Page 34 of Killer Confections (Syndicate Killers #1)

Atlas

I check my phone for the hundredth time, ignoring the rush of cars passing on the nearby highway.

We’re only a few minutes away from Columbus, standing on the shoulder in the pitch dark as we wait for the South syndicate messenger.

The forest that surrounds us is eerily quiet and I can’t shake the sinking feeling that something is wrong.

“Harold may be older, but he knows what he’s doing,” Dominic attempts to reassure me from where he leans against his car’s door. His hands are shoved in his pockets as he watches the road.

I grunt. “Yeah, well, he’s only one guy. I know my gut, Dom.”

He peers over at me. “Want to head back?”

“Yeah,” I decide, throwing the passenger side door open before headlights shine on us and a white truck pulls behind. Dom and I exchange a look as a tall, thin brunette jumps down from the driver’s side and flags us down.

“You Atlas?” She asks in a thick southern drawl as she stomps through the overgrown grass with her brown hiking boots.

“Yes,” I answer. “Let’s make this quick.”

She chuckles, shaking her head. “What’s the rush, boys? It ain’t every day our branches get to see each other.” At our passive expressions, she shakes her head and checks the watch on her wrist. “I need five minutes, tops.”

The move is eye-catching. Why would she need to time herself?

My eyes narrow. “What for? We’re ready to make a deal for a ceasefire. Thalia will pay the fine as soon as she’s back.”

The woman shifts slightly, her eyes straying to her wrist again before she shrugs. “Maybe we need a little more—”

“Quit looking at your fucking watch,” Dom bites, causing her back to go ramrod straight.

I scoff. “You couldn’t be any more obvious, you know? You’re fucking timing something.”

Her eyes are wide as she stares at us before a laugh bubbles up her throat.

She bends over, resting her hands on her knees as she attempts to catch her breath.

“Holy shit! They were right! You fellas took that bait mighty quick. Nevermind the waiting. I’m sure my guys have already disposed of your security.

” My blood runs cold as I hear my heart hammer in my ears.

The edges of my vision blacken as the messenger stands, giving us a conniving smile.

“Tell me, do you think they’ll grab me a cupcake?

I heard your old lady makes them fresh every day.

Would be a shame to come all the way out here and not get one before they kill the bitch. ”

I’m a big guy, but that doesn’t discount my speed.

Before the hick can even expect my movements, I’ve closed the distance between us.

I grab the collar of her shirt, balling it tightly into my fist as I drag her towards me.

Her eyes saucer and her sharpened nails dig into my wrist as I bring us eye level with each other.

“Your biggest fucking mistake tonight was thinking you could get away with slandering my girl in front of me,” I growl lowly, my eyes stabbing into her with a murderous intensity I’ve never felt before during kills.

I usually get a rush, but this, knowing Loxley may be hurt, has caused me to lose all sanity.

The woman before me is nothing except a problem that needs to be disposed of.

She must see something on my face. Something that makes her color drain and her lips wobble as she goes completely still with fear. She’s paralyzed under my threat and I can’t stop.

“Your second mistake was thinking you were gonna make it out of this state alive after fucking with what’s mine .

” The familiar sounds of something heavy and fast moving down the highway reach me.

We’re only a few steps from the road and as the headlights become blinding, I shove the messenger into traffic.

There’s only a split second where she stumbles back before catching herself and turning just in time to watch the semi collide with her.

She explodes into a thousand tiny pieces, blood and gore coating me and the asphalt. The semi screeches to a halt, nearly running off the road and causing a pile up as other vehicles slam on their brakes as well.

Dom curses as he throws the driver’s side door open. “Get the fuck in!”

We don’t stick around for the cleanup, nor do I worry about calling someone from the syndicate. My kill count is about to grow exponentially tonight. I just hope for their sake they haven’t touched a single hair on Loxley or I’ll burn their whole branch to the fucking ground with them in it.