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“It’s about Billie.”
I pull at my cigarette again, and he settles beside me, his elbows resting on the moldy wooden balustrade.
Austin is an old, fat dad who loves his daughters and is sick of the gang life. He’s tired but too proud to let it go. His kids are enrolled, his stepkids are soldiers, and he loves his crew too much to ever give up on them. But he’s not the man he used to be. His hands are shakier than they used to be, his aim not precise. He can’t fight and protect his daughters like he wishes he could. I can already tell he wants to put the responsibility on me.
“She doesn’t want to talk about it with her old man, but I can see she’s got issues with one of the Kings. She’s out of her depth, and I’m worried for her.”
If Nate could see me now, getting mixed up with petty gangs when he had world domination on his mind. My best friend would die of embarrassment for me, not before taking the absolute piss out of me. Fuck, I wish he was here. But then, he would kill me for what I plan on doing to his little sister. He would never let me go through with it. He would annihilate me before I could even get close to Rose.
“Look, I can pay you. I know your contracts are more than I can afford, but I will give you all I have. I want this kid out of my daughter’s life.”
I give my cigarette a small nudge with my thumb, watching ash disappear into the dead of the night.
“Billie is a strong girl,” I finally say. “She can hold her own.”
I watch his hands tighten around the balustrade. It’s wet and covered in moss and other fungi. His fat fingers are red from the cold out here, and the cigarette he was holding falls out of his hands.
“Is that the kind of thing you’d say to someone who hires you? Don’t doubt my judgment,” he grits. “I know my little girl. I know when she’s not well. This is a business transaction. I’m not asking you for your input.”
I turn to him as I pull more smoke from my now tiny stick. “If this were a business transaction, I would tell you I’m already on a big contract, and I only take one at a time.”
He runs a hand through his thinning brown hair and scratches his head. “I know she’s in danger, but she won’t let me help her.”
“Maybe she doesn’t need your help.”
His gaze drops to the ground, and he watches his foot tap against the rotten floorboard. “I think something happened to her. Something a girl wouldn’t share with her dad.”
Billie has been quieter than usual lately. She’s not the kind of girl who keeps her thoughts to herself. But I’m not a savior. I kill people because the money is worth it and because that’s all I know. I don’t do it to save my boyfriend’s stepsister.
Sadly, Austin Scott isn’t going to fucking drop this, and when Lik appears in the doorway that leads to their kitchen, I know he’s going to get involved. Unlike me, Lik would put his life at risk for Billie. And I’m in love with that little fucker. Him dying is not exactly on my agenda.
I run my knuckles against my jaw. “Which King?” I huff.
“Caden, The youngest son.”
“So, we’re not talking about some random guy in their crew. We’re talking about theactualKing family.”
He stays silent, and so does Lik, who probably already knows what we’re talking about.
After a minute of me staring at Austin, and him trying to find any point he can behind me to avoid my gaze, he talks again. “The money I got… I think it might be enough to make it worth your time.”
“Keep your money.” I take the last drag out of my cigarette, pinching it between my thumb and forefinger, and throw it out onto their neighbor’s shitty backyard. “I’ll scare him. I’m not getting involved in your feud with a bloody murder.”
Lik moves out of the way when I direct myself toward the kitchen. “Say bye, we’re leaving,” I tell him as I step inside.
I’ve been waiting in the car for five minutes when he finally sits down and closes the door.
“Are you mad at me?” he asks. “Austin asked me, and I told him to talk to you. I should have just said no.”
I start the car, not replying. This conversation is pointless; I said I’d scare Caden King. I will.
I’m about to pull out onto the road when a hand lands on my window. I brake hard and don’t even look. Survival instinct kicks in, and my right hand shoots for my gun in the center console.
Lik’s fingers wrap around my wrist, his multiple thick rings cold against my skin. “It’s Billie.”
I lower the window and let out a short huff. Are they not done with me yet?
“What did he say?” she pants slightly. She ran to our car at the last minute. At my lack of response, she insists. “Sam. What did my dad ask you to do?” Is that panic in her eyes?
