by Coralee June
“Well, you’re in luck, Roe,” Blaise said with a grin. “Not only am I a hopeless romantic, but I’m damn good at finding people.”
“Is that so?” I asked. His cockiness made me want to laugh. I felt relieved, too. Maybe he could help me. Maybe I’d finally track down Hunter and be able to let him go.
“It is. I’m about to go to a family dinner. Do you want to join me? I can have the missus set out an extra plate for you.”
“That’s nice, but I really need to speak to Gavriel—” I began, but Blaise cut off my words with a laugh.
“He’ll be there. Sunshine would kick his ass if he bailed,” Blaise replied. Sunshine? Who was that? “Besides, you look hungry. I bet you haven’t had a good meal in ages. Let’s get this sorted out.”
He turned around, not bothering to give me a chance to decline or run. He just started walking toward the street and whistling. He knew I wouldn’t pass on the opportunity to meet Gavriel. I looked around for a moment and debated running off in the opposite direction.
But Blaise just continued whistling, and I took one step toward him. And then another. And then another. Hope moved me forward, and I clutched my backpack as I went.
ROE
“Were you hoping to defend yourself with this piece of shit?” a gruff voice at my back asked with a chuckle. I squeezed my eyes shut and gnawed on my lip. The moment I walked through the door with Blaise, a team of security stopped me and patted me down. They were efficiently intrusive, making sure to strip me of my jacket and sweep their beefy hands over my corset to check for a wire or weapons. When they found the gun, a group of them laughed.
“Is something wrong with my gun?” I asked as he tossed it back in my backpack.
“Nothing’s wrong. You just forgot the bullets,” the tall, muscular man replied with another laugh. I tilted my chin, looking up at him defiantly as he thrust my backpack into my chest.
I had bullets; I just didn’t load them into my revolver. I was worried the gun would go off accidentally. I wasn’t pretending to be the best at this. I was more of a boxer, not a shooter.
I curled my hand into a fist and gave him a scathing look. “I don’t really need a gun to get the job done,” I threatened. The man who patted me down raised his hands in mock surrender and smiled at me.
“You really were dressed for The Velvet Lounge,” Blaise said with a teasing laugh. I blushed, even though he kept his eyes respectfully up and away from my chest and long legs. Surprisingly, the club owner didn’t give me any creeper vibes. If anything, he talked about his wife the entire ride here. Wrapping my jacket tight around my body, I wished I would have had the foresight to pack clothes with more coverage.
“I was determined to find answers,” I replied with a simple shrug. It was completely out of character for me, but I haven’t been myself for years.
“You’re about Sunshine’s size. I’ll go steal some clothes of hers while you chat with Gav.” I hoped Sunshine was the type to prioritize comfort over style.
I told Blaise thank you, and the guards led me down a long hallway and into a large sitting area where the original Bullet was waiting for me. I knew who Gavriel Moretti was the moment I saw him. He was perched in a leather wingback chair by the fireplace. He sat tall and proud, but there was an easy and cocky air about him that gave off a leisurely vibe. For someone that quite literally ran the world, he was completely at ease. He was quiet—too quiet. He seemed like the type to sit and observe for hours on end.
My eyes swept over him, lingering at the scars on his hands, neck, and cheek. “Roe Palmer,” his smoky voice greeted. “I was wondering how long it would take you to find me.”
My eyes widened in surprise. I wasn’t expecting Gavriel to know who I was. His face turned smug like he was pleased to catch me off guard. Even though I wanted to ask him how he knew my name or why I was here, I didn’t give him the satisfaction. “I want to know where Hunter is,” I said. My voice trembled over Hunter’s name. I hadn’t really been able to say it out loud since he left. As a poet, I understood the power of words. They could transform a person’s entire identity and sense of self. But before he left, I didn’t realize the power of a name. It could punch you in the gut with a single murmur. The harmless collection of letters and sounds could bring tears to your eyes and make flashes of memories transcend your mind.
Gavriel nodded in approval. “I like it when my associates are direct. No sense in exchanging small talk when we’re both here for a reason.” I didn’t like that he loosely called me an associate.
“I don’t work for you,” I said. I wanted to make my intentions very clear. Gavriel smiled. His white teeth glistened, and I stared at the sharp points of his incisors. This man was all predator. I thought Hunter was dangerous, but if this room were a pack of wolves, he would be the alpha.
Gavriel slowly stood up. I watched every movement and noted how his face flashed with a wince. “On the contrary,” he began while walking over to the fireplace. He stared at the dancing flames for a moment before continuing. “Technically speaking, I’ve practically funded your entire life. Mack is on my payroll, and Hunter was,” he explained before looking at me.
What did he mean by was?
“Doesn’t Hunter still work for you?” I asked.
“We’ll get to that in a moment. But first, I want to be very clear with you. You are an associate of mine. An employee. There’s no interview. No choice. You proved to be brave enough to come to my house, so these are the consequences. And if you go down this road—if you reach out to Hunter—your entire life will be tied to the Bullets. I suggest you think that over before I give you an answer.”
I swallowed and nervously grabbed at the strap of my backpack once more. It was starting to become a tic of mine. I guess I thrived on the idea of protection. “I really just want to know where he is,” I said. My voice wavered once more, and I felt ashamed for showing so much weakness in front of this powerful man. Gavriel spun around from the fireplace and took slow, steady steps toward me. Once he was about a foot away, he crossed his arms over his chest and glared at me.
“Why do you want to see him?”
“Many reasons,” I began with a shrug. “At first, I convinced myself it was for closure, but...I just feel like I can’t believe he’s done with me until I get answers.”
Gavriel nodded, his eyes soft and the snarl on his lips relaxed. It was like he could relate. “Let’s have dinner, Roe. My wife is trying a new recipe, so please keep your face neutral if it tastes like shit.”
His wife? I thought Blaise’s wife was cooking. I let the hint of the smile escape. “I lived with Mack for ten years. I can handle some bad cooking.”
After changing into some yoga pants and an oversized shirt, the guards led me to a dining room that hosted a long mahogany table with sixteen chairs. I was thankful to be out of my lingerie and in something comfortable, especially since I was about to meet Gavriel’s wife.
Naturally, the broody mob boss sat at the head of the table. He motioned for me to sit in the chair to his right, so I settled there, trying to ignore the beady stares of the guards surrounding us. They were lined along each wall, looking on with dull, protective interest. I wondered what it was like to have my entire life watched by security, then remembered that I had been watched. Hunter was always there; he was just less visible than these guards.
Blaise reappeared with a new hickey on his neck. His rusty hair was mussed and wild, like he’d just had a quickie. He tossed me a wink before sitting down two seats from my right. Another man with blond hair entered the room. He whispered something in Gavriel’s ear that I couldn’t hear, then straightened to address me.
“Hello, I’m Callum. It’s a pleasure to meet you,” he said politely while thrusting his hand out for me to shake. I took it and smiled amicably. He looked clean and polished and refined. Like the boy next door who somehow got wrapped up in the crime industry.
Lastly, a man with his head shaved and muscles that loo
ked like he could snap my neck with a simple flick of his wrist strolled into the dining room. “Ryker, we have a guest,” Gavriel said to the new man.
He nodded at me without saying a word, then sat down. He seemed like the silent, intimidating type, and I was perfectly fine with not speaking to him.
I felt anxious, surrounded by all of these men. They gave me polite nods of acknowledgment, but none of them seemed to care that I was there. It wasn’t until a woman with raven black hair and tattoos up and down her arm entered the room carrying a platter, that their entire demeanors shifted. It was like sunlight decided to glow in the room. Callum shot up from his seat and went to grab the platter from her, kissing her on the cheek. Gavriel bit his lip. Ryker slowly got up and sauntered over to her before wrapping her up in a big hug. Blaise just rubbed at the hickey on his neck while licking his lips.
“Hi, I’m Sunshine,” the woman said. I got out of my seat to shake her hand, but she wrapped me up in a hug, instead.
I was surprised by her strength. Her hug nearly cracked my back. “Blaise told me all about you. I hope we can find who you’re looking for. I know what it’s like to be separated from people you care about.” I gave her a polite nod, then sat down. I wasn’t really good at making connections with people, and I felt completely out of my element. If you had told me three hours ago that I would have dinner at a crime boss’s house, surrounded by large men and a surprisingly kind woman, I would’ve laughed.
“So who are you looking for?” the muscular one asked. I think his name was Ryker.
I let out a sigh as Sunshine grabbed scoops of her casserole and plopped it on the fine china in front of me. It looked like noodles and melted cheese that was somehow both uncooked and curdled. “Hunter Hammond. He’s an assassin for the Bullets. He left me five years ago, and I’ve been searching for him ever since. This is admittedly the closest I’ve gotten,” I whispered.
At Hunter’s name, the men at the table exchanged dark looks. I knew immediately that they knew something about Hunter. Callum spoke to Sunshine. “Sunshine? Would you mind—”
“Yeah, I’m not gonna run off while you guys have a serious conversation,” she interrupted. “Go on. Tell us all the ominous things about Hunter Hammond.”
I smiled. I liked her.
Blaise was too busy stuffing his face to contribute to the conversation, but Ryker dove right in after exchanging a meaningful look with Gavriel. “Hunter is somewhat of a lone Bullet. He’s been on our payroll since he was eighteen but has his own thing going on.”
“I know what he does. He’s an assassin,” I said. I’d had five years to come to terms with his career. It didn’t make sense to me, and it completely contradicted my respect for life. But it’s who he was.
Gavriel’s brow furrowed. “He told you?”
“The night before he left,” I explained.
I took a bite of the food and fixed my face into a neutral expression like Gavriel instructed. It wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t quite edible, either. I turned to look at Sunshine and smiled encouragingly.
“Five years ago, Hunter Hammond stopped accepting my calls. We assumed he had died, but he wasn’t good enough at clearing his tracks. He currently lives in the middle of nowhere by himself. I could give you the coordinates to his house, but I want something in return. I’ve let him mope for long enough; it’s time to get back to work.”
Hunter quit? That didn’t make sense. From what I heard, he knew what Mack was up to. “He still talks to Mack,” I said while squinting my eyes. “And you’re saying he doesn’t work for you anymore?” That didn’t make sense. What if he didn’t want to be an assassin? What if he realized it’s not what his life was anymore? Even though we were having a pleasant dinner, I wasn’t convinced that this job was easy. It was dangerous. Part of me wanted to think that Hunter left because of me, but maybe there was more.
“Mack and he have always had a unique relationship. I’m not surprised they’ve kept in touch. Speaking of, Mack will probably be here by tomorrow. You’ll want to leave tonight if you don’t want to deal with him. I’ve always thought he was overprotective,” Gavriel replied.
“I like Mack. He’s a big ol’ teddy bear,” Sunshine said with a smile. It was weird knowing that Mack had this entire separate life from me. In some ways, I was happy to have a glimpse at who he spent his time with while in New York.
“Are you going to tell Mack what I’m up to?” I asked. I felt like a scolded child.
“If you’re here, he already knows,” Blaise teased. I didn’t want Mack to interfere. I was ready to find Hunter once and for all, and no one was going to stop me.
“So you want me to bring Hunter back? What does that even mean?” I asked.
“It means I’ll tell you where he is if you promise to bring him back to the Bullets where he belongs. He’s the best in the business. No one compares. It’s serendipitous that you showed up. I’ve had quite the problem that requires his expertise.”
I opened and closed my mouth, debating on what to say. I needed to know where Hunter was. I craved those coordinates like it was my last breath. But how could I convince Hunter to come back? I couldn’t even convince him to stay with me. “I don’t think he’ll listen to me. And if you know where he is, why not drag him back yourself?”
“Family is a choice,” Callum said. My eyes snapped to the blond man in a sharp suit, but he wasn’t looking at me. He was exchanging a meaningful stare with Sunshine.
Gavriel nodded. “I want Hunter back in the fold on his terms. Family is a choice, and I think you can convince him to come back. I could threaten him, but his loyalty would be skewed.”
“And what if I can’t bring him back?” I asked. “He left me in the first place. I’m not convinced he’ll even want to see me. He could slam the door in my face.”
At this, Gavriel tipped his head back and let out a smoky laugh. His dark chuckles made everyone in the room pause. “Hunter and I are very much alike,” Gavriel said before looking at Sunshine. “If you show up on his doorstep, he’ll come back.”
“And if he doesn’t?”
“Then I’ll find other methods of persuasion. I’m not a fan of buying loyalty with threats, but I’m motivated enough to do whatever is necessary to get him back on the job,” Gavriel snapped irritably before picking up his glass of water and taking a steady gulp.
Sunshine rolled her eyes. “Can we please stop talking business at the table?”
“Sure, Baby,” Callum said with a wink. Based on how she interacted with each of the guys here, I couldn’t quite pinpoint the dynamic of all of their relationships. Both Gavriel and Blaise said their wife was cooking dinner, but the only woman I saw was Sunshine.
“Thank you,” she sang.
The rest of the dinner went by without dramatics. Ryker, who I found out was a professional-fighter-turned-coach, discussed his latest training with me. He even said, if I was ever back in New York, to stop by his gym. Blaise, a bounty hunter, talked about going camping next weekend and invited Sunshine with him. Occasionally, guards would whisper something in Gavriel’s ear, but for the most part, he stayed silent and watched on. Callum ate every bite of the disgusting pasta and even asked for seconds. Sunshine bloomed at his request. My food felt like bricks in my stomach. I just wanted to get the information and get out of there.
Once everything was cleaned up and it was time to go, Gavriel asked me to go to his office with him. Sunshine told me goodbye and said I was welcome over anytime. Even though I really liked her, I seriously hoped I wouldn’t be back here for a long while. She seemed nice enough, but this was a life I wasn’t sure I wanted for myself.
On the surface, it wasn’t the deadly encounter I envisioned when thinking about the mob. But there were dark undertones in everything they did. There was a heaviness about all of them. It was like they each were weighed down by responsibility and history I couldn’t even begin to understand.
But I would do anything to find Hunter again. Ev
en if it meant a deal with the devil.
Gavriel’s office was masculine and dark. His large desk was organized, with neatly stacked papers everywhere. He looked like the CEO of a Fortune 500 company and not the head of the snake. He grabbed a sticky note and started writing something down on it. I held my breath in anticipation. Whatever he wrote down would lead me to the man that left me all those years ago.
“It’s a fairly remote town. He won’t make this easy on you, you know,” he said before handing me the paper. I snatched it out of his grip greedily, then apologized with my eyes. Gavriel continued to speak as I looked down at the scribbles he wrote down. “Good luck.”
“Why do you want me to bring him back? What if he doesn’t want to be a killer? What if he realized that that’s not who he was?” I hoped that I didn’t offend Gavriel, but I wanted to make sure that I was doing this for the right reasons.
“Once a killer, always a killer, Roe. People change, I won’t deny that. But some things are undeniable. I have this theory, would you like to hear it?” he asked before circling his desk and sitting down in the plush leather chair.
“Yes,” I said.
“If you want to win him back, embrace who he is. Something tells me Hunter left because he didn’t feel good enough for you. That man has guilt buried so deep inside that it’s become part of his marrow. Show him how you feel.”
I nodded. “I’ll do my best,” I said. I wasn’t expecting relationship advice from a mob boss.
“Good. Bring him home, Roe,” Gavriel replied with a wave of his hand, effectively dismissing me.
ROE
Joshua Tree, California, was a hippie’s paradise in the middle of the mountainous desert. A single strip of shops and restaurants greeted me as I drove down the winding highway. Vintage resale boutiques, with their doors painted turquoise and fur coats in their shop windows, passed by. The eclectic town both blended into the desert landscape and stood out. I smiled at the lavender Volkswagen bus parked on the side of the road.