But Kevin Braddock was determined when it came to the job. He hadn’t let his failure with CJ stop him from pursuing his quest to get Nash. Three months ago Shelley had come to him with a plan to end the King’s rule once and for all.
Now she was dead.
Braddock had allowed that to happen. The same way he had allowed his niece to become a target.
Maybe it was time to stop playing by the rules.
Tyrone Nash was going down.
A black Charger rolled up the street, drawing Braddock’s attention back to the present.
His pulse quickened. Banks knew he was being watched. CJ was in no danger from him as long as that was the case.
But she was making herself a major target with Nash. And that was damned dangerous.
Chapter Seventeen
2204 Clopton Street, 4:15 p.m.
Finally.
CJ heard Ricky’s Charger roar into the driveway at the back of his aunt’s house. Inside, the dog barked even louder in response to his owner’s return.
She touched her back pocket and the cold metal cylinder there. Pepper spray was her only means of defense. She didn’t know if it would slow down a big dog, but it would definitely slow Ricky down if he gave her any trouble.
Cell phone was in her front pocket. She was good to go.
The car that had been following her had disappeared. She’d been annoyed by the cop’s presence at the clinic, but now she kind of wished he were still around.
She climbed the steps and stood at the door a moment before knocking.
Deep breath.
Be strong.
She raised her fist and banged on the front door.
The dog roared into action. Deep, throaty bark. Frightening growl.
CJ hooked her thumb in her back pocket, ready to snatch that pepper spray if necessary.
Heavy footsteps approached the door. There was no security peephole. Since Ricky didn’t open the door right away she had to assume he had another way to identify his visitor. One of the windows, maybe.
He said something to his dog. The growling stopped instantly. The door opened.
“What do you want?”
CJ lifted her chin and glared at the hulk of a guy. Images of him chasing Shelley through those woods sent pain spreading out from her chest. “I have to talk to you.” She had to stay calm. If she wanted him to talk to her, she couldn’t go in there ranting and screaming. No accusing ... just talking.
Ricky glanced at the street, right then left. “I told you to stay away from me. I don’t know nothing about what happened. Stop nagging my ass. I’m getting enough shit from the cops.”
She put her body in the threshold before he could shut the door in her face. “I do know something about it and we need to talk.”
“Whatever.” He gave her his back but left the door open.
His dog followed him, glancing back repeatedly at CJ.
She stepped fully inside and closed the door. Her heart hammered wildly but she couldn’t let him see just how uncertain she was. So she sucked it up and headed in the direction he’d already gone.
