by Sam Crescent
“You should really stop thinking so low of yourself. I don’t judge people by their pasts. Give yourself a break, Graciella.” He headed to the door. She wanted to beg him to stay, to continue what they’d started, but he was right. About everything.
She was pulling at straws now. “How would Xavier feel about you coming to my cabin?”
He scoffed. “El Diablo works for me. Not the other way around.”
Then he was gone.
She touched her lips, his kiss still lingering.
Once he drove away, his car completely off her radar, her cell phone went off.
“Have a nice visit?”
Viko had once been her savior, now, not so much. She knew exactly where she stood when it came to him. As long as she was useful or in debt to him, he tolerated her.
“Why are you watching me?”
“I’ve thought of a way for you to pay off your debt to me.”
She sat up straighter, adjusting the phone. “How much?”
“All of it.”
Graciella swallowed hard. One of the hardest things she had to deal with in her adult life was being in debt. She hated being at the mercy of anyone, especially a man like Viko Fedorov.
“I’m listening.”
“Kill him.”
“Who?”
He laughed, the sound crawling up her spine. “Who else? The killer of kings.”
Chapter Six
A couple of hours later, Boss sat in Viko’s chair. The man had a nasty cigar habit. After cutting up the expensive, pretentious smokes, he sat back, dirty boots on the desk, and waited. After a short time, his cock had finally gone down, but he had a feeling that was more due to his persistence in thinking about bad shit than actually taming his own arousal. When it came to Graciella, he didn’t think straight. She made him want so many things.
He had no doubt in his mind that if he wanted to, he could have fucked her hard and fast, even got her close to coming, but she expected that. She’d tensed up. Her body screaming for him to stop, even while her lips remained closed. He hated it. The only way he would ever take Graciella to bed was when she was ready.
Graciella didn’t realize it yet, but they were connected. He didn’t know the whys of it. No woman had ever held his attention long enough for him to give a shit. There was something different about her and it wasn’t her ability to fight either, although that was a huge attraction. She could handle herself but he detected a vulnerability. No one had taken care of her, showed her love—not without a price.
What he needed to do first was gain her trust. Allow her to see the real him.
Between the drugs, Graciella, his contracts coming in, Viko, and plenty of other shit he was sure waited at his desk, he certainly wasn’t bored.
Viko entered his office, flicking on the light. His guards tensed up the moment they caught sight of him. Boss didn’t budge.
“Breaking and entering is illegal,” Viko said, looking somewhat unimpressed.
“Yeah, and I find issuing out a death contract on my head a little rude.” To add to his insult, Boss pulled out his gun and fired two bullets, taking out both of Viko’s guards. They didn’t even get a warning shot. He also had a suppressor on to keep things quiet.
Viko tutted. “I’m an opportunist. You think I don’t see your fascination with her?”
Boss got to his feet. “You’re in my town and you think you can continue to insult me?” He rounded the desk, gun at his side, waiting. “I could put a bullet in your head and no one would even mourn you.”
Viko smiled. “Yeah, but there’s a reason you and I are still standing. Where you keep your assassins in line, we both know I keep the monsters at bay.”
Boss chuckled. “You seem to think that my men are what, tame? They’re babies? They do as they’re told.”
“Everything you guys do is based on a contract. You’re all good boys. You have a nice little office. State-of-the-art technology. Everything with you is clean and quick. You don’t even know what hunts you in the darkness.”
He scoffed. “Viko, you’re a fool. It’s why you always have substandard men. You don’t control anyone. The money is what makes your world go round. I want you out of my city, tonight. You stay, the next time I see you, I’ll put a bullet in your brain.”
“Graciella will kill you,” Viko said.
Boss smiled and looked toward his enemy. “No, she won’t. You and I both know it’s an empty threat. I know you, Viko. By knowing you, I look at the little details not many people would. You like Graciella. By making sure her debt to you is never repaid, you can keep an eye on her.”
“You’re turning soft in your old age.”
“No, I’m not. I do my research. You never have any outstanding debt. They pay up, or they’re dead. You’ve left a trail of bodies in your wake, all of them indebted to you, but Graciella mysteriously wanders through life unscathed. Now, I don’t think you’re in love with her, but you admire her. She’s like a daughter you never had. She’s strong and you’re invested in her future, and you also know there are limits to what she will do. Right now, she’s focused on cleaning up her mess, not killing me.”
“You think you know everything,” Viko said. “You know nothing.”
“I know enough. I didn’t know about her existence. You did. You saved her when I couldn’t. That is what’s keeping you alive.” Boss left.
Killian waited for him outside. After climbing into the car, Killian drove off.
“I thought I told you not to wait.”
“You did, but I also don’t mind disregarding orders. We all may hate you most of the time at Killer of Kings, but you’re still a good guy deep down.”
Boss looked sideways at him. Killian was a good man, but he didn’t believe the bullshit coming from his mouth. “Did you plant a device on me?”
“Nope. You’ve got some major trust issues, Boss. I figured you’d need some backup. Viko is not a man to mess with.”
“And you think I am?”
“He’s the first guy you’ve put yourself at the mercy of. It may have all been an act, but I’m not stupid. I know the real risks at play, and so do you. If Viko wanted you dead, you’d be dead.”
“This is a vote of confidence?”
“You and Viko are evenly matched. This is just a dick-measuring contest between the two of you. Why do you want him out of the country and if so, what does Xavier’s sister have to do with this?”
“I don’t have to give you my reasons.”
“Look, I hate to break it to you, but seeing as the drugs and the sister brought Viko to town, not to mention the mounting list of dead people, I’ve got to know. Were you aware that Scarlett was on this trail as well?”
Scarlett was Bain’s wife, a reporter, and a good source to gather information. He hadn’t had a chance to use her for any of this.
“What do you mean?” Boss looked toward Killian. He liked to be the first to know about everything, so this news didn’t sit well with him.
“She got wind of the story about a week ago. Bain told me something about drug users going crazy in the emergency room, begging for help, holding their heads, banging them together. She’s been tracing it all.”
“Why wasn’t I made aware of this?” Boss asked. “I want you to go to Bain and Scarlett’s house, now. I need to talk to her.”
Everything was going to shit. There was so much happening, one thing after the other, and he was struggling to keep up. Graciella distracted him and he wasn’t going to pretend otherwise.
“What are you thinking?” Killian asked.
“I want to know what she knows.”
“You think there’s a chance she could know more than you?”
“If my memory serves me right, Scarlett has her means of getting what she wants. She managed to get under Bain’s skin and that says a lot. Why wasn’t I told of this before?” he asked.
“I believe Bain emailed you, or he may have left you a memo.”
“Don’t
get fucking smart with me.”
Killian had been born in an Irish whorehouse and his life had never been easy. Now he was happily married with kids. A family looked good on him.
“What’s going on, Boss?” Killian asked. “This isn’t like you and I don’t like it.”
Boss opened his mouth but went silent as his cell phone rang. He saw Maurice was calling. He answered. “I can’t talk now, Maurice.”
“Bain’s in the hospital,” Maurice said.
“What the fuck do you mean?” This wasn’t good. This wasn’t the kind of news he wanted to hear.
“Scarlett called the office. She needs you. Something’s going on. She said she made a mistake and now she’s terrified.”
“We’ll be there. Give me the address.” In a large city, there were several major hospitals.
“What’s going on?” Killian asked the moment he hung up.
“Bain’s in the hospital and Scarlett needs help.” He patted his knee, quickly putting the pieces together. “Bain took the drugs.”
“What? That’s not fucking possible. How could he have taken the drugs? The guy won’t even take a painkiller. No, man, you’ve got that wrong.”
“Something was bothering him this morning. He was … different today in the office. Sick. Fuck!” He slammed his fist against the front of the car. He’d gotten into this habit and with how strong he was, there were a few times he’d deployed the airbag. He had them all removed from the passenger side of the cars. He hated being hit in the face with it.
He gave Killian the address for the hospital.
Ignoring all the questions, as he didn’t have any answers, he arrived at the hospital to find Scarlett in the waiting room. Her face was blanched and it was evident she’d been crying.
“Tell me what the fuck you know,” Boss said.
“They’re coming in disguised as mints,” she said. “I was given this by a contact. It was completely sealed.” She handed him the bag. “I think Bain took one, thinking they were mine.” Tears were in her eyes. “What have I done? I let them out. I’m a fucking idiot. I think I just killed my husband.”
Killing Scarlett wouldn’t be good. Although tempting.
Of all his men, Bain had been handed the worst deck of cards when it came to childhoods. He felt for the man, fought hard to get him to work at Killer of Kings. He’d changed his life around … for what? To die in a hospital bed from tainted drugs?
He wanted to scream at Scarlett, tell her how stupid she was. Everything he’d discovered about these drugs, none of it was good.
He looked at Bain’s wife. “Do you know the timeline?” he asked.
“No. What people don’t know is how long from ingesting it that it takes effect.” She sniffled.
“Bain didn’t know you were working on this?”
“No. He’s been so busy with his latest mission, I just worked on my own. This was new and every time we were together, I didn’t want to talk work.”
“You shouldn’t have left them out in the open. You’re a fucking idiot.” And that was all he was going to say on the matter. If Bain died, he was going to have to make a choice, kill Scarlett, or make her live with the guilt of fucking up.
****
Graciella wasn’t going to kill Boss.
Viko’s offer, although tempting, wasn’t going to work. He knew it and so did she. Boss was a good man. A horrible, arrogant asshole, but he mostly did good work. He rarely took cases that meant the bad man won.
He killed bad men.
The men like the ones who’d taken her when she was a child, who made her suffer just because she was female. She hated men of all kinds, but Boss gave her hope. In her line of work, she’d seen the dark side in most.
Killing him wouldn’t do the world good. It would allow the bad guys to flourish. In the underground, there needed to be checks and balances. The sharks couldn’t be allowed to outnumber the fish.
Which was why walking into the hospital, she wore a pair of jeans and a floral shirt. Her hair was tied back, no makeup to speak of. This was not the façade she presented to the world. She’d heard what happened to Bain. One of Boss’s men were in the hospital, and he needed her right now.
Xavier didn’t even notice her as she stepped up to him.
“Hey,” she said, looking at her brother.
He frowned at her and then his eyes went wide. “Graciella?”
She nodded.
He pulled her in his arms.
At first, she tensed up, ready to punch him, to keep some distance, but instead, she wrapped her arms around him. It was strange, for a long time, she had forgotten what it was like to have her brother’s love, his protection, but it came to her fast and quick. She kept her eyes closed and relished the moment. She didn’t know when she’d get another one, or if it would even be possible.
“I’ve got you,” he said.
“I should be holding you.”
“I didn’t get to hold you enough,” he said.
The reality. They’d been ripped apart from each other far too soon.
She pulled away. “Where is he?”
“In Bain’s room. As usual, Boss took over. He’s now in a private room and only the best doctors can see him.”
“Can I go to him?”
“Did you know Bain?”
“No. I meant Boss. He’s going to want to see me.”
Xavier nodded. “A couple of the guys are there. So is Bain’s wife.”
She didn’t say or do anything, merely followed. Hospitals were the worst of places. She’d been taken to hospitals after a client had beaten her up—before she knew how to take care of herself. People had been paid off to not ask too many questions. She’d had no one.
Walking into Bain’s room, she saw some of the Killer of Kings men, and wow, they all look pissed. With them in the room, she felt small. She wasn’t a tall woman, and at that moment, she couldn’t believe she actually rivaled them with her kills and her ability to strike.
Boss looked at her. “Are you going to kill me?”
“No.”
“Really? You’re not going to take the job? It promises a big payday. I understand you have a shitload of debt.”
“You and I both know Viko did it on purpose. He doesn’t want me to pay off my debt.”
“Debt, what debt?” Xavier asked.
“It’s nothing.” She kept her gaze on Boss. It wasn’t a shock to her that he already knew about what Viko had asked. There was no way she was going to underestimate him again. “What do you know?”
“First of all, you’re going to have to tell us what you know about this,” Boss said, getting to his feet. “I’m not playing games, not anymore. That’s my man in here.”
She moved toward the door and closed it. “I only know so much but what you’ve got to understand is this drug has changed. What I originally had planned for it, it has changed.”
“Then tell me what little you do fucking know because right now, we’re on a clock. He’s not going to die, do you understand me?”
There was no mistaking the edge to his voice. Boss was holding on by a thread and if she wasn’t careful, he was going to take it out on her.
“How did he get it?” she asked.
The only other woman in the room stood up and held out a plastic bag. Taking it from her, Graciella frowned. “I’ve never seen it like this. They’re masking the original product.” She rolled the clear bag of mints over in her hand. They weren’t a recognizable brand, nor did they appear like any mints she’d ever seen.
“How did it come to you?” Boss asked.
“As raw drugs. They weren’t disguised like this when we started, but we can use this for tracing.”
“Wait a minute,” Xavier said. “You created this product?”
Graciella tensed as each of the Killer of Kings turned toward her. She looked at each of their faces. There was no mistaking the unspoken accusation, and they all wanted her dead.
“I did this to avenge
my childhood.” She glared at each of them. “You have to understand, the men I planned to kill using this, it was only supposed to be for them. I had complete control until it was snatched away from me. I was a child when these men passed me around, raped me, beat me. I was the entertainment when they got drunk. I was going to make sure they suffered. I’d been well-trained, but I couldn’t take them all out, so I used the drugs. I used their greatest asset against them. I’m not ashamed of what I did. What I am ashamed of is believing I could wipe its existence from the face of the fucking earth. That was my one and only mistake.”
Tears were in Xavier’s eyes. Scarlett sobbed. The men didn’t look ready to kill her. Not anymore.
“Don’t pity me,” she said. “What your friend is going to go through isn’t pretty, and we don’t have a lot of time. This took twenty-four hours, seventy-two at the most, but I don’t know the full compounds, and the last time I checked, these were not reversible. All of the cases I’ve read about, the men and women couldn’t be saved.”
“I’ve got the doctor running a full tox screen,” Boss said.
“We need the scientist. Only he would know how to treat it.”
“There’s no guarantee of that though, is there?” Scarlett asked, her voice shaking. “This was designed to kill. You said so yourself. Why create an antidote?”
Graciella looked at Boss. “Because if this is the same scientist I used, he once told me that no one would create something where there was a risk of it coming back and biting them. For every dosage, there would be an antidote. In fact, we argued because he took longer than I wanted. He wouldn’t give me the drugs until he was sure he had an antidote. I don’t have any. I had no intention of taking the stuff, so I didn’t bother to get some. If I did, I’d have given it to you.”
“How can we trust you?” Killian asked. “All you have done is cause us trouble. We’re cleaning up your mess.”
“You think I’m not trying to clean this up? Why do you think I’ve moved as much as I have? Why I happen to appear when the cases of the crazed druggies are rife? I’m following it. I’m trying to trace it, and this is all I’ve got.” She held up the mints. “This is the biggest clue.”