Page 65 of King's Barber
12
Quain
The one thingI hated every time I made the decision to leave was the expression on KC’s face. Sadness seeped into his eyes, his mouth downturned in displeasure. He always looked like a kid whose candy had been ripped from his hands.
“Do you have to go?” He curled his fists on the table. “You told that district attorney it was over, right? Your cover was blown, and you couldn’t be Luke’s protector anymore. You don’t have to have anything to do with him. Pa… you don’t have to go. You could stay here and actually be a hairstylist.”
I laughed and nudged him on the shoulder with mine. We sat at the dining table together because I knew now was the time to deliver the news. It’d been a week since the kidnapping went down, and I hadn’t seen Luke since. Either he was avoiding me, or he hadn’t gone to the barber shop at all. “Hairstyling and owning a business doesn’t pay as well as being an assassin, KC. You know that. I want you to go to college and not have to worry about a job.”
“I don’t need to, though. I don’twantthe best of everything, Pa,” he said desperately, giving me those wide eyes he liked to use to get his own way. “I’d be happy to live on the streets with you if it came down to it. I just… want you to stay here, Pa.”
I cupped his head and dragged him to me, laying his cheek against my chest. Pressing a kiss to the top of his forehead, I sighed. “I know you do, but that’s not how this works, and you know it. I have a job to do. You can stay with your grandpa until I come back.”
“Don’t leave. Please. I fucking hate it when you go.” He yanked himself away from me and twisted his lips downward. “It’s dangerous, and I never know if I’m going to get a call from someone to say you’re dead.”
“Me, dead? Never.” I winked at him. “I’m damn good at my job, and I promise you I will always come home to you.”
“You can’t promise that.” He ducked his head, running his hand through his red hair and dropping his gaze to the floor. “I hate it when you say that because one day you’re gonna be caught off guard, or encounter someone better than you, and you’ll be dead, and youwon’tcome home.”
I grabbed his chin and raised his head, frowning. “Have I ever not followed through with a promise? You’re my son—”
“If you cared about me, you wouldn’t be leaving,” he snapped, shaking my hold off him. “You’d stay here and do something safe.”
I wished more than anything I could be that kind of father for KC, but I’d tried once before, when I’d first adopted him. It never worked out. I craved the thrill of a fight or taking someone’s life who deserved it. Sitting around in an ordinary job was boring and I slowly went crazy. At least Luke kept things interesting.
I sighed. As much as I hated to admit it, I was going to miss that insane motherfucking King. He was one of a kind and kept me on my toes in ways others hadn’t. He was even more intriguing than Dean. As far as fiancés had gone, things were fun with him, until he broke two of the few golden rules the Society had.
“I can’t stay here, you know that. I love you more than life.”
“But not enough to quit being an assassin.” He gave me a sardonic smile. “Thanks, Pa. I love you, too.” Shoving himself to his feet, he glared at me and stormed past my chair and out of the kitchen toward the back door. All I could do was watch him because when he got in these moods, it wasn’t worth trying to talk to him. Even though he was mature for his age, he was still a teenager.
I sighed and grabbed my phone, messaging my dad to let him know it was time for me to move on. He’d know what that meant.
Then I called the Society’s number.
“Hello, you’ve reached the Radio Hut. Unfortunately we are not available right now. If you leave your name and number, we will return your call. Thank you.”
I sighed. “This is employee 777 with a completion.”
The phone beeped and I waited as the speech-recognition software analysed my voice.
After another beep, a man spoke. “Hello, Quain. Has your assignment been closed?”
“To an extent. My cover was blown due to unforeseen circumstances,” I said quietly, glancing around the kitchen. I’d miss this place, it was a home I’d built with KC. Depending on what Luke decided to do, I may not be able to come back here. “The client no longer requires protection of his son. The threat has been neutralized.” In every possible way. I’d contacted the Reyes I’d dealt with before—Rafael, Thiago Reyes’s cousin—and we had a very serious conversation. When he realized Luke was under my protection, he’d reluctantly agreed to back off. They didn’t want to get on my bad side. They’d seen what I’d done to my targets.
“Very well. Would you like a new assignment?” the rough male voice asked. All we knew him as was Sir.
“Yes, sir.” My mind screamedno, though.
“Fantastic. We will call when we have another suitable assignment. Goodbye.” The line went dead, leaving me in a silence that was no longer comfortable.
* * *
The next day was a Monday.I hated the start of the week with a passion, but now that I had another assignment given to me by the Society, all I needed to do was go through a few more things with Jorge, my new manager, who’d worked in the salon since the beginning. Then I’d be off to Dallas, where my next target waited. Sir had called me back this morning with an assignment. It was quick, but I expected no less since I was highly sought after.
I’d made it to the front of the salon, when I ran into Luke. He was opening his own shop, his back to me as he cursed about fucking employees not being reliable. I paused behind him, taking in the strong lines of his back and shoulders, the desire to touch him making my fingers twitch. I missed his warmth in my bed, even if it had only been there for a few nights. He’d seen me in my weakest moments, where I’d been comfortable enough that I sleep talked. That didn’t happen often and certainly not when I was chasing a target.
“Barber.”
