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“Yes, and unlike some people, I don’t break promises.” The bite in my voice is evident.
He grimaces but doesn’t address his betrayal. Doubt he has the energy to. “Th-thank you—” A groan interrupts his apology. Even in death, he pisses me off. More blood gushes past his blue lips. “Gideon.”
A tear runs down his cheek.
Death, the fickle beast, is slow to claim him.
I set him down.
This will be my last act of mercy.
One Roman Lennox does not deserve.
1
GIDEON
The shockerof the night comes in the form of an actual dump. Also known as Sasha Lennox’s home.
“Are you sure this is the place?”
“Yeah, boss, I’m not a complete idiot,” Tony huffs through the line.
“Could have fooled me.”
I throw my car into park in front of the run-down apartment building. Stacks of water-stained crates sit adjacent to the front stoop. A rust-pitted dumpster is located only a few feet away.
This place should be condemned.
I transfer the call from my Bluetooth back to my phone and step out of the car. “It’s a shithole.”
“Yeah?”
“It should be boarded up. Actually…” I gaze up at a window on the second floor. The one missing a glass pane. A broken plank of wood slices across the cavity, nailed to each side. “Already is.”
“She a junkie?”
She has to be. Otherwise, why would anyone choose to live here?
“Don’t I pay you to know this information?” I sidestep a muddy plastic bag the wind sweeps into my path. “Which apartment is it?”
The gravel crunches beneath my feet as I stalk down the sidewalk, headed toward the entrance. There are more holes than there is pavement.
Wow, Roman. You really were a piece of shit. So much for that sudden burst of concern for her safety. I almost believed it.
Tony’s fingers clatter across his keyboard. “From the schematics I have, it’s on the side. First floor. Her apartment is right off the fire escape.”
I locate the exact one according to the dipshit’s description. Although it’s off the ground, it’s still only one flight up. Mold climbs the exterior, flush against her oversized window. It offers a clear view inside—and no protection whatsoever against a half-decent burglar.
What the hell was Roman thinking, letting his sister live here?
I knead my temple to stave off the brewing headache. “Do you have any other information on her?”
At this point, it makes more sense to hop in my car, head back to Jersey, and chalk up the broken promise to my lack of morals. Wouldn’t be the first time anyone accused me of being an ass.
“It’s like she’s just…existing. Taking up space.” Tonytsks. “The girl has no life. No friends. No education. No social media. No current extracurriculars on file. I’ve seen Witness Protection files more colorful than this. There’s nothing of any real importance.”
“I don’t care how important you think it is.” I grit my teeth, the words seething past them. “I want to know everything.”
