“I mean.” I step closer, avoiding the blood but putting the toe of my shoe against the dead man’s shoulders. “His hands are tied behind his fucking back. He might’ve gotten a gun off one of you girl scouts, but he’s not shooting up a building with his hands tied behind his fucking back!” Everyone flinches at my volume.
Oz shuffles his feet. “He, um, did get a shot off.”
“Takes one wild shot behind his back, with his feet also fucking tied together, and you decided to fill him with holes. Did you assholes come from the police academy?” They shake their heads like I was asking a serious question. I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Give me your guns.”
The two men start to pull their weapons free, and I hear the sound of my men aiming their guns at the locals.
I gesture to the other men from the local gang. “All of you.”
One man squares his shoulders, making me turn toward him.
My steps are slow, but I close the distance between us. “I’m not disarming you so I can kill you. I’m disarming you because you fucking imbeciles don’t deserve to carry weapons.” I take another step closer, invading his space. “But I’m in a bit of a mood right now. My wife is at home, crying because she misses me, and I’m here, wasting my fucking time. So please, do something stupid and give me an excuse to add your blood to the collection on the floor before we leave your filthy city.”
Anger blazes in the man’s eyes, and I almost wish he’d take a swing at me. But if he did, I’d kill him. And cooperation with these dummies has been useful, so it’s probably for the best that he lowers his gaze and hands me his gun.
I tuck it into the waistband of my pants, then direct a command to the gunless men. “Clean this up.” Then to my men. “Get your shit. We’re going to Phoenix.”
Done with this night, I walk out of the building.
Inhaling the evening air, I push away the guilt that talking to Valentine caused and focus on the important part.
She was wearing my sweatshirt.
CHAPTER 46
Val
Me: Was that a gunshot?
Delete.
Me: What happened?
Delete.
Me: Tell me you’re alive.
Send.
Big Guy: I’m alive.
Big Guy: Get some sleep, Wife. We’ll talk again tomorrow.
Me: You still alive?
Delete.
I roll over and scream into the pillow.
All night I tossed and turned. Dreams of witnessing Dominic getting riddled with bullets plagued my sleep. So now I’m tired and cranky and, worst of all, worried.
“Fuck you!” My shout is muffled. But it’s not like it matters. There’s no one here to hear me.
I flop back over and stare at the ceiling. I need a distraction.
With an idea in mind, I pick my phone back up.
Me: Can I have some friends over tonight?
Send.
I make a face. I sound like I’m asking if I can go outside to play.
Me: For dinner. I’ll order something.
Send.
Me: With my own money.
Send.
Me: Even though I’m sure your stubborn ass will insist I charge your card or account or whatever you have set up with the front desk.
Send.
I force myself to roll out of bed so I stop sending more texts. And it’s early enough that Dominic should still be asleep, so he probably won’t reply for a while.
I’m halfway to the bathroom when he replies.
Big Guy: Yes, your stubborn-ass husband will insist you use the payment I already have set up.
Big Guy: And yes, you can have your friends over any time you want. But Rob has a standing order to toss any men who try to visit you off the roof, so make sure your friends don’t bring anyone they don’t want dead.
I stare at my phone.
Me: Crazy much?
Send.
Big Guy: You seem to bring it out in me.
Big Guy: Have fun with your friends, Angel. We’re about to board a plane for Arizona. Be a few more days yet.
A suspicion niggles in my mind.
Me: Are you flying commercial?
Send.
Big Guy: No. I usually don’t.
Big Guy: Most of the time I use flights to catch up on sleep. But I can’t do that on a commercial plane because I don’t know who’s around. Who might want to kill me.
I hold my breath.
Me: You slept on our first plane ride together.
Send.
Big Guy: I know. It was a first.
Big Guy: Something about you made me feel safe.
I press the phone to my chest and swallow.
Me: I know the feeling.
Send.
Big Guy: Did you have fun last night?
Me: I did. The bouquet of flowers was a nice touch.