Page 126 of Nest of Thieves
Dropping into a squat, I pivot, sight, and fire before he can so much as raise his own weapon at me. His eyebrows jump to his hairline, and the bullet forces his body back. Tripping feet take him to the ground, but the bullet to his heart does him in before his head hits the concrete.
Simple.
Fast.
Easier than my first kill. I stare at the body, watching a pool of blood form around his torso.Three. I’ve shot three people. I’ve taken three lives.
A strong hand grips my shoulder, and I jerk away from Lark, realizing my entire body is shaking. Lark makes a small noise in his throat, but I ignore him, focusing on getting the gun back where it belongs.
Once it’s finally strapped in and my hands are free, Lark swoops in and picks me up. Knowing who that man was soothes my conscience, but there’s irreparable damage hardening the edges of my heart, darkening the light of my soul. Three men. Carrying me bridal style, Lark races toward the door. Pieces of his long black hair brush over me, soft and almost like they’re trying to tell me everything will be okay. Lark kicks the door open, and we burst into the night, the door banging shut behind us.
“Where’s the car?”
“Around the block.” I gesture in that direction. “I can walk.”
“No. We need to go before someone catches us.”
I press my lips together but don’t protest. My mind keeps replaying each kill I’ve made. This was the first one where I made the choice. With Laurence and the 609 Vandals, I didn’t have a choice. Lark could have taken care of things in the warehouse, but I chose to take the opportunity he gave me. I chose to kill.
Oddly enough, it’s not the killing that bothers me, but more the idea of becoming a monster.
“Where’s Vette?” I ask suddenly, craning my neck to look toward the warehouse as Lark rounds the corner.
“He’s fine. He’s with Mac.”
“I heard Mac yell.”
“A diversion. You took my car?” he asks, setting me on my feet on the passenger side.
I blink and press my hand against the top of the car.
Lark stares at me for a beat, assessing. “Keys?”
Tipping my chin up, I reach into my bra, noticing how his nostrils flare, and pull out the key. He takes it from me, and I gather myself, forcing even breaths in and out of my lungs. Forcing my mind to go blank. I’m not a monster.
He deserved to die.
“Good. Time to go,” Lark says, rounding the car and unlocking it.
We slide inside and Lark makes a U-turn, shooting in the opposite direction of the warehouse. When we’re a few blocks away, he slows down and glances at me. His eyes bore into me, but I stare out the window and focus on the steady rise and fall of my chest.
“He deserved to die,” he says.
I nod and look at him. “I know.”
Confusion contorts his face. “You’re not acting how I thought you might.”
Sighing, I lift an eyebrow. “Let me guess, you thought I’d run away. You thought I’d be afraid.” I shake my head. “No. That’s not me. You’re the only one who runs away when you’re afraid.”
His face darkens. “You really want to have this conversation right now?”
“Or we could never have it and never talk again. Isn’t that what you planned on doing? Just ignore me indefinitely? I won’t apologize for the cameras or the gaming systems—that’s the least you assholes deserved. Spying on me like the goddamn CIA or something.” I press my lips together to keep from rambling.
Lark’s focusing on driving now so we don’t crash, but his body is preternaturally still as he waits for me to continue.
Great. More ignoring.
“You know what? Fuck you, Lark. I don’t know what your deal is, but I’m not going to play this game. If you want me, be a man and tell me. If you don’t, be a man and tell me. Either way, make up your fucking mind.”
