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“Yes,” I answer and Hope nods her head. “What time is your friend telling them that we’re going to see her?”
“One.” I can feel her body shaking, so I pull her tighter into me. Letting her know that I’m here, not leaving.
“When are all the others coming?” I look at Jackson and frown. We’ve been over this five times already.
The notes that Hope gave Jackson asked that her friend get some of the army veterans she knows to be there. If Jack brings too many men, we have a chance to level the numbers. When John found out what was happening, he said that he'd be there too. He wouldn't take no for an answer. I have Jackson with Hope, and there is no one else I would trust; I trust that man with my own life.
“One.” I glare at Jackson to stop him from asking any more questions.
Taking my coat from the back of the stool, I take the gun from Jackson and the knuckle rings and we stand there for a moment in silence. So many years of friendship and we both know what we’re saying to each other without speaking a single word. If anything happens to me, you take Hope and get out of New York. Giving each other a nod, I take Hope’s hand and leave.
* * *
Jackson and I stand at the end of the tunnel as Hope talks to her friend. I look at my watch for the millionth time now. It’s just hit one, he’s about to come. When we were kids and he told us that he would be back at a certain time, he wasneverlate.
“It’s nice to know that I’ll be taking Hope right in front of you.” I focus on the other end of the tunnel. Jack has a few men next to him. His eyes move to Hope and I feel relief run through me as her friend steps in front of her.
Jackson slowly starts walking over to Hope, as I start walking toward Jack.
"I have to admit, I do like how people fear you, Leo. There's a lot of talk going around about a man that does unthinkable things to people."
I too enjoy that people fear me, people like them should fear men like me.
Standing a few steps away from him, I see the men have their guns out, and I smile. "Can't fight your own battles?"
“Looks like you need help too.” He looks behind me.
I shake my head. “No, they are here to keep your men away frommeso I can killyou.”
Jack starts laughing, and I stand there watching how the fucking asshole is so full of himself. He thinks that no one can touch him, but he's wrong.
Without a second thought, I punch him hard; hard enough for his face to be knocked to the side. One of his men takes a step closer but stops when Jack puts his hand up. “This one is mine.” Just as the last word comes out, he punches me in the face; he has a strong punch on him, he’s made my lip bleed.
He goes to grab my collar, but I move back making him rip a little of my shirt. “I’m going to make sure that you die slowly.”
I grin. "I'm going to make sure that you die fast." I swing my right hand over connecting with his jaw, and before I can swing again, he punches me back.
One of his men pulls me away from him. “I told you he’s mine!” Jack shouts.
One of Hope's friends yanks him off me, and I run back over to Jack and throw a few more punches, and Jack does the same. We connect hard knocks, and I can feel my face throbbing.
I yell out in pain and look down at the knife stuck in my side. I hear Hope scream out my name. Pulling the knife out and throwing it behind me, I hit him again. I grab my gun and hold it in front of me. I hear people running behind me, stopping Jack’s men from getting close to me.
“As much as I want to hurt you, torture you, I’m ready,we’reready for you to die!” I shout at him. Before he can fight or his men can get to me, I pull the trigger and hear the sound echoing in the tunnel.
"Come on!" I hear Jackson, but I take the gun up to his chest and shoot again. I want to make sure the fucker is dead, and I'll never have to see him again. "Get off him," Jackson shouts and takes the gun from me and pulls me up, but I immediately fall to my knees.
“Leo.” Hope sobs as she cups my face, “Leo.”
“I’m fine, I promise.”
“Youhaveto be fine because for the first time I have someone that I love. I love you Leo, so you better not leave me."
Sitting up a little, I take the back of her neck and kiss her. "I love you too." My voice comes out shaky, and I hold my side in agony.
"Yeah, yeah, get the fuck home, all clothes in a bag. I've got the gun," Jackson talks at a rapid speed; he knows the police will be here. "John, take him. Hope holds the gun, put your prints on it." I watch Jackson wipe mine off and hand the gun to Hope.
With a shaking hand, Hope takes the gun, as John helps me to my feet. "Wait, wait," I tell him before he drags me to the car. "What about them?"
