She blinks before a small smile curves her lips, and then she clicks on the safety and keeps it next to her leg. “Let’s go,” I bark. “I don’t want to be caught in the open again.”
“I’ve already texted the chief, he’ll cover this up,” Kenzo offers, as I grab Roxy’s hand and stride past the person she killed. I open the car and push her inside before making sure the others get in. Only when they’re inside and safe do I round the hood, gun still drawn, and leap into the driver’s seat. Putting the gun on the console, I rev the engine and get the hell out of there.
Once we’re a few blocks away, I relax my hands on the wheel but don’t stop checking in case anyone followed us. How the fuck did they know we were there? Did Tiny betray her? No, he wouldn’t have had enough time, which means…
“Someone followed us.” Ryder sighs, obviously coming to the same conclusion.
“Yup,” I snarl. “Probably from the building. They weren’t professionals though. It was rushed, they took their opportunity.” I smash my fists into the wheel. That was sloppy but too close, especially with Roxy there.
My eyes go to the mirror and lock on hers in the backseat. Killing someone for the first time is hard. It takes a piece of you, a piece I’m used to, but she probably isn’t. She’s used to dealing with bad people, but there is a difference between kicking ass with a bat and shooting someone. Her head is on Kenzo’s shoulder, who drops a kiss there. Her other hand is held in Diesel’s, who is playing with it as he watches her. But her eyes are locked on me. They aren’t scared or even concerned. They are calm.
“You did good.” I nod. “Thank you.”
She saved my ass. Why? She hates us, hates that we stole her. She could have easily let me die, but instead, she took a life to save mine. She smiles softly, those lips I’m obsessed with curling up. “You’re welcome. Nice gun, by the way. I’m going to call it Killer.”
I snort, unable to help myself. “No one names their guns.”
“Ahem,” Diesel coughs.
“Okay, no one sane does.” I laugh. I notice Ryder is on his phone, no doubt conversing with security at the building and the police.
“I want CCTV from around the building. Find out who they were, go to the office, and get their prints and identities from the police. I want security doubled. We’re going into lock down. Someone wants us dead. Hire more men if you need to.”
I leave him to it. He’s good at his job. Mine is to keep us alive, but his is to make all the plans. So I focus on driving, ignoring the speed limit. No one would dare pull us over. “I’m hungry,” Roxy whines.
Ryder hangs up and looks over at her. “We’ll be home soon.”
The fact that she doesn’t question the word home sends something soft through me that I want to squash, but I can’t seem to when she’s around. “But, Ryder, I’m hungry too,” Diesel complains, and then Kenzo joins in.
Ryder sighs, pinching his nose like he’s getting a headache, and I can’t help but laugh. This must be killing him. She’s throwing all his perfect plans and control out of the window. I might dislike her because of what she represents and because I can’t stop thinking about her, but Ryder? Ryder will hate her because she’s his weakness.
“We could stop at Rizzo’s,” I suggest. “Red might know something about the hit anyway, and if anyone is waiting for us, they would expect us to head straight home to regroup.” I shrug.
Ryder looks at me incredulously. “Not you too.”
“I like their burgers.” I grin, and he sighs, knowing he’s defeated.
“Fine, we go through the back though,” he warns, and I nod, checking the mirrors before changing lanes and heading to the upscale Italian place run by an ex-assassin. He’s also the guy who taught me how to fight, a good, trustworthy man. Ryder doesn’t trust anyone with our lives or business, and he’s the only man who comes close to knowing any of it, meaning he’s someone we trust with part of our lives.
I don’t head to the front entrance, but around the alley out back. I get out first, checking it over before opening the back door and letting Diesel and Roxy tumble out. Staying close, knowing she’s the most likely to panic in a situation, I lay my hand on her back and steer her to the back door which Ryder is opening. He lets us in first, and Diesel takes up the rear. We only relax once it slams shut.
Putting my gun away, I keep my hand on Roxy to keep her close in case anything happens. That’s what I tell myself anyway. I poke my head around the kitchen door as we pass it, grinning when I spot Red barking orders. “Hey, old man, got room for us?”
He glances over, the snarl on his face transforming into a wide, crooked grin. His bald head gleams under the light, and his huge, scarred, tattooed body is encased in a chef’s jacket and trousers. “Garrett, my boy! Always!” He heads my way, enclosing me in a big bear hug before pulling away and smiling at the others, then his eyes catch on Roxy and widen.
He whistles. “Well, holy hell, who’s the beauty?”
Roxy smirks and pushes past me. “I’m Roxy, these assholes kidnapped me,” she offers casually, and shakes his hand.
He laughs, a booming one that’s familiar. “I like her, keep her,” he tells me, making me roll my eyes. “Well, come on then, let’s feed ya.”
He guides us down the hallway, past the toilets, and to a swinging door that leads to the restaurant. Heading through, I keep Roxy between myself and the rest of the patrons, not that they would dare make a move. Half the rich people who come here don’t know who Red really is. The other half do and fear him, but not as much as they fear us.
Though looking around today, it seems like most of them are assassins. You can tell by their sharp eyes and taut bodies. Never relaxing. Growing up around them makes it easy for me to recognise, but in here, it’s a safe zone. No hits, no confrontation. Just a place to relax and eat.
We are led to our table at the back, sectioned off from the others behind a screen to offer us some privacy. Seeing as though we bought this place and gave it to him as a present, a request from me, he lets us eat here for free whenever we want. It helps as well that most of his customers are still in the life and he can glean information for us.
Diesel slides into the booth first and then Roxy. Kenzo goes to sit next to her, but I beat him to it, unsure why as I slip into the booth and it crinkles under my weight. Kenzo smirks, but takes the seat next to me without a word.