the shop.
It’s one of those hole-in-the-wall places where no one would really shop if it weren’t the only thing for miles. I pick up a few bottled waters that have dust on top and some packaged snacks. The expiration dates listed on all of them have passed. I think when you’re dealing with all these preservatives, those dates are more of a suggestion. I also pick up a burner phone for Everleigh, since I left her phone behind when I took her from the apartment building.
The TV is on behind the counter, playing the news, some fluff story about a dog who knows how to do tricks or something. The camera pans back to the anchor as I hand over cash for my purchases.
“More news today on the apartment shooting case. The police have now identified the victim as Bobby Martinez, an undercover police officer who had been working on a case involving the city’s gang wars. An investigation into his murder is ongoing. There is expected to be a press conference later today on the case, but at this time they have released the following security camera footage. Anyone with information on this individual is asked to contact the NYPD at the phone number on your screen.”
The screen changes from a view of the anchor to a grainy video of the apartment building lobby. I watch as a man walks through, followed by a smaller person in a dark top and leggings, her chestnut-colored hair in a ponytail.Fuck.You can’t see her face well in the video, but there’s no doubt in my mind that it’s Everleigh.
Bobby was apparently an undercover cop. That answers the question of why the Kings wanted him dead. The fact that they set up Everleigh to take the fall for it is a whole other level, though. This thing goes deeper than I thought.
I grab my things from the counter, waving off the clerk who’s trying to hand me my change. He can keep the tip. I’m back at the car in less than a minute, my long legs covering the distance in no time.
