Page 44

Maddox

“Are you sure you want to do this?” Pit walks into my office. “We could just take care of Adonis and be done with it.”

No, I’m not sure. Wouldn’t that be nice?

“It’s not like we’d leave any evidence for anyone to find.”

“Vex—” His new name Maverick Steele doesn’t suit him as well as his street name. “—wouldn’t need evidence. He has spies everywhere.” Sometimes I just think he knows. “Not to mention, if it were the other way around, I’d want to have a say.”

“Maybe I should stay.”

“Like Vex couldn’t walk through the two of us without blinking.” He trained with Ethan for a short time, way back when we were kids. Though Vex wasn’t ever really a kid. He probably came out of the womb a killing machine.

“Vex would think twice—”

I raise an eyebrow at Pit.

“Fine, but if he kills you, I’m taking Snow and Cow home with me.”

“And how would your wife like that?”

“Not at all. I’ll probably be sleeping on the couch. So, keep that in mind when you’re dealing with Vex, and try not to get killed.”

We both laugh at the absurdity of that.

“I’ll try not to die so your wife doesn’t get mad at you.”

“Pregnant wife. Moody pregnant wife.” Pit lifts up his phone and smiles. “She’s the best thing that happened to me, other than my kids, but some days she drives me out of my mind with these cravings of hers. Who wants bread and butter pickles with garlic and peanut butter ice cream?”

That sounds nauseating. “The ice cream shop can get you peanut butter ice cream.” Even though they don’t stock it because we have several kids with severe peanut allergies.

“It should be in now. But I can wait ‘till after the meeting.”

“Go. I’ve got this.” Hopefully.

Vex walks in as Pit walks out.

There’s not a single emotion on his face. Why?

Then again, there are a lot of questions floating around in my mind. The most confusing is why Adonis is still alive. Vex must be planning something big. That’s the only thing that makes sense.

“What is so important that we needed a private meeting?” Vex sits down as I close and lock the door.

“I want to put a body in the ground.” After introducing him to my snakes.

“So? You’ve put dozens of them there without a permission slip from me.”

Huh? “I want to kill Adonis.”

“Dahlia’s boss? I’ve been wanting to kill him since he brought her soup.”

Then why haven’t you? “Are you really okay with this?”

Vex leans forward. “Why do you care what I think? Are you just that polite or afraid of me?”

Everyone is afraid of you. “This was about respect. Before I killed him, I’d assume you’d want to get a few blows in or the option to kill him.”

“A few blows? What in the world are you talking about?”

“After he assaulted your wife—”

“WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?” Vex shouts without raising his voice.

And now I’m going to die. How didn’t he know?

Dahlia didn’t tell him.

“EXPLAIN.”

“A few weeks ago—”

“Lying. Why are you lying to me? Dahlia hasn’t been away from my side except for work—and I watch her when she’s there—since the wedding.” Vex’s hands flex into fists.

Hopefully, he kills me quickly. “A few weeks ago, your wife visited her friend, Mindy. During that visit, Adonis kissed your wife without her consent. Mindy found her fighting him off—”

“No. That’s impossible. She would have told me.” Vex isn’t talking to me. “I was downstairs waiting in the car for her. They were having a girls’ night, talking about wedding stuff.” He stands up and stalks away.

I’m still alive. And if I were smart, I’d stay right here… breathing without any new wounds. But I’ve never seen Vex show any emotions before. Who knows what he’ll do if someone gets in his way right now?

My kids practically jump out of Vex’s path as he heads towards the library.

That must be where he stashed her during our meeting. I pick up my pace yet remain out of his line of sight.

“Dahlia!” Vex’s voice echoes through the library and people scramble out.

As she turns around from where she’s talking to Mindy, her smile fades away.