AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She grins. “Have I ever let you down yet?”
We step into the office to find a man already sitting down opposite Maverick. “This is Archer,” says Rosey with a smile.
“The hitman,” Mav clarifies, shaking his head in exasperation.
“Now, before you all start fussing, let me just say, he’s agreed not to take the hit,” Rosey announces. She claps her hands and smiles in delight. “Great news, right?”
“So, why is he here?” asks Grim.
“I was getting to that part,” she replies. “Arthur, meet your new . . . erm . . . me. He’s going to replace me.”
“Sorry?” I ask, not because I didn’t hear her but because I need her to repeat the words again, so I know she’s serious.
“He needs money, and I need a break.”
“Who takes a fucking career break from killing?” snaps Grim.
“It’s hard work,” Rosey argues, “and I want to spend time with Ollie.”
“Like parental leave?” asks Meli, smirking at our recent conversation.
“Exactly,” says Rosey.
“I don’t know this guy,” I point out.
“Which is why I’ll be here to help advise him,” Rosey says. “Look, he’s agreed to drop the hit for work. He needs money, and we need Meli and Albert to live so . . .”
I sigh. “We’ll talk about it further. I’ll take your number and call for a meeting tomorrow.”
Archer grins. “Great. Thanks, Mr. Taylor.” We shake hands, and Rosey shows him out. I’ll have to do background checks and then find something I can use against him to keep him loyal.
“Just when I think she can’t get weirder,” mutters Maverick.
EPILOGUE
Threemonthslater.. .
MELI
I watch Rylee rubbing her hand over her large pregnant stomach. Arthur comes up behind me and wraps his arms around me. “I love you,” he whispers.
“I love you too,” I reply, smiling.
“I think we could sneak away,” he adds.
I laugh. “It’s Astraea and Rylee’s baby shower. I didn’t go to all the trouble of organising such a fabulous party to miss it.”
“If you keep brushing me off, you’ll never be having a baby shower yourself,” he complains.
I turn in his arms and kiss him. “I seem to remember trying a lot for our own baby,” I remind him. “Just this morning being one of those times.”
“It seems a long time ago.”
“I’m going to enjoy the rest of the afternoon, and then I’ll pack for our flight,” I say, kissing him.
Jolene was in court this morning for her sentencing. She was found guilty of murdering her husband as well as conspiring to murder her brothers and was sentenced to life imprisonment with no parole. Danny is still awaiting sentencing for the murders of Curtis, Leon, and Max, but it’s expected he’ll be sentenced to life in prison as well. It felt like a relief, and when Arthur announced a break away for us both, I jumped at the chance. A man’s never taken me on holiday, not one that Mav could trust.
I wait until Rylee and Astraea have cut their cakes before I sneak upstairs to pack. Hadley comes in and sits on the bed. “Are you excited?”
