"This guy is rich," Manny says, walking up behind me. "We won't have a lot of time to hit him and get out. No fucking around. We need to crash the place hard, kill him and his muscle, and get back out."
"Burn the place down too," Minka says. "The cops will figure out the connection eventually. We can't give them anything. The detective interviewing me today was a dick. Can you believe he actually thought I could be intimidated by a middle-aged suit?"
We all smile at the local law enforcement's stupidity. I glance at Manny, who looks tired.
Manny yawns. "I'm going home to crash and spend time with the wife before we leave for Oregon."
After Manny leaves, Saskia, Minka, and I search the maps and blueprints. I know Rafael will review the plan, but we have all the tools necessary to get the job done. The only difficult part will be leaving Darla.
Returning to the apartment hours later, I find Darla sitting at the kitchen table with Harlow. They're working on a puzzle while Rafael sketches out a plan.
"I have a jet we can use to reach Portland incognito," Rafael says.
Even though his voice remains quiet, Darla hears I'm leaving and immediately panics. When she begins pacing around the room, Harlow and Rafael leave the apartment.
"He's going to kill you," Darla says.
"No, he's not."
"I'm not worth dying over."
I block her path and force her to look at me. "No one in my life is more worth dying over, but I'm not dying."
Darla struggles against her panic and tears. I see her working things out and then she grabs my shirt.
"Promise me something," she says, shaking with panic. "Text me every hour. Just one word, so I'll know you're okay. I won't bother you while you work, but I need to know you're safe. Like if you need to sleep, tell me you're sleeping so I won't worry when you don't text me. I need to know you're safe. If you aren't safe, I'll know Locke hurt you."
Tugging Darla into my arms, I hold her as tightly as she can bear. She's on the verge of a full-fledged meltdown yet relaxes in my embrace.
"I promise to text you, but you need to promise me something too."
"Anything," she whimpers. "Maybe you can stay here, and someone else can go."
"Darla, you know I need to do it."
Skimming her lips over my chest, she nods at my words.
"I need you to stay calm while I'm gone," I say, stroking her mangled hair. "I want you to promise me that you'll take your Valium as often as is possible. Just be happy and out of it while I'm gone."
Darla stares at me with her big frightened blue eyes. "You'll come back."
"I promise I'll kill that fucker and come back to you. Do you know the first thing I'm going to do when I get back?"
"Fuck me silly?" she whispers, looking tired now.
"Well, yes, but after that, I'm taking you for a walk. Out there," I say, gesturing towards the windows. "We're going to walk down the street without worrying about Locke or his henchmen."
While Darla stares at the windows as if entranced, I continue, "After our walk, we'll visit Shelley. No more sneaking around. You can visit your sister anytime you want."
A smile warms Darla's lovely face when she thinks of seeing Shelley again.
"I'm taking you out to dinner too. I know a few quiet places where we relax and enjoy a meal out like a normal couple."
Darla's now smiling easily, and the fear fades from her eyes. Before she gets too relaxed, her jaw tenses. "I'll never be normal, though."
"Neither will I. Don't forget my job as a paid killer. You keep forgetting I have baggage too. No doubt you're a broken Barbie, but never forget I'm a fucked up Ken. We work because neither of us is normal. You've never seen me take a life before, but I have more blood on my hands than you can imagine."
"But you love me."
"So much I'll have trouble not keeping Locke alive, so I can hurt him for a very fucking long time. I'll kill him quick instead, so I can come back to you. This is where I need to be."
48
~~~
Darla
Lost Without You
Troy belongs inside me. I should hate sex or, at least, fear it, but I never do with him. Straddling Troy, I cup his face and memorize his features. My hips roll rhythmically against his, sliding his cock deeper into me. He watches me watching him. Our expressions are relaxed except for when I move in a particular way, and my clit enjoys extra stroking.
I never want to forget him. He's leaving soon, and I tell myself he will return. I know he's more dangerous than I imagine. Killing Locke will prove easy for a man like Troy.
Yet he'll still be gone for days, and I feel lost when he's simply out of the room. To keep me sane, I study his every feature. From his thick blond hair to his strong jaw, I don't want to forget a single thing while he's gone.
Troy doesn't let my nightgown stop him stroking my nipples. Leaning me back, he bites at the flesh hiding under the fabric. I laugh at how good his touch feels. When we're together, I forget everything except this powerful man.
Bouncing joyfully on his cock, I hope to come one more time before he releases inside me.
"Not yet," I whimper, begging him to hold on a little longer.