Page 79 of Mercenary

24

Declan

I’m in perfect range for a clean shot. The motel room I’m holed up in sits across the narrow parking lot and is a few doors down from Madelyn’s room. There’s a neat tear in the window screen, big enough to fit the barrel of my gun through. The large heating unit on the adjacent roof casts enough of a shadow to conceal it from eyesight. No secondary exits, it’s the front door, that’s it. The perfect setup for a hit.

Shit for luck on Kylie’s behalf.

Flicking my wrist, I glance at my watch. What the hell is taking her so long? Shelby isn’t exactly Oklahoma City. With the mob in town, one occasional murder isn’t uncommon. But my gunning down four of Novák’s men—with a questionable fifth mystery shot—is sure to have caused a law-enforcement ripple effect throughout Shelby.

So much for TORC subtly gathering information.

I could have shot Kylie in the back of the head while she was breaking into Madelyn’s room, if Hayden wanted her dead straight away. Sure, I was watching, having tracked Madelyn here after she date-drugged me. I chugged down the tainted water like the fool she believed me to be, then forced myself to vomit the liquid back out and into the toilet. I’m a big guy. It’d take a horse sedative to knock me out.

Now I’ve Kylie right where I want her.

And what do I do?

Nothing, except give Madelyn time to see her sister for what is likely to be the last time while I struggle over a promise I made to Jaxson months ago.

We’d been in the great room at headquarters, a ranch outside of Shelby. Hayden—doing what he does best, fucking with people—had just finished another attempt at teaching Jaxson a lesson in obedience by targeting his one weakness, Kylie. Hard to say if our boss had sex with her or not. I’m thinking no.

Though Jaxson believed otherwise.

“Give her a chance,” he’d hissed between clenched teeth in an uncharacteristic flash of anger. Nothing rattled Jaxson. As a matter of fact, he excelled at being the ballbuster expertly stirring everyone’s pot. But Hayden messing with Kylie . . . I could barely hold Jaxson back from launching himself at the masterful manipulator.

“If Hayden ever decides to terminate her, he’ll call you. Promise me you’ll give her a chance.”

Yeah, Jaxson was smart. He knew exactly who’d be brought in to do the deed if the day ever came.

I’d nodded like a goddamn fool, breaking a longstanding rule of mine; never put myself in a tit-for-tat situation even if I’m the one owed the favor. That’s something friends do.

Jaxson was a friend.

Now he’s dead because of her.

I adjust my grip on my gun. I’ll allow this reunion of between sisters. Give my girl a chance to officially say good-bye.

Before I get my hands on Kylie, call in for orders, and most likely, make it official.

Fifteen minutes have passed. Either Kylie is on drugs or is suddenly the dumb-ass blond she occasionally pretends to be. In our world, five minutes is the max. Fifteen is a death sentence. Kylie should know with every second passing, she’s putting Madelyn at risk.

By giving me too much time to make my move. When did things get so goddamn complicated? A traitor is a traitor. Plain and simple. And fuck, don’t I well know that promises are made to be broken.

I hear a car engine. Immediately, I withdraw my gun and draw away from the window far enough where I have a clear view of the parking lot without being seen myself.

Two shiny tan Lincoln sedans slow, turning and parking a few doors down. Franco’s men; God forbid one of these minions dare to be different. Drive, say . . . an American-made pickup. So much for goddamn patriotism.

I flick off the safety on my Ruger SR9. My Glock is ready to go. Though I’m pretty fucking certain they’re not here for me.

Hayden’s not the only one with a hard-on for Kylie.

The car doors open. Five men wearing tracksuits exit. Definitely mobsters, no question about it. They cross the empty parking lot and come to stand outside Madelyn’s room.

They aren’t newbies. I can tell by the way they carry themselves, their arms stiff and held close to their bodies. Jaxson’s talent for pissing people off must have rubbed off on Kylie. Franco’s bought out the big guns to kill the woman who’d been spying on him. First the pissants I terminated four months ago outside her trailer. Now these lucky five.

She spied for us then sold us out. Fucking fitting how both Franco’s mob and her own goddamn organization are now after her. Why did you set up Jaxson, Kylie? And did you gab about us? Has TORC been exposed?

Damn it.