Page 25 of Blinded By Forever
She gives me a sad smile and traces her finger along the rim of her wine glass. “You’ve always been stronger than everyone I’ve ever known. You don’t always have to carry all of that. Hayden should be there to help you carry it and lift some weight off your shoulders.”
“It just feels like with Hayden, it’s never easy.”
“Life is never easy. Love is never easy. You and Hayden fought through hell for each other. He loves you and would probably die for you as you would do for him. You both created a beautiful, happy, and healthy family. Hayden right now is lost, but he’s slowly finding his way back to you it looks like,” she says, making me look at all of the flowers surrounding us.
“I hope you’re right.”
“I know I’m right.” She smiles. “And until he comes back, you’ve got me and wine and Lilah terrorizing your son.”
I crack a smile through the lump in my throat.
“Thank you, Nat.”
She rests her hand on mine and squeezes softly. “You’re my best friend. I’m always going to be here for you.”
Thirteen
Hayden
Just one more job andI’m done.
One more job and I can enjoy the rest of my life with Jaclyn.
My ribs are throbbing, deep and aching pulses with every breath or movement. My knuckles are still crusted over from the fight last night.
I’m driving to one of the locations that Killian sent me. I guess this is where the thief is who has been stealing from him. He wants me to handle it, kill him.
My hands keep clenching around the steering wheel as I drive over to the location.
Jaclyn texted me last night telling me to make it home to her and our kids. I texted her back saying that I promise I will and nothing will stop me from coming home.
This mission isn’t complicated.
I’ve gone on more complicated missions before so this is nothing.
I’m driving through East Oakland in a blacked out M4. Something quick to get away in and run from the cops since guns will go off.
I have a Glock on the passenger seat of the car.
My nerves are suddenly sky rocketing as if this is my first time doing a kill.
My ribs are in fucking pain, I want to go home to my kids and wife, and I am fucking anxious as hell to go in there. I just have this gut feeling that this won’t be a quick and clean kill like I agreed with Killian.
When I get to the location I park the car in a safe spot. I step out into the California heat, air thick with grime and city sweat. The building I parked in front of looks abandoned, tagged up and hollow but I knew better. People like Craig, the person who is stealing from Killian, like hiding in the shadows.
I climb up the stairs, fast and silent. The door is already cracked open and that should have been my first red flag but I ignore it.
I pull out my gun from my waistband and hold it up as I slowly walk inside.
The place is trashed, overturned furniture, broken bottles, white powder and needles on the floor.
“Been waiting for you to finally find me.” Craig walks out of the rooms in the hallway. Craig is an older guy, balding already and he has a nice, clean suit on. Killian always liked hiring clean and decent looking people to work for him since he says that appearance goes a long way and it pays off. “I thought Killian would have come to send his goodbyes.”
“I’m not here to play games. We both know why I’m here. You’ve been bleeding Killian dry, slowly but enough for him to notice. I don’t know if that makes you ballsy or stupid.”
He shrugs. “Killian has enough money to wipe his ass with gold. What’s a few hundred grand?”
“You think this is about the money?” I raise an eyebrow at him. “It’s about loyalty.”
