The Fall(10)

“If I was going to shoot you, I would have done it already.” I followed her in, my arms relaxed by my sides. “You need to pack. Make it quick and drop the gun; it’s starting to piss me off.” My hand pulled the door closed behind us.

“You are in my house, I have no idea who you are or even what your name is. And you accuse me of pissing you off? You must be a friend of my father’s; only someone who consorts with him could be so arrogant and abrasive.”

“I’m not your father’s friend. I’m here because he paid me to do so. And trust me, if he paid me to walk out the door right now even though I know you’d probably be dead by morning, I’d leave just as easily. So don’t think this is personal, sweetheart, your feelings aren’t high on my list of give-a-shit.”

My words were sobering. Both to me and to her. I didn’t give a f*ck about her feelings—that part was true. But if she wasn’t a job, I wouldn’t necessarily walk out the door either. She was interesting, the kind that makes your pants tight in your crotch, which would definitely warrant a moment or two consideration before giving her a see-ya.

“What makes you so sure I’d be dead by morning? I’m still the one holding the gun.” She tilted her head to the nine still in her hands in case I’d suddenly developed blindness and missed it.

“If you were so sure of that, you wouldn’t have let me in your house and you would have fired already. Don’t insult us both by wasting time and crafting bullshit we both know isn’t true.”

While my knowledge on Jimmy’s daughter might have been limited to what I’d been given in the file, I was quick in getting a read on a person. The streets will do that. All those years with nothing but gut instinct and bravado will sharpen the senses of even the dumbest *. Either that or be killed. Watching men die has also contributed to my education; they let go of the mask and you see who they really are.

Which is why, no matter what was coming out of Sofia’s mouth, she had to be at the very least concerned that I was telling the truth. And the enemies she’d attracted weren’t the ones who left unfinished business. If her family were lucky there would be a corpse, but most likely no one would ever really know what happened.

“Why now?” She lowered the gun. My eyes followed its path as she brought it down by her side. It was the first time since we’d met that she’d put herself in a position of vulnerability.

“Lots of reasons. Poking your nose in places where it doesn’t belong would be my first choice, and the fact that despite your family name you seem hell bent on being the thorn in your father’s side.”

“Do you know what he does?” She looked at me incredulously, like I could have no possible idea of the inner workings of the family business. “I’m sure you’re a criminal of some sort, but whatever you’ve done is small potatoes compared to him. I saw it. Grew up around it. Felt its shame on my soul.” Her eyes narrowed, either disgust or anger making her face harden. “There are consequences for everything and for me the only redemption was trying to stop him. Bring justice for those who have suffered.”

Great.

Redemption.

Because we weren’t dealing with enough bad shit tonight. She had to bring up that we were in this mess simply because she was trying to balance out karma. Like it was a real thing, and there really was someone upstairs who listened to all the miserable crap people prayed for.

Ha. Well I knew better.

“There is no soul, sweetheart. You’re just a shell like the rest of us, and bad shit happens all the time. Best you can do is get out of its way when it comes. Which is why I’m here. Pack a bag, we’re done talking.”

She looked like she was going to argue, her mouth opening and closing a few times before settling into a thin line. I guessed the conversation wasn’t done, but she either knew it would be a waste or clued up that things were time sensitive so she shelved it for another time. And hopefully if she got the urge to bring it up again, it would be when I wasn’t around and forced to listen.

Instead, she slid on the safety and shoved her gun into the waistband of her sweatpants, my quest to get her to pack a bag—so we could get gone—finally given the attention it deserved. Thank f*ck.

“Give me a few minutes.” She moved toward what I assumed was a bedroom. “I need to get a few things.”

“You have two. Make them count.” I walked toward the window and pushed open the drapes as I peered out into the street.

It was quiet. Too quiet.

It made me uncomfortable, the heat prickling at my neck as I listened to Sofia get whatever it was she needed before we ejected. I couldn’t see her coming back here anytime soon. Death threats didn’t disappear until the job was done. And what she didn’t realize was she was kissing this house—and her life as she’d known it—goodbye.

“One minute.” I let the curtain fall as I un-holstered my forty-five.

I never anticipated an easy exit and tonight was no different. And only time would tell if the face-off was happening here or at another time, but sooner or later it would happen.

Amaros meant trouble, and Sofia was no different.





I knew this day would come.

The wolf at my door demanding payment for the sins of my father.

No one gets away for free, and the things I’d seen were enough to banish anyone into hell for an eternity.