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We made our way silently across the gravel to the building where Julien had been killed and found a scene that bought a small smile to my lips. Bodies were scattered across the ground before us, and a couple were hanging out of high windows in the abandoned building, looking as though a gust of wind might send them flying to the ground.
I quickly counted the bodies. Fifteen.
“Check if any of them are him,” I instructed Cooper, “and stay alert.”
Cooper did as he was told and began making his way around the bodies, grimacing at the one whose head had been completely caved in and using the toe of his boot to nudge over any who had fallen onto their fronts.
As he searched, I scanned the buildings around us, narrowing my eyes and focusing into the shadows. I had a strong feeling that we were definitely alone, but I couldn’t be sure. There were only fifteen bodies, that meant that seven had got away. Hopefully Adonis was one of those seven.
“He isn’t here.” Cooper finally said, “Want me to get this cleaned up?”
“We shouldn’t have to, but I suppose the new Sinners don’t know shit about proper etiquette. Make the call and wait here for them, I’ll get Grey to come, and we will search the city. If he handled all of this, then I’m betting he’s still alive.”
“Will do boss.”
14
Meg
I sank down into the bubbles. I’d never used the bath in here before, but like Coop had said, I needed to try to relax. I’d sat just inside the guest bedroom door with it open as the water ran and managed to overhear Lorenzo and Coop leave to find Adonis. I felt safe here for once, knowing that the man who was holding me here wasn’t around. I closed my eyes and conjured images in my head of Lorenzo being attacked while he was out, but they didn’t satisfy me enough. I didn’t want some mediocre wannabe gangster taking him out, I wanted it to be me. And I didn’t want Coop to get hurt, I hated seeing him hurt.
I took a few long breaths as I attempted to allow the warm water to relax my tense muscles. It should have been me on that job. Not Adonis. The takedown of The Sinners had been my defining moment. It was the foundation of my reputation. Right now I despised Lorenzo for so much more than what he had done to my brother, to Toby, and to me. Right now I was burning with a new hatred for taking away my position in The Brotherhood. Ihadwanted to leave, but if I’d left on my own terms, I’d still have been able to eliminate the idiots who wanted to rebuild in the name of the gang that had been responsible for my mother’s death. I’d have kicked and screamed until the job was mine.
The memory of Carl finding me after he had killed my mother flooded through my mind. He had dragged me out of the cupboard where she had hidden me and dragged me across the tiles of our kitchen. I had been thrown down next to her and the puddle of her blood beside me expanded until I was sitting in it. Carl’s second had suggested killing me too, but Carl was an arrogant prick. ‘you’re scared of a little girl, what the fuck will she do about this?’He left me there, and those words echoed in my head until Jason had come home.
I then recalled the moment I killed Carl. Ten years after he had left me in that kitchen, I managed to worm my way into his life. I’d tried to get into The Sinners, but he didn’t want a girl in his gang. So I dated one of his guys instead. I mixed with the other girls, playing the part of horny innocent gang whore until I was invited to their meetings. Carl didn’t recognise me, probably because he only ever focused on my tits and ass. New year’s eve came around, and I managed to lure him away from his men. He had thought he was going to fuck me, the little princess as he inappropriately named me. The party was so loud that no one heard his pleas, no one heard him scream, and no one heard me utter those words that had echoed in my head the night he killed my mum. ‘You’re scared of a little girl, what the fuck will she do about this?’I still remembered the way his eyes widened as he realised what was happening. My mum was killed for blackmailing a gangster, but I was smarter than her. I killed one. And I knew in that moment that I’d kill plenty more.
A smile tugged at my lips. My body count was high now, and I had one more to add to it before Ihopefullyput the guns away for good.
The sound of the bedroom door opening caught my attention and my eyes snapped open.Shit, I thought I locked that.
There was no way Lorenzo was back already, but I still froze. My body chilling despite the warm water surrounding my body. I’d gotten away with avoiding his advances for a while now, but I knew that he wouldn’t hold off much longer. I scanned the room, hoping that at some point I’d left a gun, or at least a knife in here, but I came up short. If it is him, I’ll be fighting him off while naked and slippery.Great.
My eyes focused on the bathroom door and my breath caught as it swung open. I exhaled sharply as I ran my gaze over the beaten and bloody man stood in the doorway.
“Fuck.” I whispered and tears filled my eyes.
He closed the door behind him and strode towards the tub. His eyes locked on mine and a dark, hungry expression flashed across his face. There were flecks of mud on his black suit jacket and the white shirt beneath it was stained red. Adonis never wore white unless it was for an event, but apparently tonight he had decided against his usual all black attire. His hands were coated in dry blood and a splatter across his face signalled that he had shot someone at close range. His lip was split, and fresh blood was trickling down his chin.
I blinked back the tears. I had no idea why I felt so much relief seeing him here, but I did. Maybe Coop was right. Maybe I was lying to everyone. I don’t think I hate him.
I suddenly felt exposed and vulnerable, and I couldn’t put it all on being naked beneath the bubbles.
“What the fuck are you doing.” I said, my wall quickly coming up, “Ever heard of privacy. Fuck Adonis, get out.”
He ignored my words and stepped closer. His eyes glued to mine as though if he blinked, I might disappear.
My mouth went dry at the look on his face. He was determined to do something, but I had no idea what. I wriggled in the water, unsure of what I could do right now. I couldn’t just stand up, and even if I could, what was I going to do? Shout at him? Hit him? Hold him? Wash away every fleck of blood and dirt from him?What the fuck are we doing?
“Out.” I commanded again.
But as he raised a single brow at me, I found my resolve begin to fade away.
He kicked off his shoes and my lips parted. He ran his tongue over his lower lip and my breathing hitched. He then stepped into the tub. Standing above me with his feet placed on either side of me. He knelt down, straddling my hips as he shrugged off his jacket and tossed it out of the tub. Water splashed around us from his rapid movements and his shirt began to turn see through. Bubbles and water started to cover his clothes, mixing with the dirt and blood and giving me a glimpse of his inked skin through the fabric.
“I got your message.” he mumbled, his eyes still on mine.
It felt as though we were in a bubble. Just the two of us, and I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t deny the pull I felt to this man, this awful creature who was every bit as dangerous as I was. This man who saw my darkness mirrored it. Unlike Lorenzo, he had never hurt me, and for some reason, I trusted that he never intended to. He was a different kind of monster. One who had been hurt just like I had.
