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We’ve been mostly quiet, content to sit and stew in our own thoughts and emotions. We don’t talk about it, but I’m tired of how he keeps glaring at me. He did this to himself.
“Maybe we should call it a night,” he says.
I shake my head. “Nope. This is what you wanted to do, so we are going to sit here and fucking stake out a flower shop.”
“It’s getting late.”
I think he’s looking for an excuse to get out of my presence. I can’t really blame him. I haven’t been good company.
“Past your bedtime?” I ask, goading him. I don’t know why I’m doing it. Maybe I’m looking for a fight.
“No—” he starts but cuts himself off. “Look.”
I glance where he’s looking, seeing a truck backing up to the loading door around the back of the building. Once the tail of the truck disappears around the corner, we can’t see what’s being taken off of it. But the side door is where the employees have been entering and exiting, so we are in the perfect position to see if anyone comes out.
A minute later, we are rewarded. The door opens, and Jacques steps through. He approaches the door to the vehicle and talks to the driver a moment, reaching to hand him something. It’s too dark for me to make out since he’s stepped out of the light. Then, the door opens again, and my heart drops. It’s what I’ve been hoping wasn’t true since I saw the picture.
Geo reaches for me as I pull the door handle, his gesture ineffective as I step out of the driver’s seat. I unfold to my height, my hand reaching into my jacket for the gun I have holstered.
I debate on if I should kill him now or take him back to the basement. Bold, brash thoughts as I make my snap decision.
“Soltorre,” Geo hisses behind me, trying to do the right thing and stop me.
I’m unhinged. Red is clouding my vision. I can hear my heartbeat in my ears. I can almost smell his fear on the air.
“Get the fuck back in the car. You are going to get us killed.”
I don’t move while I stare at Lucas as he approaches the vehicle beside Jacques. The traitorous fucker. They haven’t spotted me yet.
“Think about this: how will you possibly shoot him and walk away free? You know Jacques is packing. You know there are others inside. And what would you tell the other bosses?”
His words make sense, but as soon as they register, I let them fly out the other side of my head. I feel too much. My calm facade is gone. I want something to fucking happen for once instead of us talking about it.
I’m walking across the street before I even know that my feet are moving. My body is on autopilot. A gun is in my hand, pointed at the men. A voice rings out, telling me to stop.
I don’t.
A warning shot is fired. Not from me or the two men I’m watching. Somewhere else. They have eyes all around. This is a suicide mission.
I still keep going. Muttered curses come from behind me. I don’t look over my shoulder, but I know Geo is there.
“I said, fucking stop,” the voice yells again.
“Connor?” Lucas finally speaks, his face a mask of surprise.
Yeah, surprise, motherfucker.
“What the fuck?” Jacques says.
The vehicle roars to life, peeling out. That driver must have seen the murder in my eyes. Jacques and Lucas now have guns, pulled from hidden spots, like mine. We are in a standoff, barrels aimed at kill zones. Head, heart.
We are all four sitting ducks, out in the open, facing each other. Nothing to hide behind.
I want answers.How will he try to spin it? What will he tell me?
“Why don’t you come with me, so we can have a talk?” I am staring directly at Lucas, and his face has hardened. I can’t tell what he’s thinking.
“I can’t do that,” he says, shaking his head.
