by Mia Knight
The street performers banged away, drowning out the gunshot as Gavin slammed the gangster’s head into the wall with all his strength. The man crumpled to the ground several feet from his partner who had Gavin’s switchblade sticking out of his face. Gavin peered down at the bodies and noted the tattoos on their neck.
The underworld was calling.
Gavin texted his men about the bodies and strolled out of the alley. He paused a moment to pick Huskin out of the crowd, but he was gone. Fuck. An SUV pulled up to the curb. Gavin climbed into the passenger seat and glanced at his man.
“We’re going for Santana,” he said.
“You got it, boss.”
Santana didn’t know who he was messing with. He thought his drug operation was too big for anyone to touch him. He was wrong. Phantom let Santana into the city and his filth was spreading deep and fast. Gavin sent Santana a warning that he had taken back his throne and this was Santana's response—two men. What an insult. Santana had a reputation for being brutal in his home country, but Gavin had a reputation as well. He didn’t care that he didn’t have the manpower that Santana did. He was going to gut him... and tend to Huskin later.
CHAPTER SIX
Lyla
Lyla took aim and fired. The pistol bucked in her hand. The shock reverberated up her arm, but she held firm. She emptied the gun, reloaded and walked forward, firing with steady, focused precision. The ping of metal rang in her ears. She imagined that the metal plates were the scum of the underworld.
“Halt!”
Lyla flipped the safety on and holstered the gun in her shoulder holster. Blade walked up to her targets to check her accuracy. They had been at this for an hour and her shoulders were beginning to ache.
Blade walked back after examining her targets. “You’re improving.”
She raised a brow. “That’s all you have to say?”
“I don’t need you to turn into an assassin, I just need you to be accurate and stay alive,” Blade said.
“Are we done?” she asked.
“We have one more exercise.”
Even though she knew what was coming, her stomach iced with dread. Blade and two of her guards donned helmets with tinted face guards.
“You ready?” Blade asked in a muffled voice.
She nodded.
“Fight for your life,” he said.
There was a moment of silence and then they lunged at her. Lyla whirled and ran as fast as she could across the massive backyard enclosed by a high wall. She wouldn’t win in a physical altercation so running should always be her first option. The pool sparkled in the distance. Safety. If she reached the fortress, the game would end. She ignored the sound of heavy footfalls behind her and focused on the prize.
Arms wrapped around her middle and lifted her off her feet. Lyla went for the hands wrapped around her middle. She grabbed his middle finger and wrenched back savagely. The man shouted and began to teeter to the side. Lyla tossed her elbow back into his face. If he wasn’t wearing the helmet she would have broken his nose. The guard released her and she sprinted for safety. The second guard tackled and then pinned her by sitting on her abdomen. Lyla thrust her hips up with all of her strength and felt her heart skip when she barely budged her opponent. Lyla improvised by grabbing the man by the balls and squeezing. The man yelped and dropped to the side. Lyla rolled, gained her feet and pulled her gun on the last man who held his hands up in surrender.
“Do you have to keep going for my balls?” the man on the ground wheezed.
“My instructor said I could yank them off,” she said and holstered her weapon. “You got off easy.”
“You may not always be able to use your gun,” Blade warned, taking off his helmet and revealing that he had been her last opponent.
“I know,” she said and holstered the weapon.
She put her hands on hips and tried to catch her breath. No matter how much she trained, no matter what moves her instructor taught her, men were stronger. She had to fight dirty, there was no getting around it. This was always a sobering exercise because she knew how real the danger was.
“Good job,” Blade said.
Lyla looked at the guard who had his hands over his crotch. “Sorry.”
“Maybe we should wear padded suits if you’re going to keep going for the goods,” Blade said.
“You do that,” Lyla puffed and jogged back to the house.
She entered through the kitchen and found Carmen at the table with Nora.
“That was good,” Carmen said and held up a hand for a high five.
Lyla took a gulp of water and kissed Nora on the cheek.
“What did Blade say?” Carmen asked.
“I’m getting better.”
“That’s it?”
“I know,” Lyla said as she plopped on a seat. “He’s a hard ass.”
“He always hangs back and watches how the guards attack so he can try something different on us,” Carmen said.
“I swear, I keep looking around every corner because he keeps jumping me. Serves him right if I break something,” Lyla muttered.
“Are you ready for tomorrow?”
“Yes!” She clapped her hands, beyond excited for the hospital event. “Your mom is excited to babysit.”
“She loves babies and Nora in particular.”
“How’s she doing without you in the house? I know she was uneasy the first month you were here.”
“She’s getting along just fine. She sees her friends all the time and even asked if I’m moving out.”
Lyla’s eyes widened. “Wow. Are you?”
“I don’t know. It doesn’t make sense to buy a house just for me and I don’t want to live in a condo. I think I’ll stay with you or mom until I figure out what I want to do with my life.” Carmen stared at Nora who played with her necklace. “I feel like I’ve been wandering around since Vinny died. Helping Alice with these events keeps me busy. My connections have finally come in handy.”
“That’s good.”
“My schedule revolved around Vinny and now I don’t know what to do.” She drummed her nails on the table and bit her lip. “I feel like I can’t move on with that fuck still on the lose.”
Vinny had been Sadist’s first victim. Sadist wasn’t the one who pulled the trigger, but he called the hit. It had been a domino effect after that.
“That’s understandable,” Lyla said quietly.
Carmen rested her cheek on Nora’s head and hugged her tight. “Maybe I’ll have a munchkin myself. I want our kids to be close in age.”
Lyla laughed. “Uh, I think you need a man for that.”
“There’s men everywhere,” she said.
“I mean, a good man.”
She shrugged. “I’m loaded. I don’t need a man.”
“Carmen.”
“What?”
“What about your wild hairs?”
“What?”
“You always get a hair up your ass and take off to Africa on safari or some shit.”
“You can take kids on safari.”
Lyla held up a hand. “Please tell me you’re kidding.”
“Who wants to go on a trip?” Carmen waved Nora’s hands in the air. “I do! I do!”
“I don’t think so,” Lyla said.
“I still have the RV,” Carmen said and bobbed her brows.
“I enjoyed our time on the road.”
“I did too. It was a good time out.”
And now they were back in Las Vegas. She shook her head as she remembered the shotgun wedding and Gavin’s bullying tactics to make her say her vows. He really was a psycho.
“Is Gavin coming to the event?”
“I hope so. Let me call him.”
Lyla paced the living room as she dialed his number. On the fourth ring he answered.
“Lyla.”
The sound of his voice felt like a caress. One thing was for sure. Her marriage would never be dull. Gavin was a lot to handle and his sexual appetite would
“Hi, baby. I wanted to ask about tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?” He sounded distracted.
Her heart sank. “The hospital event?” She tried to keep her voice light and airy.
There was a short pause and then, “You still want to go?”
“Yes.” When he didn’t respond she tagged on, “Please, Gavin.”
He didn’t speak.
“I want you to come,” she said and then realized she had absolutely no idea what he was doing at that moment. He could be in a boardroom or standing over a body. “I mean, if you can make it, I’d like that.”
Still no response. She stopped pacing and closed her eyes.
“I can’t go?” she murmured.
“I’ll be there in time.”
She tossed her fist in the air and did a little jig. “Yay! You’re the best. I’m going to call Alice.”
“Okay.”
She put a hand on her hip. “By the way, if you have time after the hospital, I’m due.”
“Due for what?”
“For you.”
A pause and then, “Then I’ll be in you after the event.”
She beamed and did another little jig. “I love you.”
“The next time I’m home, do that dance for me,” he said.
“What dance?”
“The one you’re doing right now,” he said and hung up.
She looked up at the camera in the living room and shook her head. Damn Gavin. Had he been watching her before she called or tapped in after he answered? He would always keep her on her toes.
Her phone rang in her hand. The screen read, Beatrice Dalton. Lyla pressed a button to make it go to voicemail and skipped into the kitchen.
“I’m going!” Lyla crowed.
“Awesome. I’ll text mom about Nora.”
“And I’m going to call Alice,” Lyla said gleefully and stopped when her phone chimed from her mother’s voicemail.
“Who’s that?”
“My mom.”
Carmen cocked her head. “You think she wants to see Nora?”
Lyla sighed. “That’s what I want to think, but I don’t think so.”
Carmen shook her head. “Your dad is an ass.”
“Yeah.” She wished her mother would leave him. She would happily take her mother in, but that would never happen. Her mother would rather suffer with her father than get out of their toxic, hopeless marriage. Lyla couldn’t be a part of it anymore. She had enough shit on her plate.
Lyla spun her phone on the table. “Am I being selfish by asking Gavin to go to this event?”
Deep down, she knew Gavin was right. The smart, safe thing to do was hide in the fortress until Gavin killed Sadist, but how long would that take? It had been four months of silence and she was ready to do something. She couldn’t let another opportunity pass her by. Since her trip to the casino, she had been more restless than ever. She was nervous about leaving Nora, but that time would have come eventually.
“Wanting to attend an event that will help others isn’t selfish,” Carmen said. “Not every outing will end in blood. It’s going to be okay, Lyla.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
Lyla
Lyla took a deep breath as the SUV pulled up to the hospital, which was teeming with press, celebrities, volunteers, patients and medical staff. Gavin stood on the sidewalk and opened her door. He looked as polished as always in a navy suit and matching tie. He wore aviator glasses that concealed his mood. He helped her out of the car and turned to help Carmen as well. Carmen ran a hand over a blush colored gown that made her look deceptively sweet. She had turned into British royalty for the day. Lyla wore an army green dress she’d been wanting to wear for a while and black trench coat.
“The Pyre family is here!” Janice exclaimed, making her way through the crowd. “This is great! Gavin, do you want to do a speech?”
“No.”
Janice didn’t look surprised by his abrupt answer. “No problem. Alice is prepared. I’m so glad you decided to come.”
Janice led them through the throng. A group of celebrities were taking pictures and talking to reporters. Carmen had definitely pulled together an eclectic and high profile group of celebrities. Up front was Bridgette Mackee, an actress who starred in a summer blockbuster, the brilliant and eccentric film director, Phoenix along with The Punisher, a UFC fighter.
Kody Singer spotted Carmen and abruptly left his interview to greet her. He smiled and grasped both of her hands as he talked. As Gavin pulled her through the crowd, Kody caught sight of him and took a hasty step back. Clearly, Kody hadn’t forgotten the misunderstanding with Gavin during the opening night of Incognito. Kody pulled Lyla aside to ask about Carmen. Gavin took exception and choked him.
Lyla waved at Kody, but he averted his face. Lyla inwardly shrugged and squeezed Gavin’s hand. “Okay?”
“Yeah,” he said without looking at her.
Lyla ignored his clipped tone and focused on her hectic surroundings. Gavin shook hands with the celebrities, all of whom were staying at one of the Pyre Casinos. Gavin introduced her to those she didn’t know and grudgingly obliged the press when they asked for pictures of them.
Gavin stepped away from her to take a call. From his body language, Lyla suspected something serious happened. Gavin’s mouth was tight when he returned to her side. Everyone around her took a step back. She didn’t ask what happened because he wouldn’t tell her anyway.
Janice and the hospital director led the way to the new wing of the hospital. A bright red ribbon marked off the new wing. Alice walked up to the front of the crowd, beaming with pride.
“Thanks to the Pyre Foundation, we were able to build a new wing and restore two that were damaged by a fire. Let’s give a round of applause to Gavin Pyre!” Alice announced.
Cheers sounded around them. Lyla smiled with pride at her husband who acknowledged the crowd with a curt nod.
“Mr. Pyre, will you do the honors?” Alice asked, holding out a massive pair of scissors.
Gavin stiffened by her side. Clearly, he didn’t want to be in the limelight, but he stepped forward. He didn’t pause for effect or look at the clicking cameras as he cut the ribbon. As applause rang out, Gavin handed the scissors back to Alice and resumed his position beside Lyla. She wanted to elbow him in the side, but didn’t want to provoke him further. Gavin was making it clear that he had other things to do besides accompany her to this event.
“You can go,” she said just loud enough for him to hear.
Gavin looked down at her. She didn’t have to see his eyes to know that he was pissed. He had been tense from the moment she arrived. He cupped the back of her neck and squeezed. A warning. Lyla grit her teeth. This was the first time she had left Nora to go on an outing. It was a big day for her and she wouldn’t let him ruin it. When Alice ran up to them, Lyla smiled at her.
“Come on, there’s so much people to meet!” Alice exclaimed.
Lyla slipped out of Gavin’s hold and went with Alice. She felt someone breathing down her neck and glanced back to see Blade on her heels. At the end of the corridor Gavin paced as he talked on the phone. Good riddance.
There were people everywhere. Volunteers handed out gift baskets and goodie bags to patients. On the basketball court, NBA star Michael Heatton helped patients shoot baskets. Lyla passed several rooms and saw the celebrities out in full force, taking group photos or sitting at the bedside of the recovering, sick or dying.
Lyla spotted Kody and Carmen in a little girl’s room. Lyla knew from the meeting that meeting Kody was the cancer patient’s dying wish. The wan girl perched on Kody’s lap and beamed at the camera while her parents stood against the wall with tears in their eyes.
Alice grabbed two bouquets of sunflowers and handed one to Lyla.
“Let’s go spread some sunshine,” Alice said so enthusiastically that Lyla couldn’t help but smile in response.
Lyla followed Alice who fearlessly walked into rooms to talk to patients young and old. Sometimes family or friends accompanied the patients. Once Blade scanned the occupants, he waited in the hallway.
Alice made everyone feel special. There was something about her spirit that lit up the room and made everyone believe that everything was going to be okay. These people were going through the worst time in their life. The Pyre Foundation was here to offer support, hope and make them feel that they weren’t alone.
Many locals were aware of what the Pyre Foundation was doing in the community. Alice introduced Lyla who wasn’t prepared for the patient’s response. Even as she handed out sunflowers, the patient’s showered her with gratitude and love. Lyla was overwhelmed. Alice proudly proclaimed that Gavin and Lyla were behind the funding for these events. Lyla listened to their hardships and tried to offer words of comfort and hope.
She didn’t know how to respond when a patient clasped her hand and said, “You and your husband are doing God’s work.”
Alice was bursting with light. “She sure is, Maggie. I’ll see you next week.”
“Yes, child!” the old woman called as they walked out of her room.
“Next week?” Lyla asked.
“I visit hospitals in my spare time,” Alice said as she marched Lyla down the hallway, stopping to direct several volunteers before she continued on.
“What spare time?” Lyla muttered.
“I know, right? It’s important for me to remember that there are people much less fortunate than me. Hospitals are one of the loneliest places on earth. I like to bring a bit of sunshine.”
“Where’s Gavin?” she asked Blade as she paused in front of another room.
“Attending to business.”
Lyla narrowed her eyes at Blade. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing you need to worry about.”
“He needs to meet these people.”
“There’s millions of people like this,” Blade said. “Gavin is helping in his own way.”
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