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“You should have known better—”
A high-pitched scream behind me cuts off my words. “Nooo!”
I turn to look over my shoulder and stare down the barrel of a gun. Instinctively, I reach for my gun, but a shot rings through the air before my fingers touch the metal. A second shot fires, the bullet whizzing past my head.
Benny lets out a roar that echoes through the back of the alley. He shrugs out of my hold with newfound strength and runs toward his wife, who slinks toward the ground. Blood seeps from the wound in her chest. Benny scoops her up in his arms and cradles her to his chest.
“She was gonna kill you.” Distress fills Carter’s voice, and I glance over to see him with gun still raised, pointing at Benny’s wife. “She was gonna kill you,” he repeats, shocked by what he just did.
“I know. You did the right thing,” I assure him. Even though this is a major fuck up, I feel sorry for the kid. Killing women is never easy.
“No, no, no…” Benny sobs as his wife takes her last breath.
I see the moment when Benny’s fear, sadness, and grief turn into something else.
Blinding Rage.
He pries the gun from his dead wife’s hand. But this time, I’m faster. I pull out my gun, aim it at Benny’s head, and pull the trigger.
The bullet hits him between the eyes, putting him out of his misery within a blink of an eye. He sags down to the ground, joining his wife on the ground.
“Fuck,” Carter murmurs beside me.
“Yeah, fuck.” I sigh, placing my gun back in the holster. “This didn’t go as planned at all. We’ve got two people dead and are no closer to finding out who poisoned Elena.”
Carter shakes his head. “Julian is not going to like this.”
I turn and look over at him. He’s just a kid, the same age I was when I started out.
Tonight was only the second time he’s ever killed someone, and it was a woman at that. He did good, but I guarantee he won’t forget about what he did tonight. The wonderful thing about this job is that it becomes easier with every kill.
“Don’t worry about it. It wasn’t your fault,” I assure Carter, slapping a hand on his shoulder. “You had my back, and I’ve got yours. Julian will be upset, but we’ll figure it out.”
“I’m… I’m sorry.” Carter’s expression becomes anxious.
“Don’t.” I growl and grab him by the shirt, pulling him into my face. “Do not fucking apologize. This is your job. Dealing out death is what you signed up for. Pull yourself together and move the fuck on. Call for a fucking clean-up crew,” I grit through my teeth.
I know the moment I break through his mournful walls because his gaze turns dark once more, and he nods his head. Stepping back, he pulls out his phone and does as I instruct.
I sigh and look up at the night sky. Of course, my thoughts circle back to Claire. If she knew all the things I did to protect her, would she be more understanding?
Probably not.
Claire doesn’t understand and never will. Everything I do is for her, even if she doesn’t know it.
7
Claire
Even as angry as I am with Lucca, I am in awe of this place. We arrived a few weeks ago, and I’m still in awe. It’s secluded, on the beach, and a true sight to see. With my toes in the sand, you would think I’d be a little calmer. I mean, who could stay angry while on a free five-star vacation?
Me. Apparently. I don’t want to be here. He forced me here. It was pack a bag and get on the plane or face the consequences, and I’ve lost enough in my life. I didn’t know how unstable Lucca was or what he was willing or unwilling to do.
I couldn’t risk my parents’ lives, no matter how pissed at them I am for knowing about Lucca all along. Even though I am mad at them right now, I still love and appreciate them. No matter their reason, they cared for me for the last six years.
So, I left my life behind, my best friend, my school, my home. All gone with a blink of an eye. I couldn’t even say goodbye to Hope.
A steady breeze blows off the ocean and whips strands of my long red hair around, and the smell of salt makes my nose wrinkle. The sound of the waves crashing against the beach lulls me into a cocoon of calm. I dig my toes into the sand and stare out into the never-ending ocean before looking up at the moon that’s hanging high in the sky.
It’s a beacon of hope to me, but the crescent shape reminds me of Lucca in that instant. Half shadowed in darkness, hiding from the rest of the world.
