Page 20

CONAN

D riving the Range Rover feels dull compared to Hallie’s Shelby. But I don’t know how this shit’s gonna go down. Never know when I gotta shove a body in the trunk.

I pull up next to Reggie and Rowan and kill the engine.

“Are we expecting a party?” I smirk, pulling out a cigarette.

“With you? Probably,” Reggie replies, opening the trunk. “And here’s your present.”

I blow out smoke, eyes on the stash. Knives. Guns. Even some throwing stars.

I pocket a few.

“You know me so well.”

We grab what we need. I go for a pistol, an easy choice and concealable. My pocketknife’s always on me anyway. Most of the time, my fists are enough. But I gotta protect myself. Can’t risk it before a fight.

Before we head in, I pull up the tracking app on my phone. Hallie’s still out driving the McLaren. I grin watching the red dot move.

She better be safe.

“So what’s the plan?” Rowan cuts in.

“We go in as normal customers. Ask for a booth, ask to see the owner. Business-related. Maybe slide ‘em some cash. Or show them the guns. Quiet way first.”

“And if that fails?”

“The Conan way. I beat my way through the doors.”

Reggie nods. Rowan grins like he lives for chaos.

“I prefer the second option.”

I lead the way, pushing into the club past the bouncers.

“Table for three?”

He sizes me up, then steps back.

“Sure. Stephanie will show you over.”

A short woman in a gold glitter thong and no bra struts over.

“What kind of experience you after? You want to look or touch, sir?”

“Look,” I snap.

“Really?” Rowan hisses behind me.

“Are you kidding me?” I throw him a glare.

She leads us to a booth, brings champagne, and slides her hand over my forearm.

“I’ll be up on stage soon.”

I smile at her. “Nice. Now, I do have to ask you a favor.” I motion her close.

Her breasts brush my shoulder. All I see is Hallie.

“I need to speak to the owner,” I whisper, pulling a fat wad of cash from my pocket.

“He doesn’t see guests.”

“It’s important. I’ll make it worth your while. No one will know.”

She sucks in a shaky breath.

“Tell me what you want,” I say, firm. I grab more cash.

She glances at the bar.

“Let me give you a dance. Make it less obvious. Gerry’s watching me.”

I nod and lean back. She straddles me, hips rolling.

Nothing.

My dick isn’t even mildly interested.

“You’re incredibly handsome,” she purrs, dragging a nail down my chest.

I shove the money into her g-string. I’ve got shit to do.

“Where is he?” I ask quietly.

“He’s not here. He never is since he started working with his cousins. But I know his schedule. He’s at the downtown boxing gym, the shady one in the warehouse.”

Her lips hover by mine. I resist cringing. But I got what I came for.

“Thank you.”

She slides off me and struts back to the pole.

“Right. Let’s go.”

“You ain’t even hard? Are you alright?” Rowan squints at me.

“I’m good.”

“So, where we going?” Reggie asks.

“For a punch up.”

I rise, the guys following as we head for the car.

“Call Drago. Tell him to hack the security cameras and wipe it,” I order the twins as I pull up to the run-down boxing club. Tin warehouse. Four cars out front.

I pop the glovebox and pull out Delilah, my favorite pistol.

Reggie’s already on the call. Rowan hops out and joins me.

“What’s the plan?”

“Get everyone out. I’ll deal with him. You keep watch.”

He nods just as Reggie joins, grabbing my AK-47 from the trunk.

“Bit extreme?” Rowan asks.

Reggie’s eyes burn cold. “We wanna scare them, right?” He loads the ammo like he’s brushing his teeth.

“See? Psycho,” Rowan whispers to me, and I roll my eyes.

“Let’s go.”

I lead us in. Reggie fires up into the ceiling.

Silence. Fear. My favorite combination.

“Everyone out. Now!” I bark.

Two guys sparring on the mats bolt past.

I spot Ben in the ring with some big blond dude. I head for the ropes.

“You,” I point to the blond.

“I don’t want trouble. I can pay you soon.” He holds up gloved hands.

“I don’t want your fucking money. I need half an hour with this dickhead.” I jab my finger at Ben.

Big guy sighs with relief. Ben looks like he might puke.

“You’re not with Faz?” Blondie asks.

I chuckle.

Faz runs the underground fights. We’re good, but I keep my distance now.

“Not directly. But if you breathe a word of this, I can be.”

He nods, backing toward the ropes.

“I’ve got amnesia, don’t worry.”

“Good.”

At the door, he hesitates. “Uh... can you clean up any mess?”

“Fuck off,” Reggie shoves him out and locks the door.

“You,” I say, eyes on Ben. “Think you’re tough for laying hands on a woman?”

“She’s a liar.”

I slam my gun into his jaw. He stumbles.

“Wrong answer.”

I grab him by the scruff and shove him back.

“Fight someone who hits back. See how you like it.”

He wipes his blood and grins. “It’s too late.”

“What is?”

“To save Hallie.”

“From you? I’m right on fucking time.”

He shrugs. No remorse. That lights the fuse.

I toss my gun and kick it off the canvas.

Before he can think, I punch him in the nose.

Shit, that feels good.

“Fuck!” He grabs his face as blood gushes.

“What do you want from me?”

“Nothing. I just want to hurt you. You left a mark on her. Now I’ll leave a whole collection on you.”

“All this over her?” he sneers.

I lunge, grab him at the waist, and slam him into the ropes. When he’s on all fours, I swing my leg and kick his jaw.

He drops, face covered, curled up. Pathetic.

“Get up. Or are you too pussy to fight a man?” I kick his ribs. He grunts.

Blood drips from his mouth. He wobbles to his feet and takes a swing. I duck easily and chuckle.

“Jesus. You need a new trainer.”

He stops. I jog on the spot. I could run rings around this asshole.

“I don’t get your obsession with her. You’re outta her league. She didn’t satisfy me. Couldn’t even stop me from sticking my dick elsewhere.”

My vision goes red. Blood pounds in my ears.

“Is that what gets you off? Putting women down? Does it make up for your pencil dick?”

I grab him by the throat and lift him.

“You’re gonna stay the fuck away from Hallie. This is your one and only warning. Touch her again, and I’ll make sure you spend the rest of your life being fed through a tube. Or I’ll bury you myself.”

He gulps.

I drop him. He hits the mat hard.

“What, you her bodyguard now?” he coughs.

“Stop. Fucking. Talking about her.”

His blood stained teeth emerge as he smiles. He’s batshit crazy. Maybe I should just kill him. He’s one of those pricks that will keep popping up.

“Did she suck your dick? Do that swirly thing? That mouth and her pussy—only good things about her. Miserable bitch. I wish I got to?—”

I don’t let him finish.

He makes me sick.

There’s so much more to Hallie. She’s brilliant. Smart. Funny. Sassy. Bossy. She lights up a room.

She makes my mind quiet.

She’s worth ten million of him.

My mind blanks. My fists don’t.

Punch after punch I demolish him. I jump on him, slamming my weight into every hit.

“You deserve every one of these.”

His blood splashes on my face. His screams feed me. I thrive off his fear.

Until he goes limp. Even that doesn’t stop me.

“Conan, fuck, stop!” Rowan’s voice breaks through.

I blink. My lungs burn. I crawl off him, panting.

All I see is red.

“Is he dead?” I ask.

“I don’t know. We ain’t no doctors, Con.”

I grunt. Not enough. I wanted to torture him more. His face is already starting to swell.

I guess it’s time to call Finn.

“Conan. What have you done?”

I stare at the body. “What’re the chances you can bring someone back to life? I wanna kill him again. Think I rushed it.”

Finn chuckles. It cools my rage.

“I’m a doctor, not a fucking necromancer. Are you sure he’s dead?”

“Lot of blood.”

“Check his pulse.”

I kneel, press fingers to his neck.

“Wait. You’re helping me?”

Pulse—barely. Fuck, am I losing my touch?

“Yeah. I’m on my way. Wanna see what you’d do in round two. Cunt deserves it.”

“How do you know who it is?”

“Con. I know everything.”

“Nah. Twins ratted me out.”

“Damn right they did. Call Drago. Get a cleanup crew.”

“You taking him to the hospital?” I ask Finn.

“God, no. Got a setup at mine we can use.”

I raise a brow, wiping the blood off my hand on my tee. “Why the hell do you even need a medical room in your house? Should I sleep with one eye open in case you start needing test subjects or some shit?”

“Start?” he laughs.

“You better fucking?—”

“Bye, bro.”

My phone buzzes again. My heart skips.

HALLIE

Thank you again for fixing up my baby. I appreciate it more than you know. Speak to you soon. Have a nice night. 3

A heart. It makes mine race.

I look at the man at my feet and laugh. Told her I’d fix it.

Me

You’re more than welcome. I’ll text you tomorrow. Get some sleep. And it’s safe to go home, trouble.

She replies instantly.

HALLIE

Do I want to ask?

Blood smears my phone.

Me

Probably best you don’t. Just take my word. Night, darlin.

HALLIE

Sweet dreams, beastie.

I check the McLaren tracker again. She’s nearby. A bar. Maybe I’ll swing by.

I don’t know what this is between us. But I know one thing.

Around her, it’s calm.

“Get off your damn phone and clean the mess you made,” Reggie barks.

I scowl. “You forgetting who works for who?”

He stands his ground as I stride over until I’m in his face, then we both crack up laughing.

“You think I wanna test you after that? You’re good. Me and Rowan will clean. You keep sexting, buddy.” He claps my shoulder.

Rowan nods fast. “Yeah, what he said.”

“Pussies. Find his phone and wallet while you’re at it,” I tell them.

They might not be blood, but they’re family.

The doors crash open and Finn strides in.

He kneels, assesses the body.

“Nice job, Con,” he mutters, full of sarcasm.

“He hurt Hallie.”

Finn’s jaw ticks. “Elaborate.”

“Attacked her in her home. She’s scared. Got a nasty mark on her head.”

Finn spits on Ben, then straightens.

“And you want me to keep him alive?” He asks.

I scratch my jaw.

“Stripper said he’s working with his cousin. So maybe some family. He’s a Brit.”

Finn’s eyes go sharp.

“You think?—?”

“Nah. Too pathetic to be a Bowen.”

London mafia. We lost Dad to avoid war with them. We owe them nothing.

“They’d be stupid to come near us now.”

Finn nods. “Let’s keep an eye on it. Killing a son ain’t the same as killing a father.”

I swallow.

I thought I could outrun the past.

But if it catches me, I’ll kill it again.